The world of animals: In the first of a series behind the doors of RSPCA Lincolnshire Mid & Lincoln Branch, Amy Clarkson dives into the world of animal devotion.
When I was only very small, about two years old, I suddenly became completely besotted with animals – no matter what shape, size or breed – I just loved them.
At the age of 21, in the summer of 2012, I decided that with my spare time and love of animals I would volunteer for the RSPCA Lincolnshire Mid & Lincoln branch with my boyfriend to walk the dogs in their care.
I have always loved dogs, but have never had one to call my own. My boyfriend has a beautiful Golden Retriever, Misty, and absolutely loves dogs.
Misty doesn’t really like going for walks, so we usually spend our time giving her cuddles instead! I have four cats of my own: three girls Misty, Poppy and Tinkerbell and one boy, Rascal.
We rescued Misty and Poppy when they were 6 months old having been left in a ditch – it took them years to finally trust us, but now after 8 years, they’ve come on leaps and bounds, although Misty is still really timid with strangers.
Rascal was also a rescue kitten whose mummy was run over when he was little more than 5 weeks old. I also have three beautiful bunnies – Dexter, Flash and Lillie.
All three bunnies are rescue bunnies from the branch – Dexter and Flash being found abandoned and Lillie was my boyfriend’s first ‘foster bunny’.
As well as the animals of my own, I go horse riding every week, which I absolutely love.
When I volunteered for dog walking, it was a decision I made on a whim. My boyfriend was more than happy to walk the dogs with me, especially as we never really walked his own.
Within a week, myself and my boyfriend went to the kennels and were walking twelve dogs between us.
You could see from the dogs’ faces on their walks that they truly appreciated it and, if they could, they would have told you. It was definitely ‘my idea’ to start with, but it very quickly became something we were both really involved in.
The following February, the branch administrator, Charlotte, e-mailed me asking if I would be interested in volunteering with fundraising. I said yes.
A few weeks later, I sat down with the newly formed Fundraising Team, and off we went.
On April 7, 2013, the RSPCA Lincs Mid & Lincoln team took to the Lincoln 10k and between us raised over £400 – this was to be the start of our fundraising success. I then joined the branch committee as a trustee in June 2013, and never looked back.
The furbabies all have their own story to tell, and whatever we can do to help them – however big or small – is definitely worth something for them.
There is so much I can say about our animals, about our branch and about our fantastic team. Until next time…
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Amy Clarkson is an animal lover and the Chair to Fundraising Team at the RSPCA Lincolnshire Mid & Lincoln Branch.
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Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
Bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.
The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”