It was a year ago this month that I first met Daniel Ionescu of The Lincolnite to discuss the new Lincoln UTC and initiate my relationship with this fine online newspaper. This is my twelfth monthly article and I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to stop, reflect and put pen to paper or, more accurately, fingers to keyboard.
Much has changed in the last twelve months and I am sure that when I look back in August 2015, having celebrated the first twelve months of Lincoln UTC, I will find myself once more reflecting on huge change.
For many, August is heralded as a relatively quiet month with schools out for summer and families taking time out to spend quality time together, heading to pastures new for a break and a change of scenery. Yet August is also seen as a time for change. In this month young people from across the country will nervously receive envelopes, finding out how well they did in their summer examinations. Tomorrow we will see our newspapers filled with photos of sixth form students, clutching results forms, hugging one another in happiness and, sadly in some cases, shedding a tear due to unexpected disappointment.
Next week a similar picture will unfold as GCSE students receive similar news. Nervous yet exciting times ahead for teachers and families as much as students: the pressure of expectation is equally shared.
Beside these young people, their families will wait: having lived through the last two years, they appreciate their toil and commitment and they too will have provided great support and care to help them achieve their outcomes. In the background will stand a team of school or college staff.
The teachers, who have given so much to their students by enlightening their minds, challenging their opinions, developing their thinking and growing them both academically and personally. The array of support staff, who go unnoticed by the press at this time of year, yet who have provided the learning environment, resources, personal support, entered them for exams, fed and nourished their minds and ensured they have travelled safely to and from school each day. This is a team of unsung heroes, without whom these results would never have been possible.
These two weeks are certainly times to celebrate the achievements of students across the country; equally, they are times to congratulate all those who have supported them along the journey. As individuals we can only achieve so much – as a team, we are significantly stronger and ultimately more successful: it is true, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
In this month of change these young people will head off to pastures new. Whether that is to employment, apprenticeship or university, to embark on post-16 studies in a new institution or indeed to change school at 14 to join the UTC, such opportunities provide excitement and can be equally daunting. Important decisions are made and futures begin to take shape as career pathways become more refined and considered. This is a pivotal month – it is good that for many it is a time of rest, as such decisions need to be made with an uncluttered, focused mind.
Here at the UTC we are not in a period of rest – indeed, this time could not be more active! Chad Varah House is brimming with specialists in fields such as information technology, interior design, engineering and construction, to name but a few. In a little over two weeks experts in education will fill the building, preparing for the arrival of those young people who have made a life-changing decision to join us at the UTC.
They have taken a significant step in their career pathway, joining us to focus on their strengths and interests in Science and Engineering. We look forward to celebrating the GCSE results of our Year 12 students next week and welcoming them and our Year 10 students to the next exciting phase of their education. Education in Engineering, Science and Mathematics has never looked stronger in Lincolnshire.
We wish all our colleagues across the county the very best of luck for them and their students this week – we raise a glass to your collective hard work and achievements and look forward to reading of your successes.
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Dr. Rona Mackenzie is Principal of Lincoln University Technical College (UTC). She has a strong background in education, having worked in six local authorities during her career, and is passionate about providing an education that meet the needs of young people and their community industries. She is a keen sportswoman and mountaineer, recently trekking to Everest Base Camp, and has an interest in photography.
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A Lincoln chef and distillery entrepreneur now also makes and sells a range of sauces based on the periodic table of elements, with some of them too hot to handle for many.
Nerd Sauce is the latest creation by Sam Owen, owner of the Salted Orange Food Company, and the idea came in the spring of 2020 when weddings and events were cancelled by coronavirus lockdown.
The sauces are inspired by the periodic table, with each sauce having its own elements of local ingredients and hot chillies.
The daunting Naga Death Sauce, containing one of the hottest chillies in the world. | Photo: Steve Smailes
The hottest sauce on offer is the Naga Death Sauce, at a mind-blowing 1.3 million Scoville units, and has a pretty intense slogan of “quite simply, this is how death feels”.
In stark contrast to that, the Sriracha inspired Kashmiri sauce has just 2,000 Scoville, the opposite end of the spectrum to the Naga Death Sauce.
There are a total of 12 sauces on offer at the moment. | Photo: Steve Smailes
Other sauces include a ketchup mixed with balsamic vinegar and paprika, and an American BBQ sauce with molasses, Worcester sauce and cider vinegar.
The first 12 flavours have now been launched by Nerd Sauce, and more creations are expected to come in the near future.
Beetroot ketchup puts a Lincolnshire produce twist on the classic. | Photo: Steve Smailes
Owner of Nerd Sauce Sam Owen said: “As a chef, I believe that flavour and quality is everything, and through Nerd Sauce I wanted to bring something new to the table (pun intended), something with locally sourced, naturally good quality ingredients, and that isn’t filled to the brim with water or thickener.
“I believe that sauces are much more than their ingredients, and the range we have launched today, has something for every taste from the Sunday roast right through to the Friday night takeaway, some have been inspired by the classics, whilst others are like nothing you have tasted before.”
You can browse the selection online on the Nerd Sauce website, with prices varying from £2.85 to £5 a bottle.
The Royal Air Force Sentinel R1 aircraft has completed its last operational flight from RAF Waddington after 14 years of service.
The aircraft was commissioned through engineering firm Raytheon UK in response to an Urgent Operational Requirement during Operation Herrick in 2008, for an Airborne Stand-off Radar.
Five aircraft were acquired and V (Army Corporation) Squadron, which is based at RAF Waddington, was reformed to operate the aircraft. It has flown around 32,300 hours and conducted approximately 4,870 sorties during its service life.
Sentinel’s longest flight of 12 hours and 30 minutes was achieved on March 30, 2011 during Operation Ellamy in Libya. Its final flight was carried out on Thursday, February 25 this year.
The withdrawal from service was first announced as part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review
The surveillance role of the Sentinel will now be carried out by other aircraft in RAF service, including the newly introduced Poseidon and forthcoming Protector amongst others.
The Sentinel has been involved in multiple operations including Op Herrick (Afghanistan), Op Telic (Iraq), Op Shader (Iraq/Syria), Op Turus (West Africa), Op Ellamy (Libya), Op Newcombe (North Africa), Op Pitchpole (UK Floods), and Op Kipion (Middle East).
On the squadrons recent return from Op Shader, Vice Admiral Sir Ben Kay, the UK Commander of Joint Operations, said: “Right to the end of its commission, V(AC) Squadron has been a constant among my deployed Force Elements. It is a record to be proud of.”
North Lincolnshire Council has approved a 3.48% council tax increase for 2021/22, which works out as a 45p weekly increase for a Band D property.
The authority’s Full Council meeting on Thursday afternoon approved general council tax to increase by 1.48% alongside a 2% rise for adult social care.
The council tax rise is smaller than the assumed full amount indicated in council papers earlier this month of 4.99%.
A grant scheme was proposed to help businesses create new jobs across the coming months in response to the pandemic, with more details to be released soon.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council said: “Over the last year, COVID has put our systems through a real test, giving us a clearer picture of what works well and what does not.”
He added: “Now we have a very serious plan for investment across the coming five years that will create jobs. These proposals will create a more attractive environment for businesses to invest.”
Councillor Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council. Picture: Calvin Robinson.
Last week, the authority’s neighbour, North East Lincolnshire, approved a 4.98% council tax increase for 2021/22 – with 3% going towards adult social care.
This will see a £1.52 per week increase for a Band D property – £79.04 annually.