Good things come to those who wait, or so the saying goes. I don’t know that I had been so much waiting for last Monday to come as working to make sure that I was ready for its arrival. Our first Monday may have been a long time coming but it didn’t disappoint.
In the month since my last Lincolnite article, much has changed. One day I was wearing a suit, based in generously provided offices at Siemens, and the next I was in scruffs, moving into the welcoming shell of Chad Varah House. It was quickly populated with furniture, fixtures, equipment and an endless number of cardboard boxes.
Each day felt like the best Christmas ever, opening up an array of anonymous parcels to find gadgets for science, engineering and computing. all to inspire and challenge the mind. Contractors from numerous companies came bearing gifts: from stools and tables to fume cupboards and pillar drills, to computers and robots. Packages came in a steady flow as we struggled to keep up with our unpacking, checking and placement. The boxes were removed, the equipment set out and suddenly I could see our impressive learning environments take shape.
Dr Rona Mackenzie. Lincoln UTC’s Principal. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
As the interior of the UTC was refined, the exterior underwent a facelift. Generous staff from the Riseholme campus gave up time to turn long lawns and unkempt hedgerows into neat, welcoming and attractive gardens. Andy, our local Stonemason, repaired a broken wall and the external signage was put into place.
Suddenly, as I walked through the gates, Chad Varah House had transformed into a place of education: a professional, purposeful Lincoln UTC. Attention turned to the finest of details – including the framing of a letter from Buckingham Palace, sitting pride of place in our Reception for all to see. The little details matter to me; they set the tone for everything we stand for: in pursuit of excellence, we will create a supportive, innovative environment and develop professional, respectful relationships.
I slept surprisingly well on Sunday night, waking very early to get to the UTC in time for the arrival of our first media visitors at 6.30am. Their excitement for the event was palpable – they have shared the UTC’s journey, reporting regularly on our developments and achievements. To have my closest media supporters there for the launch was a great way to start the day and I felt honoured that they continue to believe in us.
After several radio and newspaper interviews the time had finally come to welcome our first students. With bright eyes and wide smiles they came through into Reception, gasping for breath after the hearty climb up Steep Hill but all thrilled to be there! Nervous faces gawked through the corridors for the first time heading for the Chapel, where our business partners and Governors were mingling with students and staff to welcome one and all.
The chatter and excitement grew, nerves were forgotten, and before I knew it the time had come to formally welcome the first cohort of students to Lincoln UTC. Such a special moment – with my face permanently bearing a Cheshire Cat I welcomed familiar faces, young people who I have grown to know and respect over the last twelve months. Their commitment to the UTC is as strong as mine and I felt immense pride as we shared those first moments together, welcoming the beginning of our first academic year.
After photos on the lawn, our media colleagues and guests departed and the real business began. The day was a blur of Vex robotics, engineering challenges, RAF leadership activities, DNA extraction and literacy enlightenment. My first headship had begun: the College to which I have devoted all my energies over the last eighteen months was alive.
There were many firsts – new equipment, learning spaces, café food and biometric success – and before I knew it, 5pm had arrived. Our students departed for home, wearing confident smiles and chatting with new friends. I finally opened my inbox and postbag to find a wealth of good wishes emails, cards and presents. It is clear that the UTC means so much to so many people: students, parents, friends, family, local businesses and local people.
We have set our sights exceedingly high and our goals are crystal clear. What an amazing start to a unique journey; a new chapter in the life of Lincoln UTC has begun. We cannot always see the summit, but the journey there has begun with this very first step.
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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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The Co-op has partnered with Amazon Prime to allow customers to get their grocery shopping delivered by robots.
The service launched in Glasgow on Thursday, September 16, and is expected to be rolled out across the UK before the end of 2021.
The national supermarket chain is looking to expand online sales from £70m to £200m and has turned to Amazon Prime to try and make this possible, offering same-day deliveries on groceries.
Customers with Amazon Prime subscriptions will be able to shop for Co-op items on the Amazon website, with two-hour scheduled slots each day.
The number of robots delivering groceries is due to rise from 200 to 500 by the end of the year, as part of an additional step from the Amazon collection lockers which were installed outside some Co-op stores in 2012.
The autonomous vehicles are part of a partnership with Starship Technologies, with which the Co-op already deals with to deliver £70m a year of groceries, along with Deliveroo.
The rapid-fire delivery service will offer free deliveries for orders over £40, and a minimum shop of £15, though it is currently not available in Lincolnshire.
The Co-op has faced scrutiny after signing the deal, with many questioning the ethics of online giants Amazon, but say this partnership is about reaching more people quicker.
A spokesperson for the Co-op group said: “We aren’t compromising our ethics and principles and the extension of the partnership is about getting our ethically sourced products into the hands of more people.
“It reflects the support Co-op members have shown for Amazon’s products by using its lockers and click and collect services through hundreds of our stores for a number of years.
“We also see major opportunities in co-operating with one of the world’s biggest tech companies to tackle some of the big issues, from climate change to youth skills and opportunities.”
Co-op group chief executive Steve Murrells said: “The pandemic has accelerated changes in consumer shopping trends and we’re driving forward with exciting plans to provide rapid kerb to kitchen grocery delivery services.
“We are delighted to be working with Amazon. Its reach and leading technology and innovative approach means greater convenience for people in their communities.
“This, combined with our extended partnership with Starship Technologies, marks a significant milestone in our online strategy.”
The Nosey Parker pub in Lincoln loves creating a food challenge and The Lincolnite went to check out one of their latest – the Ultimate Chip Butty.
The Ultimate Chippy Butty is a whole loaf of bread, hollowed and filled with chips, cheese and lashings of gravy. The challenge, which is also suitable for vegetarians, is also served with two jugs of gravy for dipping.
The challenge, which was introduced at the Greene King pub off Tritton Road in August, is priced at £8.99. Should you be successful, unlike us, you get a certificate and your photo on the pub’s Wall of Flame.
Inside the Ultimate Chippy Butty. It’s bigger than it looks! | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Pouring on some extra gravy. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincolnite reporter Joseph Verney (left) staring at the challenge awaiting him, with the Nosey Parker’s Duty Manager Ronnie Byrne (right). | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
When the food arrived, I felt a sense of hope that maybe, if I finished my loaf, I could successfully complete the challenge, but it wasn’t to be. Maybe I just wasn’t bready enough.
After a fairly confident start, with the chips and cheese especially going down a treat, the bread really started to take its toll.
In some ways it may not look like too big a challenge, but to eat that much bread in one sitting proved an even bigger task than expected.
The Ultimate Chip Butty is priced at £8.99.| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Ronnie Byrne, Duty Manager at Nosey Parker, told The Lincolnite: “The new menu came out just over a month ago, and the new challenges have gone down a storm!
“The Ultimate Chip Butty has been one of our best sellers so far, no doubt.
“Everyone thinks it’ll be a walk in the park, but, like The Lincolnite, they’re quickly brought back down to earth! It’s basically a whole loaf of bread and a tonne of chips, cheese, and gravy.
“Anyone who can tackle that is braver than I, and the reporter, as we learned today!”
There have been 464 cases of coronavirus confirmed on Thursday in Lincolnshire, as the NHS begins delivering COVID booster jabs to the most vulnerable people.
As part of the next stage of the vaccination programme, hospital hubs have started jabbing frontline health and care workers and identifying other eligible patients for their coronavirus booster vaccine
GP-led local vaccination services will follow in the coming days and full vaccination rollout will begin from next week in Lincolnshire.
The NHS will contact those who are eligible through a call or text from their local GP-led site or the National Booking Service.
Those who are eligible include:
those living in residential care homes for older adults
all adults aged 50 years or over
frontline health and social care workers
all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the green book), and adult carers
adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
However, some of those in the original nine priority groups will not be eligible for the top-up until the New Year.
Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy lead for the COVID vaccination programme said: “Alongside one of our busiest summers in the NHS, our hardworking staff have also been gearing up to deliver the autumn booster programme, to give further protection to healthcare and social care workers and those most at risk from the virus.”
Latest statistics published by Public Health England show that around 112,000 lives were saved thanks to the vaccination programme.
Meanwhile, there have been 464 cases of coronavirus confirmed in Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday.
Government figures on Thursday showed 296 new cases in Lincolnshire, 75 in North East Lincolnshire and 93 in North Lincolnshire.
Lincolnshire’s coronavirus cases up to September 16. | Image: GOV.uk
Three further deaths of Lincolnshire residents were also confirmed in the government figures.
NHS data showed no further deaths in Greater Lincolnshire’s hospitals on Thursday.
Nationally, cases increased by 26,911 to 7,339,009 while deaths rose by 158 to 134,805.
Vaccination data released on Thursday revealed that 1,108,065 doses of the jab had now been handed out in Lincolnshire.
There were 7,225 doses given out in the past week, 3,782 fewer doses than the previous week.
Of those, 532,625 were second jabs – a total of 84% of the total 634,453 population of Lincolnshire.
A total of 562,809 people over the aged of 18, and 12,631 under 18s have received their first dose, while 530,265 over 18s and 2,360 under 18s were double-dosed.
In North East Lincolnshire a total of 213,647 doses of the vaccine have been administered, with 101,960 (79%) being second doses.
In North Lincolnshire, 239,650 doses have been handed out, with 115,174 (82%) being double-jabbed.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday, September 16
106,415 cases (up 464)
69,906 in Lincolnshire (up 296)
16,618 in North Lincolnshire (up 93)
19,891 in North East Lincolnshire (up 75)
2,3111 deaths (up three)
1,691 from Lincolnshire (up three)
316 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
304 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,386 hospital deaths (no change)
849 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
44 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
492 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.
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