March 16, 2015 5.24 pm
This story is over 85 months old
Spark Engineering Festival to return to Lincoln Cathedral
Engineering festival: Lincoln Cathedral will be decorated with jumbo jets, Formula One cars and a giant hanging pendulum as the Spark Engineering Festival makes a dynamic return to the city.
The Spark Engineering Festival was last at Lincoln Cathedral in 2013.
Lincoln Cathedral will be decorated with jumbo jets, Formula One cars and a giant hanging pendulum as the Spark Engineering Festival makes a dynamic return to the city.
The festival, which is free to enter, is a three-day celebration of the city’s engineering past, present and future. It will run from Friday, April 17 until Sunday, April 19.
Discover facts about Lincoln’s engineering heritage, find out about Lincolnshire’s great engineers, and see the diverse exhibition of Lincoln’s leading edge engineering and manufacturing sector – against the backdrop of historic Lincoln Cathedral.
Products made in Lincoln and Lincolnshire are used in planes, trains and automobiles around the world, with companies including Siemens, Dynex and Micrometric choosing to base their operations in the city.
Paul Taylor, CEO of Dynex and Festival Chairman, said: “This is a great opportunity to find out more about what Lincolnshire has to offer.
“A lot of people know that Lincoln has a rich past in engineering, but not as many people realise the city and county are still at the forefront of developments in science, maths and technology.
“Spark Engineering Festival pays tribute to the history and heritage of the city, but it also looks forward to what is happening here now – the cutting edge technology being developed right on our doorstep. It’s all about engineering, education and enjoyment.”
William Foster 1913 steam engine at the festival in 2013
City of Lincoln Council is working with the University of Lincoln, the University Technical College, Lincoln College and a range of local engineering firms to run the event.
Hands-on activities will include a scaletrix challenge, building wind turbines using K’Nex and testing propellers in a wind tunnel.
Alongside the giant pendulum hanging from the cathedral roof, other displays will include racing cars, a steam engine, model tank and 3D printing.
Visitors can also see the engineering timeline – a 50ft long display of the history of engineering, how it has impacted the world and how Lincoln has had a vital part in its heritage.
The University of Lincoln will be contributing a range of displays and activities as part of this year’s Spark Engineering Festival.
The main displays will focus on current research projects, detailing the School of Engineering’s work on power generation, systems control, automotive dynamics and manufacturing technologies for the food industry.
Dr Colin Dowding, senior lecturer at the University’s School of Engineering, has created a number of hands-on activities that will show young people the fundamental physical relationships that affect our everyday lives.
On Friday, April 17 schoolchildren can take part in a special session as part of the STEM activity day.
Dr Dowding said: “The Spark Engineering Festival has been developed to showcase the engineering expertise in Lincolnshire and to inspire the next generation to pursue a career in the engineering sector, contributing to a more efficient and exciting society.
“The School of Engineering offers a wide breadth of expertise and the University continues to build an academic community to help inform industry and develop new avenues of research.”
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A man allegedly assaulted and verbally abused a member of rail staff after being questioned over having an incorrect ticket.
A member of rail staff on board questioned the man travelling on a train from Lincoln to Leeds with an incorrect ticket at 5.03pm on Tuesday, May 3.
British Transport Police said when the train was stood at Worksop station, the man grabbed his arm and pulled him whilst verbally abusing him. He is then said to have thrown a drink bottle at his leg.
On Wednesday, May 18 British Transport Police released a CCTV image of a man they believe may have information which could help their investigation.
They did not specify whether or not he is a suspect or a witness.
Do you recognise this man? | Photo: British Transport Police
Anyone who recognises the man, or has any information, is being urged to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 516 of 03/05/22.
Alternatively, information can be reported through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A burglar who took sentimental items from the home of an 84-year-old woman while she was asleep in her chair was on Wednesday jailed for 20 months.
Lincoln Crown Court heard Wendy Bird woke to find her handbag had been taken from the living room of her Mablethorpe home.
Jerry Johnson, 25, of no fixed address, admitted burgling the property on 4 March this year.
Phillip Plant, prosecuting, said Mrs Bird fell asleep after being left at 11am by a relative and woke at 1.45pm to find her handbag gone.
Among the items taken were a watch valued at £800, £40 in cash, some sentimental gold rings, a bank card and batteries for a hearing aid.
Mr Plant said Johnson was a disqualified driver but later the same day used Mrs Bird’s bank card to spend £21 at the Empire filling station in Mablethorpe.
Police were able to identify Johnson on CCTV from his distinctive tattoos and the car was spotted again at Tesco in Skegness at 4.30pm on the same day.
The court heard Johnson failed to stop for officers and drove away, before being involved in a collision.
Johnson also pleaded guilty to failing to stop, failing to stop after an accident, driving while disqualified and a charge of fraudulently using Mrs Bird’s bank card on 4 March.
In a victim impact statement Mrs Bird said she now felt like a prisoner in her own home and always had to keep her doors locked.
Johnson, who represented himself in court, apologised to Mrs Bird, stating: “To the lady I am really sorry. At the time I was on drugs.”
Passing sentence Judge John Pini QC told Johnson: “This was a very mean offence.”
He was jailed for 20 months and disqualified from driving for two years and ten months.