Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly will retire in December after 31 years in policing.
The 53-year-old, who was born on the east coast of Scotland, joined Lincolnshire Police from Devon and Cornwall in 2017. A year later he looked to leave the force to become Police Scotland’s chief constable, but he didn’t get the role.
Bill Skelly has been living with his wife Jane close to the police HQ in Nettleham. He will step down from his role on December 18. Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones will appoint Bill’s successor and the search for a new chief constable will begin soon.
The retiring chief constable said: “It’s been a privilege and an honour to lead this force. There have been many challenges during my four years as chief here in Lincolnshire and what I’ve seen is a workforce who constantly rise up and respond to any difficulties put in their path.
“I am proud to have been amongst colleagues who come into work day in, and day out, determined to make a difference and improve the lives of others wherever they can.
“I am absolutely delighted to be finishing a wonderful career at the very top of policing, here in Lincolnshire. It has made me and my family immensely happy to be amongst such warm and supporting people who welcomed us from the very first day.
“I joined this force with an intention to look after my staff and to provide the public of Lincolnshire with the best possible service by making sure our resources were placed in the right place at the right time.”
Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
During his career, Bill has worked in roles including leading the Immigration Crime Team at New Scotland Yard and being appointed in 2008 by Her Majesty the Queen as her Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland.
He has also tried to persuade the government that it needed to provide more funding to Lincolnshire Police and hopes it “might hear this and deliver more funding in the months and years ahead”.
He added: “We have been allocated the money to recruit an extra 130 officers as part of the national uplift, but the conversation around better distribution of cash for policing has to continue.”
He is now looking forward to retirement when he intends to spend more time with his two adult daughters and wider family, as well as looking for other opportunities to contribute to community wellbeing.
Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
PCC Marc Jones paid tribute to his policing colleague, saying: “It has been an honour and a privilege to have appointed and then worked with Chief Constable Skelly in our joint aim of keeping the communities of Lincolnshire safe.
“Bill has left Lincolnshire Police a very different Force to the one he joined in 2017 and it’s no exaggeration to say that his mark will be felt for years to come.
“He cares passionately for the welfare of those in his charge and has always strived to improve the wellbeing of officers and staff alike, something he can be rightly proud of.”
Spotted an error? Please notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
A five-bedroom home near Grantham with its own 60 metre zip wire is up for sale with a guide price of £1.12 million.
The property on Mere Lane in Aisby also has an open plan living room, dedicated cinema room, gym, tennis court, hot tub, swimming pool and large home office.
In addition to the five double bedrooms, the property also has three en-suite bathrooms, impressive vaulted ceilings, award-winning Chislewood kitchen, Vale Garden Houses orangeries, Tesla charging units and two double garages.
The front view of this impressive million pound home. | Photo: Purplebricks
The entrance Hall. | Photo: Purplebricks
The open plan living room. | Photo: Purplebricks
Relax and unwind in the open plan living room. | Photo: Purplebricks
Check out the large kitchen and dining room. | Photo: Purple Bricks
The contemporary home is set amongst landscaped gardens and grounds measuring 1.3 acres.
Master bedroom. | Photo: Purplebricks
Master en-suite. | Photo: Purplebricks
Master dressing room. | Photo: Purplebricks
Outside, there is surrounding countryside of mature palm trees, giving an impression of an exotic destination abroad.
The home even has its own outdoor swimming pool. | Photo: Purplebricks
The property also boasts its own outdoor tennis court. | Photo: Purplebricks
Lincoln City manager Michael Appleton said the LNER Stadium has felt “eerie” without fans this season, but is looking forward to welcoming them back for the League One play-offs.
Lincoln City are preparing for a two-legged play-off semi final against Sunderland, with the first game taking place at the LNER Stadium on Wednesday, May 19 and the return fixture at the Stadium of Light three days later.
The Imps finished in fifth place after the 46-game League One regular season, securing a spot in the play-off positions to fight for a chance to play at Wembley and earn promotion to the Championship.
The Imps will welcome Sunderland to the LNER Stadium next week. | Photo: The Lincolnite
The players have exceeded expectations this year, with boss Michael Appleton saying he only targeted a top half finish at the start of the campaign, but he is keen for the club to progress.
Speaking to The Lincolnite ahead of Wednesday’s match, Michael Appleton said he is looking for his young squad to perform on the big stage, as over 3,000 fans prepare to return to the stadium for the first time in over a year.
“I hope that our young players thrive and I am glad that we’ve got one or two experienced players back in the team to help them do that.
“I believe that we’ve been starved without fans for so long, with 3,000 fans in it might feel like the place is full!
“At times you can hear a pin drop in here and it’s been quite eerie, I hope it gives them that extra little lift they might need to get through it.”
Pitchside at the LNER Stadium, the calm before the storm. | Photo: The Lincolnite
The Imps have faced the Black Cats three times this season, losing twice and drawing once.
Appleton said: “I think both teams have learned a lot about each other, I think that’s why it might be a tight occasion over the two games.
“It could come down to a little bit of luck or a poor decision, the losers might have to deal with a poor decision as the officiating has been a little bit loose to say the least, as we are well aware.”
There will soon be 3,000 fans in the stadium. | Photo: The Lincolnite
He is referring to a highly controversial last-minute penalty that was given against Lincoln during their 3-3 draw with Peterborough United on May 1, ending hopes of automatic promotion.
“A lot of people I’d spoke to said they’d never seen anything like that, it was a bad one”, said Appleton.
The Imps’ focus is now on Sunderland, with Lincoln just three games away from a place in the Championship next season, something fans must surely have only been dreaming about this time last year.
You can also see what forward Anthony Scully had to say ahead of the game, as he praised the exciting brand of football introduced by Appleton:
The number of coronavirus vaccine jabs being given out in Lincolnshire increased by nearly 10% last week, according to the latest figures.
Data released on Thursday shows altogether 676,851 jabs have taken place in the county between December 8 and May 9 — a further 42,145 in the last week, and nearly 10% up on the 38,553 jabs given the week before.
The latest figures show that some 449,400 Lincolnshire residents have received their first vaccine dose and 227,451 have been given their second.
Of those over the age of 40, a total of 397,508 have received their first vaccination and another 207,426 have had their second.
Some 51,892 people aged under 45 have received their first dose, with a further 20,025 receiving a second jab so far. This includes those aged between 16 to 64 who are clinically vulnerable and at more risk of serious symptoms of coronavirus.
Office for National Statistics estimates put the total adult (16+) Lincolnshire population at 629,926, meaning that around 71.3% of residents have now received their first jab and 36.1% their second.
In North Lincolnshire, a total of 154,131 (55,727 second doses) vaccines have been distributed and 122,445 (36,662 second doses) have received a jab in North East Lincolnshire.
Grantham’s vaccination centre at the Mere’s Leisure Centre has given out 100,000 vaccinations in just five months.
The achievement comes just five months since the Meres Local Vaccination Centre opened and only eight weeks since it celebrated reaching 50,000 vaccinations.
The 100,000th vaccinated person in Grantham.
Darren Altus, Operations Director, K2 Healthcare, Grantham and Sleaford Area Primary Care Networks said: “From the beginning when we were vaccinating people over the age of 80, to now when we’re focusing on first vaccinations for people 40 and over, as well as second doses, it has been a battle.
“It has been extremely challenging but our superb team of health professionals and volunteers here at the Meres have made it possible and fun at the same time.”
The Meres LVC is one of 13 vaccination sites across the county, and is run by both Grantham and Rural PCN, and the Sleaford PCN, a group of 16 GP practices from Grantham, Sleaford, and the surrounding area.
Dr Adriaan van Biljon, Clinical Director, K2 Healthcare, Grantham and Rural Primary Care Network, added: “People who have been coming to the Meres for their vaccination have been, almost without exception, enormously grateful and cooperative.
“This has been hugely helpful to the team here and is something they have also experienced when vaccinating people out in the community, including in local care homes.
“Local businesses have provided invaluable support too and, of course, the role played by our local GP practices has been critical. In unprecedented times it has truly been an amazing effort.”
People aged 38 to 39 have been allowed to book their COVID-19 vaccines from Thursday.
Bookings for vaccinations opened on May 13, and 38 and 39-year-olds can sign up for their appointment on the NHS website.
Nationally, more than 67.8% of people have had their first dose and 35% their second.
The full list of sites operating as vaccination hubs in Lincolnshire so far:
Hospital Hubs
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust
Lincoln County Hospital
Boston Pilgrim Hospital
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust
Whatsapp
