Major 750 home development in Gainsborough approved

The judging panel for the Lincolnshire 30 Under 30 has selected the 2021 finalists on Friday, September 17.

The Lincolnite’s 30 Under 30 showcase is a celebration of the best and brightest in Lincolnshire, putting our young talent on the map regionally and nationally.

This year’s longlist had 161 nominations, a record number of entries — with only 30 able to make the cut.

The panel of event sponsors from Sparkhouse, Ringrose Law, Streets Chartered Accountants and Lincoln College Group had the tricky task of selecting the next crop of Lincolnshire young talent to watch out for.

After they enjoyed afternoon tea at Lincoln Cathedral’s new cafe (conferencing suite), the panel has picked its shortlist.

Finalists will be contacted privately in the coming week to join us a for a photo shoot ahead of the celebration event on October 28 at the Lincoln Cathedral Chapterhouse.

What the judging panel said:

Hard at work judging: Charlotte Baxter and Susan Cadd from the University of Lincoln Sparkhouse/Think Tank. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Charlotte Baxter, Enterprise Manager at the University of Lincoln, said: “We were really impressed with the caliber of applicants this year. The range of applications from our Lincolnshire under 30s have been both inspiring and motivational.”

Tricky choices to be made: Jim Newall and Claire Lloyd from Lincoln College Group. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Lincoln College Director of Marketing Jim Newall said: “Wow, what an amazing bunch of driven and inspiring young people. The future’s bright for the local economy.”

Judges had to bring down the longlist from 161 to only 30 finalists. Pictured are Alexis Outram and James Pinchbeck from Streets Chartered Accountants. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Streets Chartered Accountants Marketing Partner James Pinchbeck also said: “What a truly inspirational group of young people we have across Lincolnshire – individuals who see no barriers, overcome adversity and through their efforts have created new enterprises, pursued sporting interests and have made such a positive impact on the local community.”

Decisions, decisions, decisions: Alex Bennet and Costa Kyriacou (an 30 Under 30 alumni) from Ringrose Law. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Ringrose Law Marketing Partner Alex Bennett commented: “A very impressive and diverse mix of applications this year. Brilliant to read about all the achievements in our region. Congratulations to everyone.”

The Lincolnshire 30 Under 30 2021 judging panel hard at work. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Daniel Ionescu, Founding Editor of The Lincolnite, said: “Thanks to everyone who nominated the wealth of talent that Lincolnshire has to offer. It was an enjoyable but tricky afternoon to bring it down to only 30 people, but we are confident we will have a great batch of people to showcase this year.

“We’d also like thank all our sponsors again for making the event and project possible, and working with us to bring to life our ideas.”

Lincolnshire County Council is holding the first ever Climate Summit on Wednesday, October 13, in the run up to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.

The summit will bring together the public sector, businesses and communities to look to the future and discover new ways of working together to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Attendees at the Epic Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground will hear from a line-up of inspirational speakers, including the chair of the UK Climate Change Committee Lord Deben, the CEO of the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) Sarah Mukherjee and local businesses that are leading the way with their decarbonisation solutions.

Register for the Climate Summit

As part of the run up to the Climate Summit, there will be a series of free online webinars starting next week. Come along for actionable next steps on your climate journey and connect with other like-minded individuals wanting to be part of the solution. 

Register for the webinars

Energy Efficiency for your Business/Community Space – September 20, 10am – 11.30am

Hear about building design, energy efficiency and digital ways to make your community space/business more energy efficient.

Sustainable Transport for your Business – September 21, 11am – 12.30pm

Hear about cargo bikes, biomethane power and electric vehicles. Find out how you can introduce sustainable transport to your business.

Community Led Climate Action – September 22, 6pm – 7.30pm

Find out what climate action is taking place in Lincolnshire and how you can get involved in your community to tackle climate change. The panel will be talking about #plasticfree communities, sustainability toolkits and reducing the carbon emissions of your local area.

Create a Low Carbon Home – September 23, 6pm – 7.30pm

Find out about retrofitting, local authority funding and the simple ways you can make your home more sustainable.

A stalker who caused such fear to his victim that she tried to take her own life has been jailed, Lincoln Crown Court heard on Friday.

John Ogle, who was a Facebook friend with his victim, used fake social media accounts to send messages to the woman with threats to harm her if she did not send him naked photographs.

He made further threats, went on to slash a tyre on her car and fitted a tracking device to her vehicle.

Ogle also messaged her claiming he had kidnapped her boyfriend.

Lucky Thandi, prosecuting, said the victim’s contact with Ogle increased at the start of the first COVID lockdown in the spring of 2020.

Ogle visited her home at one stage and stayed for three days but the relationship between them was purely as friends. However when Ogle discovered she had begun a relationship with another man his behaviour changed.

Miss Thandi said: “She asked the defendant for space which he did not seem to understand and she blocked him on Instagram and Facebook.”

Within a fortnight the woman began receiving threatening messages requesting naked photographs.

One message sent by Ogle from a fake account, said “Watch your boyfriend’s vehicle burn tonight”.

Then, after her car tyre was slashed, she received a further message saying: “I can make it much worse. I know where you work. I know your friends. You’ll never be safe. When I’ve finished with your boyfriend, I’m coming for you.”

The victim then found a tracking device had been fitted to her car. Ogle sent her a photograph of a man taped and tied up in the boot of a car claiming he had kidnapped her boyfriend.

The following day he sent a further photograph which also showed the registration number of Ogle’s car which led police to trace and arrest him.

Until that time the victim believed an ex-boyfriend was responsible.

Miss Thandi said the victim was so badly affected that at one point she took an overdose.

“The threats and harassment massively affected her life. She didn’t feel safe at her home, at work, or outside.

“This was clearly persistent, planned and designed to cause maximum distress.”

Ogle, 30, who gave a ‘care of’ address in Witham Town, Boston, admitted a charge of stalking causing serious alarm or distress between July 30, 2020 and August 19, 2020.

He was jailed for 28 months and given a lifetime restraining order banning him from contacting his victim and from going to any address where he knows her to be living or staying.

Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told him: “You are manipulative and self centred.

“You were directly and repeatedly threatening her and caused her to try to kill herself.”

Neil Sands, in mitigation, said Ogle has been on bail since he was arrested 13 months ago and in the interim has not contacted his victim. He urged that any prison sentence should be suspended.