Bob enjoyed his special day with Pauline Sidebottom, a volunteer at the Camaraderie Club he is part of, and the brains behind the initial birthday card appeal. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A war veteran in Lincoln celebrated his 100th birthday in style, with hundreds of cards and gifts donated by the community.
Bob Sargent is an RAF veteran who served during the Second World War, and he turned 100-years-old on Wednesday, March 24.
In the build-up to his big day, an appeal was launched by The Lincolnite and Pauline Sidebottom, a volunteer at the veteran dedicated Camaraderie Club in Lincoln, to get Bob some birthday cards.
Cards were spilling off the table, Bob was spoilt for choice! | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Pauline told The Lincolnite she could never have imagined the response that she gained, as over 550 cards and 50 gifts arrived for Bob.
Gifts flooded in from the Red Arrows, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Pennells Garden Centre and many more, as well as from kind members of the local community.
Bob’s love of aircraft was highlighted by his many gifts. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincolnite went to visit Bob at his home on his special day, and he got his best suit on for it, describing the amount of support he received as “overwhelming”.
A proud moment for an inspirational man. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Bob said: “Thank you so much to everyone, it is such an honour to be given these gifts, it is fantastic.”
Fellow RAF veterans were among the many to send Bob a birthday card, prompting Bob to regularly gasp in shock and tell us all how “wonderful” the day is for him.
Bob is front page news, both on his cards and in reality! | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Bob moved to Lincolnshire 35 years ago, after spending most of his life in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
He did tours of the Middle East in the 1940s while with the Air Force, and is noted to have worked on world famous aircraft such as the Halifax and the Spitfire.
With help from his interpreter, Bob was getting through his presents. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Despite his old age, Bob can still look after himself, living alone and organising his own cooking and cleaning even to this day.
Pauline calls every single day to check up on him, and his daughter does his shopping for him due to coronavirus lockdown, but today was a day for Bob to put his feet up and relax.
A buffet was donated to go alongside the gifts, as well as a selection of his favourite cakes and a personalised birthday cake.
Bob’s personalised 100th birthday cake was designed by a volunteer at the Camaraderie Club. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
We didn’t have long with Bob, but in the time we were there he told us stories of his days in the RAF, a time which Bob describes as the best years of his life, and his love of aircraft.
Bob wasn’t shy to show off his engineering certificates from his long, illustrious career. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
When asked for his secret for living such a long and prosperous life, Bob said: “Have good will to all, and hold no disdain for anyone.
“I am also a Freemason, and we have always been taught to practice kindness.”
His anecdotes fascinated us, as he wore his war medals with pride. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Pauline described Bob as Lincolnshire’s answer to Captain Sir Tom Moore, as he became the first Camaraderie Club member to hit the 100 year milestone.
The campaign for Bob’s cards was the idea of Pauline, but she instead wanted to thank the public for their generosity.
Certainly a day to remember for Bob. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
“It was all about Bob, really. He’s had a great day and is overwhelmed by the kindness of everyone.
“Here I was thinking we would only get around 20 cards, and now we sit here with over 500 to go through, it’s amazing.”
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.
It has been a tragic week with three deaths on Lincolnshire’s roads after two male motorbike riders and a man on a pedal bike lost their lives.
The roads are now busier again after further lockdown restrictions were eased on April 12, but since then three men have sadly died.
A man died after falling from his pedal bike in Branston on Wednesday, April 14 and police said his death is not being treated as suspicious.
On the same day, a 34-year-old male died after a crash involving two motorcycles near Gainsborough.
The man who lost his life in the collision was riding a silver Wuyang motorcycle. The second motorcycle was a blue Suzuki being ridden by a man in his 30s, who was taken to hospital with suspected serious injuries.
A 54-year-old man from North Lincolnshire also died after his motorbike crashed with a Royal Mail post van on the A631 near Glentham at around 4pm on Thursday, April 15.
This comes after it was revealed on March 11 that for the first time in over three decades nobody had died on the county’s roads in the first months of the year, according to Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.
Lincolnshire Police revealed earlier this week that between 2018 and 2020 twenty five motorcyclists lost their lives on Lincolnshire’s roads.
There have been 285 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and eight COVID-related deaths so far this week – a 7% drop in cases and one less death from the previous week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday recorded 32 new cases in Lincolnshire, eight in North Lincolnshire and three in North East Lincolnshire.
On April 16, three deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and none in Northern Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported two hospitals this week so far, compared to none this time last week.
On Friday, national cases increased by 2,596 to 4,383,732, while deaths rose by 34 to 127,225.
In local news, Lincolnshire health bosses expect COVID-19 cases to rise in our region as lockdown is eased, but are optimistic that if numbers are kept low enough, then people will be free to enjoy the summer.
Andy Fox, Deputy Director of Public Health at Lincolnshire County Council, said the lifting of coronavirus restrictions this week had not caused any specific concerns yet.
Since Wednesday, Greater Lincolnshire has again seen a decrease in its infection rates overall, against an increase nationally.
All districts have seen a fall in their rates, except small increases in North Lincolnshire and South Holland. Lincoln has stayed the same and has the lowest rate in the region.
Boston has the highest infection rate of COVID-19 in Greater Lincolnshire and is ranked 9th in the UK.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates up to April 16:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 9 to Apr 16. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
England’s R number has dropped slightly to between 0.7 and 1 according to the latest data this week. This means for every 10 people infected with COVID-19, they will pass it on to between seven and 10 others.
The new Indian variant of the COVID virus that’s been detected in the UK has all the hallmarks of a very dangerous virus.
It has two new significant mutations in the spike protein that help it infect cells and evade the immune system.
People are “likely” to need a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine within 12 months of getting the first two, Pfizer’s chief executive has said.
Dr Albert Bourla said a booster jab could be necessary “somewhere between six and 12 months” after the second one – and every year thereafter.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, April 16
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,919 cases (up 43)
41,028 in Lincolnshire (up 32)
9,275 in North Lincolnshire (up eight)
8,616 in North East Lincolnshire (up three)
2,185 deaths (up three)
1,613 from Lincolnshire (up three)
304 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (no change)
810 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,383,732 UK cases, 127,225 deaths
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.
Plans to demolish part of a former play centre and Chinese takeaway to build 41 new student flats, have been submitted to the City of Lincoln Council.
Killingbeck PLG has applied for permission to demolish “most” of the existing facade of the former home of Imagination Station and Big Wok, on Beaumont Fee, and rebuild it as part of the development.
The main hall, a warehouse and a recently built “link block” to the rear of the building will also be demolished, and will be completely replaced with a new extension.
In documents to the council, the applicant describes how the 41”study bedrooms” will be en-suite and open off a central circulation area.
The build will form part of the Iconinc post-graduate residential units development next door and will sit opposite the Park Court student accommodation on Park Street.
It will include 12 apartments on the ground floor, 11 at first and second floor and seven units on the third floor.
How the build could look.
The application said: “There is a clear need for good quality, post-graduate, city centre, residential accommodation and the economic case for the redevelopment of the site is reinforced by the fact the site can be linked with the new Iconic development so amenities can be shared.
“The demolition of the existing property and the proposed redevelopment will bring positive benefits to the area economically and aesthetically.”
As part of the build, residents will gain shared access to existing facilities including the gym.
Whatsapp
