There’s still time to send him something
A war veteran from Lincolnshire is shaping up to have the best birthday yet, as over 350 cards have been sent to him ahead of his big day.
Bob Sargent, a 99-year-old RAF veteran, will hit a century of years on March 24 and a volunteer at the veteran’s club he is a part of has made it her quest to make it a birthday to remember.
Bob said he only wanted “some birthday wishes” this year, but Pauline Sidebottom, a volunteer at the veteran dedicated Camaraderie Club in Lincoln, felt the community could do one better.
Bob Sargent, an RAF veteran from Lincoln, will turn 100 years old on March 24, 2021.
She issued an appeal to get people to send Bob a birthday card, which she will deliver to him herself on his big day.
Expecting there to be “around 20 cards”, Pauline said she could not believe it when over 350 arrived at her door, as well as multiple gifts.
Hundreds of people are wishing Bob a happy 100th birthday.
The Red Arrows have pledged a signed photo for Bob’s birthday, and The Lincolnite have sent him a card too.
Pauline said: “I just wanted to thank everyone who has not only shared my Facebook post but The Lincolnite for putting Bob’s 100th birthday plea for cards out there for me.
“The city of Lincoln and my village of Sudbrooke have also been amazing as I have lots of cards hand delivered. Cards have come from not only the UK but worldwide.
“The response so far has been absolutely overwhelming and so far I have had over 350 cards and 10 gifts for him.
“There are still a two weeks before Bob’s birthday, so goodness only knows what the final number will be, I shall let you all know.”
Bob Sargent (pictured right) served admirably in the RAF for a number of years.
Pauline told The Lincolnite that this gesture and idea was done as a way to “cherish our veterans” as well as anyone who has been shielding during the pandemic.
She continued: “Most of us are so lucky because when lockdown is over we will be able to start getting out and about, but unfortunately for some this is their normal life and is just another day of how lonely and isolated they can feel.
“There are some really kind, thoughtful, caring people in the world we live in. Again thank you to anyone who has sent Bob a card, it will mean the world to him.”
If you would also like to send Bob a birthday card, then post it to 32 St Edwards Drive, Sudbrooke, Lincoln, LN2 2QR.
A dramatic video shows a car engulfed in flames in the car park at Lincoln County Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
An on-call crew from Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue attended the scene on Greetwell Road shortly before 5pm on Tuesday, April 13.
The crew used one hose reel to extinguish the fire and fortunately no casualties were reported.
The car is probably a write-off. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Dramatic pictures from the scene show the severe damage that was caused to the front of the car.
Fall in county infections but a Boston spike
There have been 50 new coronavirus cases and three COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday — compared to 58 cases and no deaths this time last week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 26 new cases in Lincolnshire, 19 in North Lincolnshire and five in North East Lincolnshire.
On Tuesday, three deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, none in North East Lincolnshire and -1 in North Lincolnshire. Fluctuations in data are usually due to some deaths in those areas being reallocated to other regions across the UK or a miscount. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England has reported two new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust hospitals.
On Tuesday, national cases increased by 2,472 to 4,375,814, while deaths rose by 23 to 127,123.
In local news, people aged over 45 can now book their COVID vaccinations on the NHS website after the government reached its target of offering a first dose to the nine most vulnerable groups.
There were recently some technical difficulties for people accessing the NHS website, but vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said the issues have been fixed – book a vaccine online here and find out if you are eligible.
Over the weekend, Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate has fallen, with a spike in Boston only.
Similarly, the England average has also seen a drop in infections, but still remains nearly half Greater Lincolnshire’s rates.
Lincoln has dropped by more than half over the weekend and now has one of the smallest rates in the UK, with just 9.1 per 100,000 of the population infected with COVID-19.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s COVID-19 infection rates up to April 12:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 5 to Apr 12. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
In national news, Boris Johnson has warned that the reduction in coronavirus infections, hospitalisations and deaths “has not been achieved” by the rollout of COVID vaccines.
The prime minister, speaking the day after the latest easing of lockdown restrictions, instead said it was the national shutdown that had been “overwhelmingly important” in driving down COVID rates.
England is giving out its first doses of the Moderna jab, the third COVID-19 vaccine in the nation’s rollout.
It will be available at 21 sites, included the Madejski Stadium in Reading and the Sheffield Arena.
Along with the Pfizer jab, it offers an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for under-30s, after concerns about a possible link to very rare blood clots.
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,772 cases (up 50)
2,184 deaths (up three)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (up two)
4,375,814 UK cases, 127,123 deaths
There will be another Kill The Bill protest in Lincoln next week, rallying against a new government bill that diminishes protesting rights.
Protests have been rife across the country since the government’s proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill was first discussed, with scenes turning violent in Bristol.
Over two hundred people peacefully took part in the city’s first march at Speakers’ Corner on April 3, including Extinction Rebellion activists and Socialist and Labour supporters.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Now, after a post started doing the rounds on social media, another protest has apparently been scheduled for 2pm on Monday, April 17 at the same location on Lincoln High Street, as part of a national day of action.
A poster promoting a second event has been shared across social media platforms.
Protests are lawful once again after the government eased lockdown restrictions on March 29, but organisers are required to submit a risk assessment prior to any event.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Organisers of the last protest were in close communication with police to make the event safe, and The Lincolnite has asked Lincolnshire Police if they have been made aware of another protest, but are yet to receive a reply.
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