Collections from Lincolnshire making their way to aid Ukraine
The unbreakable community spirit once again shining
Polish School Lincoln's 'millions' of donations have arrived in Poland for Ukrainian refugees and victims of the Russian invasion. | Photo: Fundacja Ermed
Lincolnshire has been showing its community spirit by rallying together to collect donations for victims of conflict in Ukraine, and items are starting to make their way to those in need.
The county has been showing its solidarity with Ukraine from the moment Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the Eastern European nation on February 24.
Some two weeks later and a ceasefire is still no closer, as the first round of talks between the foreign ministers of the two nations failed to make progress on Thursday, according to Ukrainian officials.
Since the conflict began, more than 2.3 million people have fled the country of Ukraine for safety, and there has been a heated discussion regarding the United Kingdom’s stance on welcoming refugees, with Gainsborough MP Edward Leigh causing controversy by claiming Lincolnshire has “done its bit” for migration from Eastern Europe.
However, in the local community, Lincolnshire has gone above and beyond to offer support, with various groups arranging collections of donations for those victims of the conflict.
Items arrived in the hands of a dedicated Polish charity on Tuesday. | Photo: Fundacja Ermed
The boxes included hygiene supplies, medicines and hampers for families to aid their survival and safety in difficult times.
Just some of the many boxes to arrive from Lincolnshire. | Photo: Fundacja Ermed
In a social media post, Fundacja Ermed praised the effort, saying: “Not only Poland, but the whole world unites forces, and your help reaches us from afar!
“This time friends from the Polish School in Lincoln arrived to us. Brave drivers Richard and Lee travelled 1600km and happily they managed to get to us. Polish School Lincoln, you guys are awesome! Thank you.”
The charity shared appreciation for the generosity of Polish School Lincoln and the wider community. | Photo: Fundacja Ermed
The work doesn’t stop there. Residents in Bardney have been rallying together to help the cause, with Karen Webster and her husband Warren organising a trip to Poland in a van to drop off supplies donated by their local community.
Lincolnshire Crusaders, as well as Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Scooter Club, have already sent a van load over to Poland, and Karen has had to stop taking donations through not having enough space to store items in the van before they set off this weekend.
A huge effort by the local residents in Bardney. | Photo: Karen Webster
Karen told The Lincolnite hundreds of pounds worth of goods were donated and she wouldn’t even begin to know how many items have been collected.
“It’s absolutely amazing how everyone pulled together,” she said. “The donations range from coats, hats, shoes, nappies, baby wipes, cotton buds, toiletries for all ages, as well as toys and food items.”
Toys will be delivered by Karen’s husband Warren by van over the weekend. | Photo: Karen Webster
As well as this, Richard Main, producer at Chapterhouse Theatre in Lincoln, has been spending the past week or so setting up numerous collection points for donations, before setting off to Poland to drop them off.
Collection points were set up in Lincoln, Doncaster, London, Chester and Wrexham, with Richard setting off on his week-long journey in a van on Sunday, March 6, with owner of Coffee Aroma Andrew Carnell.
The collection haul from donations made at Chapterhouse Theatre. | Photo: Richard Main
It isn’t just donations that have been arranged in Lincolnshire, as there have also been a number of gestures to show solitary and backing to the Ukrainian people, including a candle-lit vigil outside Lincoln Cathedral, which was lit up in the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine’s flag.
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A family-run jewellers with more than 50 years’ experience is relocating from Newark to open in Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter next week.
Smiths The Jewellers was based on Balderton Gate in Newark for 18 years, but it will now move into the unit previously occupied by Oxfam at 26-27 Sincil Street.
The new shop will open at 10am on Saturday, June 4 and the business has collaborated with Chambers Florists, also of the Cornhill Quarter, to do a jubilee themed window display.
Smiths The Jewellers is a traditional family-run business selling a wide range of jewellery, both new and pre-owned, as well as buying unwanted and broken jewellery. The shop will also offer services such as repairs, alterations and valuations.
The four employees will move over to the new shop and two new jobs have also been created.
Business owner Sonya Smith is the third generation of a family of jewellers and she told The Lincolnite: “We had some amazing customers in Newark, and also who travelled from Lincoln. We are excited to be opening in Lincoln.
“The Cornhill Quarter is vibrant and such a nice place to be and will allow us to expand. We are a great family business with a lot of loyal followers.”
The trial of a Skegness woman who denies causing the death of Nottingham Trent University student Hope Starsmore by dangerous driving has been put back until next year.
Rebecca Porter, 33, of Cottesmore Close, Skegness, was due to go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27. Her trial was expected to last four days.
However a pre-trial hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was today (Friday) told more time is needed to gather evidence from expert witnesses.
Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told Ms Porter her trial would now be listed at Lincoln Crown Court on April 17 next year.
Granting Ms Porter unconditional bail Judge Sjolin Knight explained to her: “Unfortunately there is very little realistic prospect of this trial being ready for June 27.
“I know that is difficult for you. I am sure it is also difficult for the family of the lady who was killed.”
At a previous hearing in October last year Porter pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Ms Starsmore on October 7, 2020 by dangerous driving on the A158 at Burgh le Marsh, near Skegness.
Ms Starsmore was rushed to hospital after a collision in Skegness Road, Burgh le Marsh, at around 8.15am on Wednesday, October 7.
Despite multiple operations, doctors were unable to save her and she died eight days after the crash.
Ms Starsmore had just started a course in medical science at Nottingham Trent University and wanted to become a paramedic.
Due to coronavirus, she had decided to live at home in Skegness and study. She also opted to commute to Nottingham once a week.
She was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary after the crash and placed in a medically-induced coma.
Her brother and her partner had been travelling with her on their way to Nottingham Trent University and received minor injuries.
Despite having moved to the Lincolnshire seaside, Hope had grown up in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Porter will next appear at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27 for a further pre-trial hearing.
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