Alex Colman

A charity event will take place on January 29 to celebrate Australia Day (January 26) and to mark Lincoln’s twinning relationship with Port Lincoln in Australia.

Some £70,000 has been raised for charity by the Great Australian Breakfast over the last 20 years, which runs on Sunday from 8:30am to 12:30pm at The Lawn.

Entertainment is being provided by the City of Lincoln Band, starting the day off with a rendition of the Australian national anthem, followed by the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Concert Band from 10am and from 11am folk group Ploughman’s Bunch.

A full English breakfast will be served at the event with food and refreshments donated by local businesses including: Mouchel, AT Events, AW Curtis and Son, Noble Foods, Brake Brothers, Cooke-Connell, R and J Leisure and Poundland.

Proceeds are split between local charities and the Mayor of Lincoln’s chosen charity, Lincoln Women’s Aid.

Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Kathleen Brothwell, said: “I am very much looking forward to the Great Australian Breakfast, the event brings people together, it’s always good fun, and I hope Lincoln people come out in force to support it once more, raising much needed funds for local and national charities.”

Tickets for the Great Australian Breakfast 2012 cost £4 for adults and £2.50 for children but are free for Australian passport holders.

Possibly another blow for Lincoln’s High Street, as Peacock Group — including Bonmarche Ltd — announced it has gone into administration.

Two stores could be affected in the city with a Peacocks store on the High Street and a Bonmarche shop on Cornhill, employing dozens of people.

The Peacock Group has stores outside of the city across seven Lincolnshire towns, including Grimsby, Gainsborough, Spalding, Immingham, Boston, Skegness and Louth.

Existing management are still in place at Bonmarche Ltd, with no administrators in place, as the company is in advanced and exclusive discussions with a potential buyer.

Administrators, KPMG LLP, have been appointed to manage the business going forward, as potential investors are sought.

Peacock Group Chief Executive, Richard Kirk, expressed great sadness that a brand with great heritage has been left with no other option but to be placed into administration.

Kirk said: “This is a hugely sad development for all of our stakeholders, especially our employees who have shown total commitment to the business over an uncertain and difficult period.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all colleagues for their hard work and dedication during their time with the group.”

Currently the affairs, business and property of the company are being managed by the joint administrators.