Matt Discombe

Barrie Pierpoint hands over to Jon Grubb

Lincolnshire Sports Partnership has announced that a local businessman is to take over as Chairman.

Jon Grubb, who own Lincolnshire PR firm Grubb Street Media, has taken over the role at the partnership’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, September 26, as outgoing Chairman Barrie Pierpoint retired.

As Chairman, Mr Grubb will guide the Board of Trustees and Directors and promote the partnership throughout Lincolnshire.

Mr Grubb has 22 years of experience in the media industry, working for newspapers in Buckinghamshire, Gloucester and Nottingham. He has also been an Editor for the Scunthorpe Telegraph and the Lincolnshire Echo in the past ten years.

He is currently a Senior Visiting Fellow of the University of Lincoln Business School and the Media Faculty, Member of the Board of Lincolnshire Crimestoppers and Chairman of Lincoln Book Festival.

Jon Grubb said: “I’m passionate about the county. It’s a fantastic place to live and work and having grown up and worked here I want to do something to help enhance the excellent quality of life. Sport and physical activity is important to the health and well-being of the community and our elite athletes can bring pride and recognition to the area.”

Lincolnshire Sports Partnership offers guidance and support to more than 1,000 voluntary and community sports groups across Lincolnshire.

Their new Chairman is also a Member of the Lincoln Cathedral Business Advisory Group, Lay governor at Lincoln College and a Member of the Lincolnshire Business Convention Organising Committee.

Janet Inman, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Jon to the Board. He brings a wealth of experience and local knowledge and I know he is very keen to ensure that we increase the number of people leading a healthy, sporting lifestyle across Lincolnshire.”

A Lincoln fish and chip shop, judged as one of the top ten in Britain, will compete in the National Fish and Chip Awards 2013.

Burton Road Fish & Chips, judged as the best in eastern England, will compete in the ‘Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop Of The Year Award’ category.

The shop fought off competition from five shops from across the region to take their place in the final in London on January 24 next year.

Each of the finalists have been invited to visit Norway to study sustainable fishing and the supply chain of frozen at sea fish to the UK.

Burton Road Fish & Chips scored high marks in food quality, customer service, and shop attractiveness when visited by awards judges this month. The shop’s hygiene, marketing and training was also inspected before the nomination.

The awards are run by industry body Seafish, which was founded in 1981 to support all sectors of the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future.

Des Anastasiou, owner of Burton Road Fish & Chips, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that our shop is in the final. It means the world to us as it recognises all our hard work and innovation. I think we have got this far because we work hard and provide quality fish and chips in a friendly, clean environment. That’s what makes us stand out.”

Burton Road Fish & Chips won awards for ‘Best Chippy Chips in the East of England’ in the Choice Chip Awards and for ‘Best Quality’ from the National Federation of Fish Friers Fish and Chip Quality Award scheme earlier this year.

“We feel we are the best fish and chip shop in the region, so I think we’re in with a chance of winning. This award gives us the chance to champion our staff and the standard of fish and chips in the area. We’re going to give it our best to win it for Lincoln,” said Des.

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite