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©Kirton News 2025
December / January 2025
What a photo to grace our front cover this Christmas edition, and in full colour! We do like to spoil you. I do love Christmas and I appreciate it’s a bit of a ‘marmite’ thing nowadays! I would decorate earlier than is socially acceptable (given half the chance), much to the annoyance of my family! I have many treasured memories (I consider myself extremely lucky in that regard) and there’s just something warm and comforting about the lights, the music and wrapping up warm with maybe a not so small glass of mulled wine!
We will be donating some food parcels to Kirton families in need again this year. It’s something that we’ve done for the past few years, and it hopefully makes a small difference and means Christmas is that bit easier. Please email me if you know of anyone who could benefit from this. Names of recipients will not be published, either in the magazine or on social media. We will also be hosting our Annual Coffee Morning at Kirton Town Hall again this December for our wonderful band of distributors. It’s always a great chance to get together and say a huge ‘Thank You’ in person!
I don’t quite know where to start with this issue! We have been literally bombarded with events, letters, recipes, you name it! More than ever this Christmas, Kirton News truly belongs to you all.
Please keep those contributions coming in 2026! I’m always contactable at Editor@kirtonnews.co.uk.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Kirton Church Fund
Congratulations to both our winners who have both had previous wins.
Numbers are always well mixed up and winners are drawn after our Sunday service on the last Sunday of each month by members of the congregation while having coffee. However our December draw will take place on Sunday 21st December so there is still time to join the Kirton Church Fund monthly draw in time for Christmas. Wouldn’t a Christmas win come in handy?
Anyone over 18 may take part. Just email Fay for a registration form (fayngeoff@gmail.com) or collect one from the back of church or from Paula’s Gifts at the bottom of Station Road.
You can of course join at any time during the year. Each number is £5 per month. This can be paid £60 annually, £30 for 6 months and £15 for 3 months. You can of course pay the £5 monthly if you wish. The price of the numbers hasn’t changed at all since the Kirton Church Fund started in June 2012. I can’t think of anything else that hasn’t gone up in price in the last 13 years! Do let me know if you can!
The prize fund each month is 1/4 of the money taken each month. The rest of the money currently goes into our Roof Appeal Match Funding to enable us to get grants for the up–keep of our beautiful church building.
The more people that join the higher the prize fund and the more money we raise for the church.
The November draw winning numbers will be printed in the next Kirton News magazine which is in February. The winning numbers for December will also be printed in the February magazine.
For more information about the Kirton Church Fund, please email Fay.
As this is my last report of the year I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and also send my very best wishes for a happy, healthy and especially lucky 2026.
October 2025 Winners
1st PRIZE - £46.87- TICKET NUMBER: 98
2nd PRIZE - £15.63-
TICKET NUMBER: 4
Data protection. All information (name, address and phone number) of Kirton Church Fund members is held solely for the purpose of managing Kirton Church Fund and is not passed on to any other organisation or used for any other purpose.
Meet The Locals
This month, we hear from Darren Rush, the owner of Green Escapes Lincs - Unwind Beneath Lincolnshire’s Endless Skies!
Tucked away in the quiet village of Wigtoft near Boston, Lincolnshire, Green Escapes Lincs offers something truly special - railway carriages reborn as luxury lodges.
Green Escapes began with a simple idea: to create a peaceful, sustainable getaway where people could slow down, unwind, and reconnect with nature. What started as a small project using repurposed railway carriages has blossomed into a unique collection of cosy glamping lodges and Shepherd’s Huts, each with its own charm and comfort.
Every lodge has been thoughtfully designed to offer the perfect balance of modern comfort and rustic charm – from soft beds and fully equipped kitchen areas to private outdoor spaces and hot tubs where you can soak beneath the stars.
Blending rural charm with modern comfort, each lodge features its own private hot tub and countryside views.
We’re a family-run escape from the hustle and bustle, tucked away on our working farm in Wigtoft, surrounded by open fields, big skies, and the peaceful sounds of nature.
Whether it’s the rustle of leaves, the songs of birds at the nearby RSPB reserves, or the warm glow of a private hot tub under the stars, there’s something here to make every stay special!
Keep your eye out on the website for offers! www.greenescapeslincs.co.uk, Tel: 07976 979113, Email: greenescapeslincs@gmail.com
Blue Elephant Yoga
As I sit down to write this month’s article, I realise that many of the themes I’ve shared over the past few months keep circling back to the same few things - namely:
Slowing the breath, taking a moment, and spending time in nature.
Hardly new or groundbreaking stuff, but simple, free, and surprisingly effective - yet somehow, they’re the first things to disappear when life gets busy. And if there’s ever a time of year when that happens and when we most need a bit of extra calm - it’s Christmas!
I think we’d all agree that we pile on a bit too much expectation for just one day with the food, the gifts, the get-togethers - all the things we love about Christmas I suppose. But while focusing on those, we often miss the quiet moments in between: the simple joy of a crisp winter walk, the comfort of sitting in the warmth with a cup of tea watching the world outside, the stillness of a frosty morning before everyone else awakes.
So this year, maybe it’s not about doing more. Maybe it’s about being more present. Take a breath before you write that shopping list. Step outside and notice the winter light glinting through bare branches. Allow yourself to pause, even if it’s just for a minute.
If there’s one gift worth giving yourself this Christmas, it’s calm - the kind that comes from stillness, not perfection.
And who knows, perhaps next year I’ll still be here reminding you (and myself) of the same thing: to slow the breath, take a moment, and get outdoors. But then, some messages are worth repeating.
“The greatest gift is not found under the tree, but in the quiet moments of peace we give ourselves.”
Letters to the Editor
An explanation, an apology and
a thank you!
Last Wednesday, (6th November), I was locking up the north porch after a funeral and had just fastened the padlock to the gate when I realised that the church door had closed behind me. This door when it closes has an atomatic bolt and is impossible to open from the outside when it closes. So I was trapped as my keys for the padlock were in church. Stupid thing to do but these things happen.
Now for my apology. I’m really sorry if I disturbed your afternoon with my shouting and banging but this was my only way to alert someone to my predicament. (Yes, my mobile phone was in church too as I had no pockets in what I was wearing!)
Several people stopped and looked towards the church but I don’t think they could see me as the porch is rather dark. I was was begining to despair of a rescue when two lovely ladies, Sarah and Alex from Kirton Kids Club came running across the grass towards me and shouting we’re coming.
Thank you so much ladies for coming to my rescue. You really saved me as no one knew I was there.
They call us a nation of animal lovers, but, are we though? I wonder, we look in horror and maybe even anger at animal charity ads portraying dogs cats etc who have clearly been given a hard time, we tell ourselves that we would never treat our four-legged friends so badly, and perhaps make a donation to the said charity to salve our conscience.
But then the firework season comes around and you can’t wait to get out there and buy the one with the biggest BANG! and do this not only on the designated day, but days before and after and every time you do this you deeply terrify and traumatise the creatures you said you would never harm you should be ashamed.
VE Day Seat
You will have perhaps noticed a new seat under the tree in The Rec (the grounds behind Kirton Town Hall). It has been erected in memory of the 80th Anniversary of D Day.
Paula Davies and I got together to arrange an Afternoon Tea to celebrate this special day in history. Along with some amazing volunteer helpers, this enabled us to raise a good amount of money and a seat was ordered.
We then realised that we did not have enough to order a substantial enough seat, of good quality that would last. Councillor Claire Rylott then came forward with a grant of £1000 from the Councillors Grant Scheme which she awarded to us. Thank You Claire, this was very much appreciated. The Town Hall Management Committee raised the rest from various activities at the Town Hall. W
e also need to thank the Kirton Parish Council for letting us erect the seat under the tree and for agreeing to insure it for the future. The seat is for all to use in our village community and I am sure will be used by many over the coming years.
Message from Father Paul
As Christmas approaches we begin to think of our families, we long for the past where all our families would gather together around the fire exchanging presents, with snow on the ground and the sound of a choir singing carols. This of cause a romantic view of Christmas, an image that we only find on the television, on the front of Christmas cards, but there is an element of truth in it. As I have grown older my want for presents has been replaced with the want for presence of my family around me, seeing them has become of greater value.
In many ways this is the message of Christmas, God wants us his children to be present, to be with him, not just at Christmas but always. This is why God sent his only son, his very self to be with us, as one with us, so that we may know God and God may know us. God’s present to us is his very self, not just for Christmas, but for all time.
Show your love to your family as God shows his love for us, not in expensive presents but by your very presence.
Boston Classic Car Club 35th Anniversary Lunch
Boston Classic Car Club marked its 35th Anniversary recently by hosting a celebratory lunch for members. Three founder members attended the event including John Dawson, Fred Bailey and John Simpson (Chairman).
Citizens Advice Mid Lincs has set up a new baby bank
The Baby Bliss Project aims to help alleviate the effects of child poverty, while reducing waste and encouraging families to re-gift items that they no longer need.
Our local charity is collecting public donations of essential items for babies and children aged 0-3 years. The items are then passed on for free, from one family to another. It is a lifeline for families who need help, providing parents with support, and children with the items that they need to thrive. The project supports families in need in Boston and North Kesteven.
Louise Buckingham, CEO of Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire says “We absolutely know that there is a need for this project. Prior to setting up Baby Bliss, there wasn’t any baby bank provision in Boston or North Kesteven. We are seeing more and more families who are unable to afford the basics such as clothes and nappies”.
As well as receiving kind donations from the public, we are working in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council and their Tattershall Recycling Centre who are collecting larger items such as prams, buggies and highchairs for the project.
In addition to receiving support to access baby items, the Baby Bliss Project also offers assistance to help resolve the root cause of the family's financial hardship. Citizens Advice advisers are able to assist families with income maximisation, financial capability and grant searches as well as providing employment and housing advice.
If you have a baby aged 0-3 years and are struggling to buy the essentials that you need, please contact us as we are here to help.
If you would like to support the Baby Bliss project, we are currently looking for donations of the following items:
• Nappies and baby toiletries
• Clothes aged 0-3 years
• Prams and buggies (excluding those with car seats attached)
• Baby Baths
• Highchairs
• Moses baskets
Alternatively, financial donations are welcomed via crowdfunder:
All donations will be gratefully received and used to purchase essential items such as nappies, wet wipes and baby toiletries.
For more details regarding how you can donate items, or to receive support from the Baby Bliss Project please contact Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire on 08082787942. Alternatively, you can email your query to: outreach@citizensadvicemidlincs.org.uk or attend one of our face to face drop in sessions.
For information about our service, drop in opening times and how we can help you, please take a look at our website www.camidlincs.org.uk
Kirton Parish Council Meeting Minutes
- October 2025
Present Councillors
Cllr M Sohail, Chair, Cllr A Bowen, Vice Chair, Cllr J Barton, Cllr M Elston, Cllr Hartfil-Allgood, Cllr P Head, & Cllr L O’Connor. Also Present: Clerk D. Fairweather. County Cllrs P. Lock and B. Daish and 11 members of the public.
Public Forum
Concerns of sever potholes at entrance to Dennis Estate. Cllr Bowen to report to Fix my Street.
Request for a bus shelter, on the war memorial side of the main road, now the tree has been removed.
Further complaints of speed and parking in King Street and Willington Road areas. Residents attending to hear if any progress made.
Reports From Elected County Councillors & Borough Councillors
Cllr Daish – following on from the numerous complaints of traffic, speed and parking at the Kings Street/Willington Road junction, Cllr Daish reviews are underway with several options being considered. It was agreed to gather as much evidence from residents over a period of two weeks, to assist with this. Problems are split between the responsibility of Highways and the Polie for enforcing. Traffic wardens are given minimal hours in the Parishes.
Cllrs Daish & Lock were to drive around the areas with Highways officer during the coming weeks.
Cllr Pryke - Active Lincolnshire have admitted that the Kirton Leisure Centre they mention on their website is the one that closed in 2015. They’re also looking into why they think our population is 50% higher than reality and I’ve asked them to list all 19 leisure facilities they claim Kirton and Frampton have.
To Receive Apologies
For Absence
were received, and accepted from Cllrs Baillie, Jarvis, Pryke and Borough Cllr Middleton. All resolved to accept reasons given.
To Receive Declarations Of Interest Under The Council’s Code Of Conduct Relating To Business On The Agenda
None
To Approve Notes Of Meetings Held On 28th August & 2nd & 18th September 2025
Proposed Bowen seconded Cllr Sohail that these be accepted as a true copy to be signed as minutes. Unanimous.
To Receive Matters Arising And Clerks Updates From The Minutes And Included On The Agenda
Town Hall works – Company found to survey and awaiting report. Insurance Company believe there could be a valid claim. The re-routing of the rainwater goods has made an improvement, and replacement air blocks would also assist. There is no dry rot but woodworm on floor joists under the main floor. They are to quote for the complete works, including replacing floor in storeroom.
Circular tree bench is complete, awaiting tree works before installation. Money received from Town Hall Management.
Town Hall rough area – work now completed and area reseeded, as is the cemetery where the soil had been used from. Complaints from children as they do not like it being open.
War memorial railings. Work included in the previous grant, but quotation received £6215 was more than monies available. May budget for precept.
Spoken with Father Paul regarding bollards on Church footpath. A faculty is required but PCC to discuss a contribution towards cost.
Co-Opt New Councillors
Previous Councillors Peter Head, proposed Cllr Hartfil-Allgood, seconded Cllr O’Connor and June Barton, proposed Cllr Bowen, seconded Cllr Sohail were to return to the Parish Council. Declarations of Acceptance of Office duly signed.
To Receive Events Updates
Remembrance parade – road closure submitted. Chris and Pat have volunteered to serve teas and coffees. Resident from last year volunteered a sound system and he is available to assist.
Suggestions that as Party in The Park was cancelled a Halloween party could be held. Cllr Hartfil-Allgood suggested as that is short notice, revert to a Picnic in the Park for the opening of the new play equipment.
To Approve/Adopt The Civility & Respect Policy
As per discussion at September meeting, proposed Cllr Bowen seconded Cllr O’Connor this be adopted. Four fore, three abstentions.
To Discuss Speed Re-Active Road Signs
As this was at Cllr Pryke’s request, agreed to postpone until next meeting.
To Discuss Health & Safety Issues
Agreed to have a small working group of Clerk, Chair and Vice with Paula Davies, the H & S officer for the Town Hall Management Committee. Meeting to be arranged.
Finance
a) To Approve Payment of Accounts as per schedule, from two previous months. Proposed Cllr Bowen, seconded Cllr O’Connor. Two abstentions. Chair reminded everyone these documents are received within time to be inspected and the formality of signing off should be a simple matter.
b) To Approve Donation to Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Previously donated. Proposed Cllr Sohail seconded Cllr Hartfil-Allgood that £50 be donated again this year.
Planning
To Discuss Applications Received Since Last Meeting
B/25/0240 Duckworth extension - favourable
Various TPO’s approved.
Members Reports
AB – Advised a thank you letter had been received from the Frampton play group for the £400 donation from the coffee morning. Felt a well done is required to ladies who run the event.
PH An idea put forward for a Christmas Bingo Raffle. Tickets sold at the two remaining Bingo’s and the draw made at the December event.
THA received complaints of parking on bend at the Church. County Cllrs to add this to their visit with Highways. Neighbourhood Watch in Hardwick Estate well supported and now expanding to Dennis Estate. Posters are due for lampposts. To advise public on FB.
LO Mailbox to heaven for the cemetery. Agenda item for next meeting.
To Receive Correspondence
Father Neil is to hold the Carol Service at the Town Hall on 20th December from 6-8. The PC has assisted with this in the past. Should the event incur a rent and should THMC and PC split cost.
LCC – replacement salt for bins available.
Resident requesting what grant money is to be spent and could a reactive speed sign be purchased.
University student wishing to carry out small scale infiltration measurements at Dame Sarah Swift for dissertation.
Request from a resident for village entrance gates. Advised difficult as numerous entrances to the village.
Complaints regarding inconsiderate parking at school start and end times, particularly in Hardwick Estate, with residents’ garages and driveways being blocked. PC to write to school asking if they would remind parents to park considerately.
General – Litter picker is away 14th to 21st, now we do not employ someone in her absence, can we keep an eye, mainly on High Street, Town Hall and Dame Sarah Swift.
Christmas – is tree to be back in the war memorial? Clerk to approach donor from last year. Does light switch on to be 29th November after Town Hall Market?
Date Of Next Meeting
Tuesday 4th November 2025.