©Kirton News 2025

October 2025

The Editors Letter

Is it Autumn, or is it still Summer? One minute I have the fire on and the next, I’m back in my sandals! It’s the same every year but we never quite get used to it do we? We have another lovely front cover from ‘back in the day’ that continues to celebrate our 60th year in print. We amble down memory lane again as Part 2 of Kirton News’ history continues on Page 13!

We have lots more Autumnal events and groups to share in this issue from Last Night of The Proms to Coffee Mornings and more! John Cullen Gardens feature as our Meet the Local on Page 8! Please do email me if you would like to feature in a 2026 edition!

I wanted to remind you all how much we like to ‘give back’ at Kirton News. We are a community publication working for you all. Without you, it simply wouldn’t exist. I am passionate about local groups and causes so please email me and I’ll see if I can help.

If you have anything you’d like to say, someone you’d like to thank, a poem, recipe or a puzzle you’d like to share, get in touch! I’m always contactable at Editor@kirtonnews.co.uk.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Rachael.

Kirton Church Fund

The October draw takes place on Sunday 28th with winning numbers printed in the December magazine.

Congratulations to our winners. Both have won before and co-incidently the first prize winner also won the first prize last November with one of his other numbers.

You may have noticed that the prize money has gone down again this month. That is because we have lost another member. There are only 49 numbers in the draw and 31 members playing those numbers so there is a really good chance of winning. How about joining us, you could be lucky and win?

Anyone over 18 may take part. The prize fund each month is 1/4 of the money taken each month. The rest of the money goes to the Kirton Church Fund. The more people that join the higher the prize fund and the more money we raise for the up keep of our beautiful church.

You can join at any time during the year at still only £5 ticket per month and therefore £60 annually, £30 for 6 months and £15 for 3 months. You can of course pay the £5 monthly if you wish. You can also have more than one number if you would like to increase your chances as our 1st prize winner does.

Not already a member? Then why not come and join us?

Registration forms are available from Fay, please emai fayngeoff@gmail.com. Forms are also available from the church or from Paula’s Gifts at the bottom of Station Road.

Like more information about Kirton Church Fund? Then please email Fay .

August 2025 Winners

1st PRIZE - £45.94 - TICKET NUMBER: 96
2nd PRIZE - £15.31 - TICKET NUMBER: 105

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 meet John, who runs John Cullen Gardens based in Algarkirk!

I moved from London to Algarkirk in 2015. We specialise in plants for the pollinators, culinary and medicinal herbs and hold the National Collection of Achillea Millefolium.

Our nursery is open on the 1st Wednesday and 1st Saturday of each month from March to August but appointments can be made to visit outside these dates. We grow from the usual to the unusual! and are multi award winning including many RHS medals. We are fully organic and peat free.

Please contact us on social media @johncullengardens or on 07931 634933.

Blue Elephant Yoga

October often feels like a turning point in the year. The long, light evenings of summer fade, and the pace of life begins to change. The days grow shorter, the mornings a little colder, and there’s a natural pull towards slowing down.

If you look at the trees, you’ll notice how they adapt to this shift. Energy is drawn inward to the roots, and the leaves, instead of clinging tightly, release their hold and fall gracefully to the ground. What could be seen as loss is actually a vital part of the cycle - a way of creating space for rest and renewal.

In yoga, there’s a principle that mirrors this perfectly. It’s called Aparigraha, one of the traditional guidelines for living well. The word simply means “non-grasping” or “letting go.” Just as the trees don’t hold on to every single leaf, Aparigraha teaches us that we don’t need to hold on tightly to everything in our own lives.

That might be worries we turn over and over in our minds, habits that no longer serve us, or even a tendency to keep ourselves constantly busy. Letting go doesn’t mean giving up or caring less, it means lightening our load, so there’s room for balance, peace, and growth.

Of course, letting go isn’t always easy. We’re used to juggling thoughts about the past and the future, sometimes without even realising it. But we can practise Aparigraha in very simple, gentle ways.

What Could You Release Today?

The next time you’re outside, pick up a fallen leaf. Hold it in your hand and take a breath. As you look at it, think of one small thing you’re ready to release - maybe a stress, a thought that’s been weighing on you, or even a task that doesn’t really matter. When you’re ready, let the leaf fall back to the ground. As it leaves your hand, breathe out slowly and feel a little space open up inside you.

This season reminds us that balance doesn’t come from clinging, but from knowing when to loosen our grip. Autumn isn’t just about endings, but about creating room for rest, reflection, and eventually, new beginnings.

If you’d like to explore ideas like Aparigraha more deeply, yoga is a wonderful place to start. There are many welcoming classes and skilled instructors locally who can help you discover not only the physical side of yoga, but also its gentle guidance for daily life.

Namaste

Celebrating 10 years of Kirton Community Library

To celebrate 10 years of the Community Library we invite you to come and meet us on Saturday 11th October. On this special day we will be open from 10am - 4pm when you will have the chance to find out more about the library and its volunteers. You will be invited to share your views, on preferred opening hours, activities such a story time, book club, PC help or anything which would encourage you to use the library. On this special extended day there will be free refreshments and story time and activities with a volunteer for accompanied little ones. Remember the adage Use it or lose it.

We have a modest collection of books, but Lincolnshire Library service operates a rotation system by which some books are changed every week. There is also an efficient reservation system which can be accessed in the library or online with books delivered to the library every Tuesday. Free membership allows use of any of the Lincolnshire libraries and the eBook collection.

In addition to books for all ages and interests, from picture books to large print, we offer free use of computers, which the volunteers are always happy to help with. These library computers also offer free access to things like Ancestry, The British Newspaper Archive and various newspapers and magazines. There is also a multipurpose printer available with very reasonable charges

Located on Wash Lane, opposite the Duckworth Jaguar garage we are usually open: Tuesday 10am – 12noon: Thursday 2pm-4pm; Saturday 10am – 12noon.

Do come and show your support for this important local amenity on Saturday 11th October.

Public libraries have existed in Britain since 1850, and The Public Libraries Act of 1919 aimed to create a unified and efficient national library system by encouraging cooperation and coordination between local authorities. This resulted in libraries with collections of fiction books and extensive reference sections, which were essential source of information before internet searches became available in the last 30 years. Almost every small town and village had a library, staffed by professional librarians to help and advice their users.

This situation changed after 2011 when, as a cost cutting measure, it was decided that councils no longer had to finance this well-loved amenity. Although the core libraries remained, staff were withdrawn from smaller branches with these being offered to community groups to run on a voluntary basis. With books and equipment supplied by the Library Service, and with a small grant, the Community Hubs came into being. In Lincolnshire we now have 16 core libraries and 34 volunteer community hubs.

Some of the community libraries were located in council properties which they were able to retain, other have found homes in Co-op stores or as part of larger community buildings but here in Kirton there was nowhere suitable in the centre of the village.

Fortunately, Neal Mugglestone at the New Life Church, offered us space in his building and incorporated the library into his plans for a new Church and Community Hub being built on wash Lane by the A16. Ten years later this building is slowly taking shape as funds are raised for each stage.

Meanwhile Kirton Community Library was set up in the temporary building and volunteers recruited to open to the public for limited hours three times a week. Please do use your local library.

Boston Classic Car Club
33rd Annual Show

The BCCC Annual Show took place on 10th August with perfect weather, an excellent turnout and an eclectic mix of around 540 classic vehicles - all of which had pre-booked and exhibited free of charge. Held at Orchard Park Field in Hubbert’s Bridge near Boston for the fifth year running the event proved to be the most successful to date with well over 1500 members of the public enjoying the display of lovingly prepared and presented classics.

Singing duo, Infinity Max provided well appreciated entertainment on two occasions during the day with selections of songs from the 60’s and 70’s together with hits from ABBA. Practical Classics Editor, Danny Hopkins took part, together with BCCC Chairman, John Simpson, in a Question and Answer session during the afternoon which proved fascinating and enlightening as well as entertaining to their appreciative audience.

At the end of the day, for those drivers who had their vehicles judged during the show, the winners and runners up from the various categories and eras were presented with their trophies by well-known personality Sarah Crabtree and Danny Hopkins.

The array of trade stands proved of interest to many of the exhibitors and visitors alike as did the food stalls (with the ice cream sellers particularly having a very busy time!). The raffle held on the day raised a healthy amount for LIVES which is the Club charity for this year.

Spalding Sea Cadets carried out car parking duties with efficiency and courtesy and their efforts were very appreciated by the Club.

The Club is indebted to Mr David May for the use of both the Show field and the car parking field. Without his help, which went above and beyond, the Show would not have been the resounding success it was.

Club members and other members of their families, worked tirelessly on the day and for many days before and after, to ensure that the event ran smoothly and Show Organiser, Graham Lunn, was always available to deal rapidly and professionally with any unforeseen issues.

The Boston Classic Car Club’s 33rd Annual Show in its 35th Anniversary year was much appreciated by all and was, by a considerable degree, the best yet. Next Year the BCCC Annual Show will be held on Sunday 9th August 2026.

Kirton News turns Sixty!

Taking Kirton News into the new Millennium as our 6th Editors were David & Sylvia Hilton. After moving up to Kirton from the South, the pair quickly became involved in all things ‘community’ around the village, firstly converting their home on Boston Road into a guest house and then joining the many clubs and societies around the village including: The Church in Kirton Magazine, Kirton Keep Fit, Kirton Craft Club to name but a few, and becoming active members of The Parish Church. One of David & Sylvia’s innovations for the magazine was to record all the articles each month onto a master tape, that was then duplicated onto cassette tapes for the blind.

After completing their 4 years of service, the Editorship passed to Lesley Lanfranco in 2004. Our archive of minutes stated “Lesley is married with 2 children aged 11 and 9 and has an extremely busy life but nevertheless has agreed to take on Editorship and has many ideas for the magazine” and indeed she did! Lesley’s first decision was to increase the amount of copies printed to account for the ever growing population of Kirton. Her second and most radical idea was to rename the magazine from ‘The Church in Kirton’ to ‘Kirton News’ s at this point, the Churches’ contributions were decreasing and they were considering putting out their own magazine.

After a couple of years, Lesley stepped down in 2006 and the 8th Editor was Roger Booth. Like David Hilton before him, Roger, and his wife Elsie had moved to Kirton to retire after his career as a Marine Engineer. Roger’s main contribution was to digitise production as he declared Kirton News should move towards receiving all articles via email and should feature all of its content online. So, from April 2007 our website was launched and since then, everything has appeared on the internet!

We now have a vast archive of previous editions that can be accessed online. Roger recounted many stories of his time at sea that were published in 7 parts within the magazine. After several years living in the village, Roger & Elsie made the decision to emigrate to Australia and left us with this farewell message: ‘Dear readers, well this is it – my swan song. I have really enjoyed doing my editor ‘thing’. I have met many interesting people and owe a big thank you to the contributors who are too many to mention individually. Contributions range across old pictures, stories, features, poems, crosswords, etc. I have mentioned before keep your contributions coming – it’s a Kirton magazine for the people and by the people who live here. A big thank you also to the people who distribute the magazine.’

2008 saw Catrina Smith take on the role of Editor. Catrina did a sterling job for 2 years but then in July informed the committee she was leaving the village and therefore left us without an editor for September. An urgent committee meeting was called with the future of the magazine in jeopardy. Thankfully, David & Sylvia Hilton (still involved recording the tapes), agreed to come out of retirement to take up the reins once again. They quickly launched anurgent appeal featuring Lord Kitchener on the cover to seek out a new editor and after several weeks, Joan Woods agreed to come on board as our 11th Editor. Sadly, her time with Kirton News was brief as her husband became ill and she needed to dedicate her time to care for him. So in October 2011, our Advertising Manager at the time, Sam Chapman agreed to become our 12th Editor.

Concludes next month

Our 6th Editors, David & Sylvia Hilton

Our 7th & 8th Editors, Lesley Lanfranco (left) and
Roger and Elsie Booth (Centre and right)

Information from Citizens Advice

I’m starting to book tickets for Christmas events, but I’ve seen lots of stories in the news about people being left out of pocket if these are cancelled at the last minute, which is making me nervous. How can I get a refund if this happens to me?

Keep an eye on the organiser’s website and social media profiles for all the latest updates. You won’t be entitled to a refund if you change your mind about going or realise you can’t go anymore - but if an event is cancelled, your refund rights will depend on how you bought the ticket.

If you bought your ticket from an official seller and the organiser cancels, moves, or reschedules the event, you should get a refund. The official seller is the best point of contact to ask about how to get your money back.

If you’re having no luck getting a refund, check to see if the seller is a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR). If they are, you can use STAR’s complaints procedure. STAR members should receive a refund at face value if the event is cancelled and the organiser has agreed to refunds.

You’ll probably only get the face value of the ticket back - the amount printed on it. Some sellers might refund postage if, for example, the event is cancelled before the tickets are sent. If you had to pay any booking or card fees, you might not get those back.

If the official seller isn’t a member of STAR, check how you can solve an ongoing consumer problem with a business seller. You may also be able to get your money back another way, such as through your credit card company.

If you bought your ticket from a ticket-reselling website, refunds will depend on the site's terms and conditions.

If you bought from a private seller and the event is cancelled or rescheduled then it is unlikely you will be able to recover your money. We still recommend you contact the seller.

Be aware of scams. Unfortunately we’ve found that in these situations scammers can prey on those who are affected.

If your event is cancelled and people or companies get in touch to offer their services to try to recover money on your behalf, be alert and make sure that you're looking out for the signs of a potential scam.

For more information on getting a refund, take a look at the Citizens Advice website.

If you need further help, 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

Message from Father Paul

The parable of the Good Samaritan is probably one of the best know passage from the bible, but does it hold any relevance for us today, do we recognise the meaning of the parable in our lives? Jesus give us this parable in answer to the question ‘who is my neighbour?’ The parable is set upon the road to Jerusalem where a traveller is rob of all his possession and left for dead on the road. It happens that two religious men walk past one after the other and they both walk by on the other side of the road, showing no compassion to the man. These religious men were followed by a Samaritan, who not only show the man compassion, he also took him to an Inn and payed for him to be cared for.

The point that Jesus was making is that anyone and therefore everyone is our neighbour, no matter who they may be, particularly if they are in need. This is more than just a nice story of people being kind to each other, for at that time the people of Samaria and the people of Israel were sworn enemies, if we think of the modern day Israelis and the Palestinians we would not be far off. To show compassion, care, love to our families and friends even to the people we know is an easy thing to do. To show that same compassion, care, love to those we do not know, to those who are different from ourselves, to those who speak different language is not so easy and yet these are our neighbours also. With the darker nights and the colder day we tend to hide ourselves away, this is the time to consider those around us, to consider our neighbours, those who may be in need but do not like to ask. Take the time to show compassion to your neighbour, for you never know when will need compassion shown to you.

Kirton Parish Council Meeting Minutes
- August 2025

Present Councillors

Cllr M Sohail, Chair, Cllr A Bowen, Vice Chair, Cllr C. Astill, Cllr M Elston, Cllr T Hartfil-Algood, Cllr F Huggins and Cllr Pryke. Also Present: Clerk D. Fairweather. Borough Cllrs Middleton and Rylott. County Cllrs Lock and Daish

Public Forum

Residents of King Street complaining of speed and parking, accidents have been happening and on contacting LCC were advised to bring to PC. Speed reduction cannot happen as 30 mph. Details to be given to County Councillor after meeting.

Resident has a neighbouring tree overgrowing in her garden. Unfortunately, as on private land nothing the PC can assist with.

Chair welcomed to Cllr Daish to his first meeting.

Reports From Elected County Councillors & Borough Councillors

Cllr Daish – advising if anything to report on please contact him via email.

Cllr Middleton advised of the reports of anti-social behaviour which the clerk had forwarded to Councillors, in Swift Gardens. Known to the Police and ASBO’s have been issued. Peter Hunn is now anti-social behaviour officer, Clerk to speak to Mr Hunn to ascertain if contact should also be made to him as well as Police.

Cllr Rylott – Pylons, Walpole to Grimsby - advised, whilst the development will go ahead, people should still voice their concerns, Deadline 12 midnight 6th August. Clerk requested if Council wished to make any further comments as they will have a massive impact on Kirton Holme. Agreed letter of concerns to be submitted.

Now have a new leader of BBC and have been offered a place on the new cabinet following the changes. Is hopeful for good things for the future of Boston Borough and Parishes and learned of funding opportunities available. Pleasantly surprised funding available for Boston. Cllr Rylott left the meeting.

Cllr Pryke reiterated remarks from Cllr Rylott on the future of BBC. Has also asked questions of the Pylons but has not been furnished with replies.

Requesting that speed reactive signs be on Agenda. Required in various areas particularly a couple that are share with Frampton.

Received complaints of speeding tractors through village.

Live and Vocal, an organisation that performs in and around the County has reformed again after Covid. No sponsors for events, nowhere for them to perform. Cllr Pryke suggests Kirton Parish Council advise of Town Hall.

Cllr Middleton left the meeting.

Cllrs Head and Rylott have resigned from the Council. Before the meeting, the Chair thanked them for their work whilst on the Parish Council.

To Receive Apologies
For Absence

Were received from Cllrs Baillie, Jarvis, and O’Connor. All resolved to accept reasons given.

To Receive Declarations
Of Interest Under The Localism Act 2011

Cllr Astill declared an interest as Chair of the Town Hall Management Committee.

To Approve Notes
Of Previous Meeting Of 1st July 2025

Proposed Cllr Bowen seconded Cllr Hartfil-Allgood these be accepted as a true copy to be called minutes. Unanimous.

To Receive Updates
From Clerk

• UKSP grant application – additional information required. Advised there were many applications and board to be meeting imminently to discuss.

• Circular tree – awaiting update from Ann, but invoice may not be available until September. As tree work required, to delay installation.

• Grev Bray, the arborist, has confirmed the silver birch in the Rec is diseased and dying and should be felled for safety. Awaiting quotation at it is a large tree.

• War memorial tree – Grev Bray moved his men from another job to deal with the broken branch and did the complete work of crown reducing whilst there. Was a little agitated to be advised by a Councillor that it had taken far too long to get works done.

• Banners purchased and on show. Flyers went in schoolbook bags.

• Spoken with Fr Paul regarding bollards on Church footpath. There is no need for one at High Street end, but there was originally two at Willington Road End. We do not believe it requires a faculty as on a public footpath, he is to check on that.

• New litter bin in Rec. Complaints of overflowing. There is a procedure and policy for BBC for emptying new bins. Written application had been sent to BBC.

To Adopt Civility And Respect Policy

Requested this be approved by Cllr O’Connor. Cllr Elston proposed Agenda items 5 & 6 be deferred to another meeting as Cllr Hartfil-Allgood felt it inappropriate the policy had not been approved by the HR committee before bringing to full Council. Seconded Cllr Astill. Date for meeting of HR had not yet been arranged, and both policies are written by the legal team at NALC, our Governing body, which are usually acceptable.

To Adopt Equality, Diversity, And Inclusion Policy

Postponed as above.

To Discuss Updates
To Standing Order

Small amendments make as per proposals from LALC. Proposed Cllr Hartfil-Allgood, to approve amendments, seconded Cllr Huggins.

To Receive Events Updates

Picnic in the Park - Everything in hand, Clerk distributed a form for details of who would be able to assist on the day, for what periods of time. Cllr Astill requested the missing boards from the play equipment be replaced before the event.

Clerk advised bingo for August had been postponed as, to continue in September. Cllr Pryke advised Peter Head was to put forward proposals for the future of the bingo for another meeting.

Cllr Pryke had received request if anything occurring in Kirton for VJ day. Nothing arranged as RBL representatives not in the village on the day. One is being held in Boston.

Cllr Astill requested details of capital input for a machine as at present it is borrowed. Costings to be investigated.

Finance

a) To Approve Payment of Accounts as per schedule

Proposed Cllr Astill, seconded Cllr Hartfil-Allgood.

Proposal for work in Town Hall Rec for area to boundary to be cleared, sprayed for weeds, topped with soil, and reseeded with grass. Total of works £3455. Work to commence once school restarts.

All agreed work required to alleviate anti-social behaviour in the overgrown area. Diseased silver birch with bracket fungus to be removed also, awaiting quotation.

Cllr Elston advised the work to clear to the boundary was not being done regularly now. Clerk to speak with contractors.

Cllr Astill believes the PC will exceed the budget for maintenance works. Clerk advised there is a large amount of VAT to be refunded, so figures at present look false.

Planning

To Discuss Applications Received Since Last Meeting

B/25/0294 London Road, Ashwood vary conditions for material.

B/25/0295 Baytree Yard – Application for certificate of lawfulness to confirm existing use of land is Class B8 – Storage & Distribution

To Receive Corresponce

BSH – Parish Council Briefing Session – next meeting 18th September, questions to be submitted by 15th September.

Greater Lincolnshire for all – details of an online seminar to layout proposals directly with the leaders of E Lindsey and S Holland to ask questions. 20th August.

BBC – Community Governance Review – public consultation from 14th July to 26th August.

Parish Council Liaison Meeting, next meeting 23rd October.

Cllr Hartfil-Allgood has put together a Health & Safety document which Clerk distributed for Councillors to observe as will be an agenda item for next meeting.

Members Reports

CA – Tree at war memorial has dead branches, can this be looked at. Highways responsible. Cllr Bowen to declare on Fix My Street.

AB - Logs are successful in Rec and if another can be salvaged from the silver birch it would be agreeable.

ME – Boston Story Tellers are attending in Kirton Church. They are requesting stories from locals in the area. First time they have attended a Parish. Two new Community Safety Officers employed recently by BBC for rural areas. Requesting updates of damage to floor in store cupboard. Awaiting asbestos check result for lagging around pipes. Although once again this is the area of ‘is it TH or PC’ Cllr Hartfil-Allgood advised if no asbestos register held, we are in breach of the Asbestos Regulations 2012.

RP – PC Liaison meeting advised, some time ago a community skip would be made available, and a rota would be available. Nothing happening yet.

THA – banners removed from roundabout on A16, owners would like them back. PC not aware of the removal.

Dennis Estate, reports of potholes. Concerned residents regarding cars parked on bend near church and is dangerous. Reported to Fix My Street who advised requires to be reported to PC. To pass to LCC as not PC issue.

Multi streetlights which have not been lit for most of the year. Despite LHP confirming work will be done, no bulbs have been replaced.

Advised of a resident tripping and anti-social behaviour has increased because of the darkness, with two properties having been burgled. Cllr Hartfil-Allgood requesting contact be made now by the PC directly. Suggestions to also be reported to Peter Hunn.

To Elect To Move Into Closed Session To Discuss:

a) Updates from Finance Meeting of 29th May 2025

Proposed Cllr Hartfil-Allgood seconded Cllr Astill.

Cllr Astill requested this in closed session as details of the finance meeting touched on staffing and HR. He gave a summary of finance meeting. It was felt maintenance and staff expenditure is high and were putting forward to HR to investigate staff contracts with a review of reducing hours. Disagreeable discussions took place, and it was agreed no further discussions tale place until HR committee met. Cllr Hartfil-Allgood to offer dates for first meeting.

Date of next meeting

2nd September 2025.