The Mayor of Skegness, Steve Kirk is hosting a charity Valentines Ball on Saturday 11th February at the Northshore Hotel, Skegness.

The evening will start at 7.00 for 7.30 with drinks on arrival, this will then be followed by a three course meal. After the meal a cabaret and dancing will take us through until 1 a.m.

The tickets for this black tie event are priced at £30.00 each with all the proceeds from the night being split between two great local charities;

Lincolnshire And Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance

It promises to be a fantastic night so order your tickets now on 07786 277 303 and make this valentines day one you will remember.

Show someone you really care, treat them to a superb night out whilst doing your bit for charity. That way everybody is a winner. 

Saturday 10th September

This evening we were the guests of Jimmy Botton at Skegness Pleasure Beach for the annual Fun Night.

Despite the accident earlier in the week the park was absolutely heaving with locals and holiday makers alike, all enjoying the rides. There is no doubt that this event is a big draw for the town and I personally met people I knew who had travelled 35 miles just to attend the Fun Night.

I had been promised a donation to my charity, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, if I was brave enough to take a ride on the Extreme with Jimmy. How could I refuse?? The ride lasted about 3 minutes but I can assure you the queasy stomach lasted much longer. It was all in a good cause and Jimmy was true to his word.

As is normal the night was due to end with a firework display that this year had been promised to be bigger and better than ever. When they started the quality of the display was plain to see, and it went on and on. There have been three displays this year, SO, Switch On and now this one. The standard of all of them has been high and we are lucky to have them. The fact that this display is paid for by a local business and not from public funds I feel makes it a little bit special.

I would like to thank Jimmy, his family and all the staff team for their hospitality’s over the entire evening.

As for the Extreme, next time I will try and keep my eyes open………………bring it on.

Monday  22^th August

On Sunday 2th July Maxeen Andrew of Slimming World fame

organised a sponsored paddle in aid of my Mayors Charity St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.

It was a beautiful sunny Skegness day and we all enjoyed the paddle along the beach

and the occasional soaking from a rogue wave we received.

In total Maxeen and her Slimming World group raise a whooping £740.00 for my charity.

Tonight I was able to pick up the cheque.

On behalf of myself and St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice I would like to say a huge thank you to those who took part and to all those who coughed up their hard earned cash:

Thank you

 Sunday 7th August

Saturday was a very hectic day with all the events happening in Skegness and culminating with Stavros Flatly performing the 2011 illuminations switch on.

To contrast this Sunday started very peacefully in tower Gardens at 11 am. We were invited By Rev. Ian Banks to open the gala celebration worship hosted by the Skegness Fellowship of Christian Churches. In particular Burgh Baptist Church, St. Paul’s Baptist Church and the Church of the Nazarene.

After I had officially opened the gala we went straight into the service. This was a very upbeat affair to vibrant music. Some of the music was recorded the rest was performed by a very good band who would not of been out of place on the stage the night before.

Half way through the service I gave a short talk about my chosen charity for the year, St. Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, and what that charity meant to me.

The churches then very kindly held a collection for my charity among the congregation.

The collection raised £200. I would like to thank all those who contributed, the churches for their hospitality and also Rev. Banks for kindly inviting us to join them all for this very special service.

Saturday 2nd July

Today saw the 10th anniversary of the Mansfield to Skegness bike ride. As you can guess from the title this bike ride takes place every year and is from Mansfield to Skegness to raise money for charity. One of the charities it is supporting this year, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, is also my charity so I was more than happy to support this event.

About 30 or so riders set of from Newstead Court, Annesley, Mansfield at 6.30 am for the 82 mile ride to Skegness. The fastest riders take about 4 hours to complete the distance, the slower ones up to 8. It was therefore planned that I would meet them at the Royal Hotel at 3.00 pm, after they had all finished and had time to freshen up, to present the awards.

As they say about “the best laid plans” is wasn’t to be. At 3.45 pm we were still waiting for one of the bikes to arrive. The bike in question was a tandem with one of the organisers, Neil, on the back of it. This was the same Neil  who was helping to present the awards at 3.00 pm. Rumour was that numerous punctures had caused the delay but I think it was more to do with his dress getting caught in the back wheel, but that’s a whole different story.

Event organisers Kev Bryant and Neil Green

Suffice to say that everybody had enjoyed the ride, if indeed enjoyed is the right word, and they has raised a lot of money for charity. After a hearty buffet and the presentations it was agreed by all that the next stop was Skegness sea front and a well deserved beer or 5 ( now that bit I could manage).

Well done ladies and gentlemen and we look forward to welcoming you again next year.

There are only 27 days to go to the Mayors sponsored paddle in aid of St. Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice hosted my Maxeen Andrew from Slimming world. Are you or your group entered yet?

Sponsorship forms can be downloaded here or you can get them from either the Mayor, Steve Kirk or from Maxeen directly.

Monday 13th June

On Monday morning I had the pleasure of opening the R.A.O.B Grand Council Annual Conference. The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Grand Council conference attracts members from all over the UK and on this occasion also from Spain. This year the conference took place in Skegness in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall and lasted three days.

During that period a new Grand President was elected and the conference culminates in a dinner to celebrate this election.

Wednesday 15^th June

This evening we were guests of the R.A.O.B Grand Council at their Annual Dinner held at the Crown Hotel Skegness. The dinner celebrated the election of their new Grand President Brother A. Cooke R.O.H. or Tony to his friends.

Following the meal we had a selection of speeches. My wife Cath then received a beautiful bouquet of flowers and I was presented with a fantastic donation of £300 towards my charity, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.

It would be hard to find a friendlier or more caring group of people anywhere. From the start to the finish we could not have been made more welcome and for that I have to say a huge thank you.

….And finally good luck Tony,  we both hope you have a fantastic year.

What’s missing?

You?

On Sunday the 24th of July Slimming World consultant Maxeen Andrew will be hosting a sponsored paddle in aid of the Mayors Charity, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.

The paddle will start at 12.30 and will set off from Tower Esplanade. It is planned to paddle to Sea View Road and back.

It is not a great diatance but who knows what could happen on the way !!!. Let’s hope it’s sunny because the Mayor has been told he will be getting very wet.

Although the event is being organised by Maxeen it is not just open to her slimming groups but to anybody who fancies having a nice stroll on the beach and raising some money for a very worthwhile charity.

Sponsorship forms can be downloaded here or you can get them from either the Mayor, Steve Kirk or from Maxeen directly.

Please support this event  have some fun and best of all, it’s good for your feet.

My charity for the year is St. Barnabas lincolnshire Hospice.

Each year St. Barnabas spend over £250,000 in Skegness on palliative care services, providing vital services free of charge to terminally ill patients and their families. All the money I raise in Skegness for St. Barnabus will be spent in Skegness helping to make the life of our residents, at a very difficult time,  just that little bit better.

I would like to raise as much money as is humanly possible so if you have any ideas (that are legal) to help me raise money, would like to hold an event for me or donate directly, please please please contact me.

After the formal council meeting Councillors, Honoured Citizens, Chairs of local groups, Mayors of neighbouring towns, family and friends are invited to the Mayors reception.

This year I held mine at the Northshore Hotel. This venue has not been used for the Mayors Reception for as long as I can remember but what can I say? The food, service, venue and attention to detail was second to non. I feel that when you are hosting a reception and inviting dignitaries from outside the immediate area it is important that they leave with the right impression of our town. That they did.

Another reason for holding the reception is to announce, and raise money for, my chosen charity.

My charity for the year is St. Barnabas lincolnshire Hospice.

Each year St. Barnabas spend over £250,000 in Skegness on palliative care services, providing vital services free of charge to terminally ill patients and their families. All the money I raise in Skegness for St. Barnabus will be spent in Skegness helping to make the life of our residents, at a very difficult time,  just that little bit better.

I would like to raise as much money as is humanly possible so if you have any ideas (that are legal) to help me raise money, would like to hold an event for me or donate directly, please please please contact me.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and those present at the reception we have already raised a substantial sum of money and to them all I am deeply grateful.