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.

Saturday 3rd September

This morning saw the official opening of Furninchurch in Skegness.

Furnichurch is a registered charity that started life in Mablethorpe in 2005. It’s main purpose is to collect unwanted furniture and distribute it to those in need. This is a role it performs very well and last year helped 1500 households with over 6000 pieces of furniture.

The new Skegness premises are at The Former Methodist Church, Roman Bank, Winthorpe and it’s official opening ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Grimsby.

Furnichurch work very closely with social services, housing support, family support, Sure Start and other community workers to help those in need. Most of the staff team is made up of willing volunteers but like most organisations more volunteers would be warmly received.

If you would like to help this fantastic project or would just like to know a little more pop down to see them between 10 and 2 on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday and I can guarantee you will be most welcome.

I wish Nigel and his team the very greatest of success and thank them for perfoming this valuable service for our community.

Friday 2nd September

This evening we had the pleasure of being the guests of Janice Sutton to watch her summer show

I will now try and find words to describe it.

Superb

Fantastic

Brilliant

Spectacular

The fast paced show took us on a musical journey around the world, from China in the east, to America in the west, stopping off in Austria to visit the Vonn Trapp’s on the way.

The singing and dancing was superb and would not have been out of place on a West End stage. Many of us, myself included, have made the long journey to see shows in both London and Manchester.  I would like to suggest that before you make that journey again come and have a look and listen to what our local talent has to offer. I think you will be very surprised but for all the right reasons. With the money you save you could go out for a nice meal before the show. How very civilised.

Janice’s next show is in the new year so here is my exclusive ‘top tip‘ for Christmas 2011.

Q. What do you buy the man or women in your life who has everything?

A. A romantic meal for two, with a decent red of course, and two tickets for the show. 

I can feel the love already!

Well done to Janice and all her back room team who worked very hard to stage this show and an even bigger well done to every single member of the cast who’s performances were superb.

See you all again in the new year.

Wednesday  24^th August

This morning I joined the walkers for the Anthony Booth Trust. They are walking the 90 miles form Skegness to Stapleford to raise as much money as they can for the Trust which helps fund research and development into Aplastic Anaemia.

Anthony ( Ant ) was a brave young man who was diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia in October 2007. He then fought hard to overcome the illness but sadly lost that fight just two months later on 23rd December 2007.

The 90 mile charity walk is completed over 5 days, so about 20 miles a day. Not that hard you might think, but 20 miles a day, every day for 5 days, in what is forecast to be not that good a weather, in fancy dress? Rather them than me!

I met them at the Clock Tower at 10.00 am and waved them off on the first leg of their walk from Skegness to Horncastle.

I wish them all the very best of luck and hope their feet and legs arn’t too sore by the end of day 5.

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

Saturday  20^th August

25 years after the Withern Cottage was originally declared open at Church Farm Museum Skegness it is to be declared open again at The Village, Church Farm, Skegness.

Why you might ask?

Last year you will remember that the thatch caught fire and had to be removed. There was also a problem that every time it rained the mud floors inside the cottage flooded so it had to be closed to visitors.

Over the winter and spring all the thatch has been replaced and a team of very hard working volunteers have been constructing a huge, and I mean huge, french drain around the cottage attached to no less than 5 separate soak-aways.  Under the watch full eye of  one of the volunteers, Alec Gurney, various groups of volunteers have shifted tons of soil and replaced it with tons of stone. A mammoth effort and all done by hand.  

When originally sited at Church Farm a time capsule was buried inside the cottage, this has not been disturbed but in addition they have also added two more outside the cottage .

So that is why it was thourght that a re-opening was in order.

It was decided that Alec should do the grand opening honours. Not only in the recognition of the 250 hours hard work he had put in but also the fact that he was born and brought up in a mud and stud cottage ** years ago.

After saying a few words I handed over the scissors to Alec to perform the cutting of the ribbon,actually it was string which is far more fitting. Alec handed back the scissors and got out a 70 year old pocket knife

“This is how we cut string on the farm” he said.

So that’s it Withern Cottage is open again. If you have never been round it before make the effort to go now, it is FREE . The incredible thing is that in  rural Lincolnshire people were still living in these until not that long ago.

Saturday  20^th August

Lunchtime finds us both at the Suncastle to open the English Bowling Federation National Championships. The EBF has been holding it’s National Championships in Skegness for more years than most would like to remember. The EBF has it’s roots in Lincolnshire and it’s history can be traced back to to the first Association being formed here in 1925. It is therefore fitting that it should return each year for its National Championships. It has now become tradition that after a few opening remarks the Mayor of Skegness officially opens the event by bowling the first ball of the day. This year was to be no exception.

We were greeted at the Suncastle greens by Stewart Milner and Lorna Dockerill. Stewart is the men’s National President and Lorna the ladies

After being introduced to all the officers of the Federation I was asked to make a short speech welcoming all the bowlers to Skegness.

Finally it was time for me to bowl the opening ball for 2011. To say that bowling is harder than it looks is an understatement. First I sent up the jack then it was time to bowl the ball. After a quick lesson from Stewart I bowled it. They were so impressed with it and the way I managed to end up on the neighbouring green they suggested I have another go. Bowl number 2 was released to the same high standard as number 1 with a similar outcome. 

Having given it  careful  consideration both presidents agreed on my level of bowling prowess. It is now official my bowling has been judged by both Presidents of the English Bowling Federation and they both agree,

I am rubbish.

Saturday  20^th August

This morning we were at the Perry and Clarke Dental Practice to say goodbye to Andy Perry.

Andy has been at the practice for 35 years and was my dentist when I first moved to Skegness.

First it was Ridout, Perry and Clark, then Perry and Clarke and now just Clark. Does this mean I’m getting old??

We both wish you all the best Andy and hope you have a long and happy retirement.

Tuesday  16^th August

This morning we were invited to Skegness College of Vocational Training to present certificates to some of their students. These were not exam passes they were in appreciation of the sponsored walk they had done to raise money for

Between them they had raised £851 for this very worthy of causes.

When you constantly hear in the media bad reports of the young people of our country you could be forgiven for thinking they are all like that. I believe often our young people get a raw deal. Most of them are hard working, law abiding citizens just like you and I.

Our town should be proud that many of it’s students are prepared to give up their free time to help raise money for those who are in greater need.