BRIGG LIVE ARTS THIS WEEKEND - 'BRINGING THE ENJOYMENT OF THE ARTS TO TOWN'

FROM THE BRIGG LIVE ARTS ORGANISERS & BRIGG TOWN BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP

It is five years since Brigg Live Arts held the Art Exhibition in the Angel Suite in Brigg. Music, plays, magic and puppet shows have already been organised by the newly formed committee as well as a Brigg Live Arts Fest, a day featuring all the arts. Finally the committee decided that it was time, once again, to give local artists a chance to showcase and sell their work, and provide the people of the town with a chance to see quality art work.
The exhibition will take place over the weekend of the August Bank Holiday. 
On Friday August 26th at 7pm we will be having our preview evening which will be opened by Pete Skipworth, BA(Arts), BA(Hons) Illustration, Diploma in Arts and Design, a lecturer and illustrator, who will give a short opening speech and will also be announcing his choice of best picture in the show. There will be wine and nibbles as well as a raffle, all of which will provide a convivial atmosphere for our visitors to view, admire and secure some excellent art for their homes.
This 2016 exhibition has attracted some notable artists as well as some good amateur painters. Les Porter, Bob Armstrong and Dorothy Burke will be showing their work, as will OH Boyd. Howard Boyd, who is well known for his carving of a crown for one of Queen Elizabeth’s coaches, will be submitting some portrait works and one of his wood carvings. His amazing wooden sculptures are wonderfully executed and will attract a lot of attention in the Angel ballroom, which is very apt as he carved the large angel we can see on the front of the building today.
The exhibition is open from 10am to 4pm on the 27th, 28th and 29th of August and drinks and cakes will be available on Saturday 28th all day. So make this one of your “must do activities” for the August Bank Holiday. 
Brigg Live Arts know you will enjoy your visit and you might acquire something that takes pride of place in your home and is treasured for a long time to come!
For more information contact Anne Spolton, 01652 653217 or find Brigg Live Arts on Facebook

£423K HERITAGE LOTTERY GRANT FOR LINCOLNSHIRE HISTORY PROJECT

Brigg Blog likes history and old aircraft, especially those from Lincolnshire - dubbed"Bomber County." So the following we've just received certainly hits the spot...


Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, part of Lincolnshire County Council and working in partnership with West Lindsey District Council, has received a confirmed grant of £423,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for their project Lincolnshire in World War One: Bastion in the Air.
The project, which will begin in early 2017 and run through to 2020, aims to highlight the importance and significant contribution the county made to the defence of the country and the development of aviation in World War One.
Thanks to this grant we will offer the public the opportunity of seeing a depiction of a World War One airfield, including flying replica fighter aircraft from the period, within a hangar on an operational RAF station in 2018. In addition there will be an exhibition held at the Collection in Lincoln detailing the technical and social advances that such an important hub in military arms production brought to the county.
There will be travelling exhibitions at community centres and village halls at locations throughout Lincolnshire, detailing specific themes to local areas and what their particular contribution was and where community volunteers will be recruited and given training on supporting this project. A comprehensive educational programme is also planned to run the entire period of the project. 
The story of Lincolnshire's part in the defence of the realm against the aerial threat of the Zeppelin and the menace of the U-boat is one of national importance. 
Lincoln was one of the world's largest aircraft production centres in World War One. Through the development of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service, who were based at airfields around the county, the world's first independent Air Force  - the Royal Air Force – came into being.
The social changes in the workplace, where thousands of women were employed in previously male-only engineering roles, will be a central theme to this story.
Commenting on the award, Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire's Dave Harrigan and Phil Bonner said: "We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support. We have a story here from a century ago, much of which is not widely known, which will be of huge interest not only to the people of Lincolnshire but also those wider afield as well." 
Coun Stuart Tweedale, of Lincolnshire County Council, says: "Our links with aviation here in Lincolnshire are so important to our heritage. I'm thrilled that we've been successful in getting support for such an exciting project which I'm sure will be a huge draw for both local people and visitors to the county too. This project will help educate and inspire the next generation on a significant moment in our history, creating more opportunities for people to remember the contribution made by Lincolnshire in the First World War."
Coun  Roger Patterson, of West Lindsey District Council, says: "West Lindsey District Council is very pleased to support this fantastic heritage project. The fact that the Heritage Lottery Fund also supports this is a testament to the value of passing on the heritage of aviation in Lincolnshire to local, national and international visitors. Aviation is one of the main sectors for our visitor economy and I am sure this project will bring lots of visitors telling them the story of aviation in Lincolnshire."    
Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, says: "From the first pilots to the men and women who worked tirelessly in the factories, Lincolnshire made a vital contribution during the First World War. This project will help thousands of people discover this important story and I'm delighted that National Lottery funding is able to play a part in making it happen." 

BUSINESSES IN BRIGG AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY

 

The new Millennium dawned at 00.00 hours on January 1, 2000 and we well remember touring Brigg pubs a few hours earlier, taking pictures of people saying farewell to the 20th century and welcoming the new one.
Someone we spoke to recently remembered us taking her picture in the Lord Nelson that evening 16 years ago.
Looking back to the start of the new Millennium, here are a few businesses around at the time - some still going today.

• Wallheads Menswear Specialists, 52 Wrawby Street (pictured above)

• China Royal Restaurant, Bridge Street (seen here).
• Grandad's Shed, 61 Wrawby Street
• E&M Carpets and Furniture, Bridge Street
• Mischief, 9 Chapel Court
• Varlows Ladies' Fashions, Market Place
• Smith Parkinson, Market Place, and then with a sales site on "Tesco Roundabout."
• Events, 8 School Court 
• The Wold Florist, 50 Wrawby Street
• Sue Rhodes, 1 Wrawby Street
• Apollo Recruitment Specialists, Pelham House, Bridge Street
• Babes in the Wood, 2 Wrawby Street
• Way In Ladies' Fashion Boutique, 12 Market Place
• KingKom Ltd Mobile Phones & Accessories, 11a Market Place
• Brian Parker (Agricultural) Ltd, Westrum Lane
• Eclipse Hair, 8 Bigby Street
• Brian's DIY, 24 Wrawby Street
• Barnes & Son Watchmakers and Jewellers, 63 Wrawby Street
• TJ's Private Hire
• The Brigg Travel Centre, 19 Wrawby Street
• Capps Electrical Retailers, 6 Albert Street
• Britcliffe Carpets, 7 and 9 Elwes Street
• TJS Models, 12 School Court
• Scentiments, 19 Old School Court
• Earnshaws, Bridge Street
• Brigg Window Company, Bigby Road (showrooms) and Island Carr Industrial Estate
• Frost's Garden Centre, Bigby High Road
• The Fone Factory, 46 Wrawby Street
• Paul Fox, 21 Market Place
• Bell Watson, Wrawby Street
• John Blanchard Domestic Appliance Repairs, The Briar Patch, Redcombe Lane
• Cary Lane Taxis
• Glebe Road Stores

• Poundstretcher, Wrawby Street (seen here)
• Paper Lincs, Grammar School Road and Spring's Parade
• S & H Bhatti Newsagents, Bridge Street
• Glebe Road Fishery
• Scalinis Fish Bar, Wrawby Street
• Boots, Wrawby Street
• Pailthorpe's Jewellers, Wrawby Street
• Pickering's, Wrawby Street
• Martin's, Wrawby Street
• W Sherwood & Sons Cycles, Bridge Street (pictured below)
• Dunham's Bakers, Bridge Street
• Turner's Butchers, Queen Street
• Safeway, near Spring's Parade
• Tesco, Barnard Avenue
• Kwik Save, Cary Lane
• Peacock & Binnington, Bridge Street/Foundry Lane
• Shaw's Outfitters, Market Place
• Kar Restaurant, Old Courts Road
• DDM, Wrawby Street

BRIGG MAN VISITS THE MALDIVES & SHARES A FEW 'RUM' MEMORIES

Raised and educated in Brigg, Cliff Turner, pictured, continues his memories of his time spent serving in the Navy. The former Brigg Grammar School pupil is now 91 and lives in New Zealand.

On the voyage back to Trincomalee we called briefly at one of the Maldive Islands where natives paddled out in canoes with fresh fish. In return they were given newly baked bread from the ship's bakery. At that time few British people could have pointed to the Maldives on a map but it is now a tourist destination. Nancy's great nephew went there for his honeymoon; when his mother told me this on the telephone I said "I've been there - three hours on a Sunday morning". She thought I was joking.
Soon after getting back to Trincomalee I had two weeks leave at Diyatalawa in inland Ceylon. The journey by bus took all day; we had a stop in Kandy which was the capital when Sinhalese kings ruled Ceylon. I saw the Temple of the Tooth - the tooth being reputed to have been Buddha's - but did not go inside. The journey took us over the Ramboda pass which I think was 6,000 feet above sea level, and at one stage we were held up by a ceremonial procession of elephants; it may have been the Buddhist equivalent of the Harvest Festivals I attended and enjoyed as a choir boy. 
For the first time I saw hillsides terraced into small flat areas for growing rice and saw tea plantations. Due to its elevation Diyatalawa was much cooler than Trincomalee and we wore our blue suits in the evenings rather than tropical whites. It was possible to hire a bike so I got into the surrounding country and one day I came across a school where there were some boys in saffron robes. An elderly man explained they were learning Pali, a "dead" language in which many of the sacred texts of Buddhism are written. Every evening, flocks of huge bats flew overhead and I was told they lived on fruit. I came across a dead one; it had a wing span of about 30 centimetres.
Later I had another trip to Diyatalawa, this time in charge of a prisoner going to the military prison there. Wee Jock, a little Scotch seaman, had been caught asleep when he was guarding a prisoner in the ship's cell. His offence was deemed to be more serious than that of the man he was guarding so he was sentenced to a few days in the military prison at Diyatalawa.. I had two sailors to help me and as we left the ship the Master at Arms asked me if I wanted Wee Jock handcuffed. Since Wee Jock weighed about eight stone I said we would not subject him to that indignity.
After an all day journey we delivered our prisoner. I think we all enjoyed the journey and enjoyed a meal at a government rest house with the voucher I had been given; it was more like four pals having a day out than a serious business. This changed in an instant as we entered the prison and Wee Jock was spoken to as if he was a bad dog. I was disgusted that, for what I thought was a minor misdemeanour, four men and a Ceylonese driver spent two whole days travelling. The escort and I had a night at the leave camp and returned to the ship on the next day
Recalling this somewhat unusual job reminds me of another function totally unrelated to my normal work. I occasionally was Petty Officer of the Day and had to be present at the rum issue. Every day at 11:00a.m., the words "up spirits" came over the loud-speakers; the P.O. of the Day joined an officer of the watch and a man from the Stores branch in the spirit room deep down in the after end of the ship. I cannot recall how the exact amount of rum to be issued on any particular day was determined, or how the rum was stored in the spirit room, but enough rum was taken to give every eligible man one eighth of a pint and the P.O. of the Day had to be sure that no more and no less was taken. We must have had at least 400 men eligible which meant that 50 pints, or more than six gallons were taken onto the deck amidships.
The mess-men for each of the Chief and Petty Officers messes then collected enough neat rum for their messes and the remainder of the rum was watered down in a large wooden tub bound with brass rings and carrying, in large brass letters, "The King God Bless Him". Then a rating for each of the other messes came for their "two and one", so called because their rum was diluted by two parts water to one part rum. 
It was about the time of my trip as an escort to the prison that we went to Colombo to go into dry dock, mainly for a bottom scrape. Unlike merchant ships we spent a very small proportion of our time at sea and in the warm tropical waters in harbour weeds grew quickly on the ship's bottom. This was enough to cause a reduction in the maximum speed the ship could attain and also caused an increase in fuel oil consumption when we did go to sea. Colombo was a much more pleasant place than Calcutta or Madras and we were able to go swimming at Mount Lavinia on the outskirts. 
During my time in Trincomalee I had gained a bit of a reputation as a quiz kid and as a result I was invited to join a team of the Birmingham’s officers on the quarter deck in a quiz against officers of the County class cruiser Norfolk which was anchored near us in the harbour. 
The quiz was conducted via radio telephone and I cannot now recall who won or any of the questions asked. 
What I do recall was being given a bottle of beer which was definitely against regulations.

PICTURED: The Birmingham had nine 6 inch guns mounted in three turrets, two forward and one aft, Cliff says.

Further interesting memories from Cliff to come on Brigg Blog.

HAVE YOUR SAY ON POWER STATION PLAN FOR BRIGG AREA

Brigg people can make their views known about a power station proposal for a site near the town's easterly border
Centrica Distributed Generation Ltd is seeking permission erect a gas-fired energy reserve facility and associated ancillary equipment and components on land adjacent to Brigg Power Station at Scawby Brook.
The reserve facility of up to 50 MW is designed to support the provision of local power demand during peak periods. 
The application site comprises approximately 0.6 Ha of land. 
The proposed development will be predominantly housed within one main engine hall "which could have a maximum footprint of 54m x 28m with a maximum building height of 14m." Attached to the engine hall could be up to five stacks, up to 30m in height. 
Comments need to be submitted to North Lincolnshire Council by September 7. Email planning@northlincs.gov.uk

BRIGG TOWN CENTRE BUILDING CHANGES HANDS

Clark Weightman, chartered surveyors and commercial property consultants, report that they have successfully completed the sale of a property in Brigg town centre.
It's a prominent building in the Market Place.
Here's a link to the full story posted by the agents....

COUNTING DOWN TO BRIGG REUNION

The Briggensians Association winter sports reunion is pencilled in for Friday, September 16.
Men interested in the football match should meet on the Sir John Nelthorpe School field at 6pm.
We think there will be netball for the ladies, too.
The association represents former pupils/students and staff of Sir John Nelthorpe School, Brigg Grammar, Brigg Girls' High and Brigg Sixth Form College.
An annual dinner is held each March and previewed on Brigg Blog in good time, together with details of how to get tickets.