GRIMSBY TOWN V BLACKPOOL HELPS BRIGG ECONOMY

Some fans of Blackpool - on their way to the game with Grimsby Town at Blundell Park this afternoon, Saturday, December 31 - stopped off in Brigg for pre-match refreshments.
This generated a bit of welcome extra trade for some of our town centre businesses.
Will any fans of the Tangerines call tonight on their way back to Lancashire?
The game kicks off at 3pm.

LIVE MUSIC IN BRIGG ON NEW YEAR'S EVE

A couple of live music gigs are being staged in Brigg town centre tonight - New Year's Eve, December 31.
The Gypsies will be performing at the White Hart pub, on Bridge Street.
Keith Lovelle - excellent male vocalist, Soul/Motown and pop - is at Brigg Servicemen's Club, Coney Court.

NEW YEAR'S EVE 2016 IN BRIGG PUBS - HOW BUSY WILL IT GET?

Various national media outlets have been making much of suggestions that many British folk will be opting to spend New Year at home, having stocked up on lager, bitter, cider, wine and spirits from off-licences, supermarkets or convenience shops.
Brigg Blog will be interested to see whether this applies in our town tonight, Saturday, or whether post-Christmas tills will be ringing merrily in our various town centre hostelries, as is generally the case on December 31.
Last Saturday night, Christmas Eve, saw fewer folk than normal about in the Brigg pubs we frequented.
However, we were told by a very reliable source this was because many had opted, instead, to go out the previous evening, Friday, and then stay at home (not necessarily alone) on December 24.
Donning our investigative journalist's hat, you understand, Brigg Blog will be visiting a few pubs tonight to find out, first hand, whether the trade in local pubs is running at normal level for New Year's Eve.
Someone's got to do it!
Maybe we'll see you at a bar somewhere in town.

Our picture shows New Year's Eve 2015 at Hardy's/Lord Nelson, in Brigg Market Place.

A GREAT NEW YEAR'S EVE IN BRIGG REMEMBERED - VIEW THE PICTURES

Here's a look back in the Brigg Blog archives to New Year's Eve 2014 when many of us enjoyed a great night at the Black Bull on Wrawby Street - since converted to Dexters, of course.

In line with long-standing tradition, we ventured outside just before midnight, linked arms and sang a verse of the famous Auld song as  the Buttercross clock ticked round to welcome in the New Year.

MORE BRIGG DRONE VIDEO FOOTAGE - TAKE A LOOK NOW

Great interest is being shown in the drone video footage of the town we mentioned briefly yesterday on Brigg Blog.
We have now been contacted by Neil Stapleton, via Twitter, who posted the original footage on YouTube.
And he's  sent us a very helpful link to his play list.
We especially like the footage of the Newlands housing estate.
Newlands was built in the 1930s by Brigg Urban District Council, but very few folk can have seen bird's eye views of it during the past 80 years - until now.
Other drone videos include the River Ancholme and Cadney Road, Brigg.
Here's the link to Neil's play list...

The Newlands estate picture of Ash Grove, above, is by Ken Harrison. The one below is ours and shows the junction of Almond Grove and Birch Avenue.

COME DANCING IN BRIGG DURING THE NEW YEAR

Adult Dancefever Exercise will be coming to Brigg, Jade Large-Taylor has reported on social media today
Jade tells folk in the Brigg area: "Join us at St Mary's Church Hall, starting Monday 9th January 2017."
Go along at 8:15pm-9:00pm for a free taster class. Contact Jade now to get your free pass and put your name down.
You can reach Jade though www.facebook.com/J.A.D.EDANCEFEVER or email info@jadedancefever.co.uk
St Mary's Church Hall is on Barnard Avenue, alongside the A18, near the Cary Lane traffic lights.

CHRISTMAS RECYCLING: BRIGG HOUSEHOLDS TAKE NOTE

FROM SARAH HOWE, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

North Lincolnshire Council is unable to take wrapping paper in the blue paper kerbside boxes or at the paper bring bank facilities for recycling.
The majority of wrapping paper contains very little paper and is now often layered with foil, glitter and plastic which are contaminants, so the paper cannot be recycled. Paper collected in North Lincolnshire is reprocessed into newsprint which requires high quality material.
There are other ways to recycle your wrapping paper. One option is to re-use the paper that is in good condition or paper can be composted in your home composter if it is purely paper based. If this is not possible then wrapping paper can be disposed of in your general waste bin.

UPDATED: FURTHER CHRISTMAS BIN COLLECTION DELAYS IN BRIGG

Some Christmas week Brigg bins still remain uncollected.
Everything is fine in terms of the green or black general waste bins, as far as we know.
The issue is with burgundy bins, holding cardboard and plastic items for recycling.
North Lincolnshire Council gave due notice that the usual Tuesday visit would be put back to Wednesday this week because of the public holiday.
However, many Brigg bins put out by householders were not collected on Wednesday, as scheduled.
The local authority's collectors were due to sweep up the missed bins yesterday (Thursday) but in certain cases this did not happen.
At 9am today (Friday) some were still out on the streets.
Our household is one of those affected by the delayed collection. And we know we are not the only ones. You can see others on footpaths in the town.
North Lincolnshire Council's bin collection service is usually second to none, and gives little or no cause for complaint. But on this occasion the local authority has not endeared itself to households where items to recycle have been building up with no room remaining in already full burgundy bins.
It was a time-consuming task to tear up cardboard boxes and cartons into small pieces to get them  ready for recycling.
Hopefully the collection team will make it later today and normal service will be resumed.

UPDATE, 11.30AM FRIDAY: Bin crews seen in Brigg emptying the burgundy bins. Thanks.

BRIGG MUSIC & DRAMA FESTIVAL 2017

Dates have been announced for the 2017 North Lincolnshire Music & Drama Festival.
The music section will run from March 27 to 29 and the drama from April 3 to 5.
The end-of-festival concert will be staged on April 8.
Make a note of the dates and/or bookmark the following link...

INTERESTING BIRD'S EYE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF BRIGG AREA TAKEN FROM A DRONE

Thanks go to Paul Johnson for providing a link to interesting drone footage showing Brigg from the area, as posted by someone else on You Tube.
Follow this link to take a look...

BRIGG TREE OF LIGHT NEW YEAR SERVICE

The Brigg Tree of Light, in Chapel Court, has proved very popular, with many people placing messages on it - in memory of loved ones - in the run up to Christmas.
The tree will be taken down on Friday, January 6 when an informal service will be held and include reading out the names of people contained in a special book opened for this purpose.
Please note that this service will take place at 4pm and NOT at 6pm as suggested in some publicity material. Local folk are, of course, very welcome to attend the service.
Our picture shows the tree when it was first put in place, since when many more messages have been added as part of this welcome Brigg Town Business Partnership initiative.
We hope the weather on January 6 is kinder than it was when the tree was launched and everyone attending, including Father Owain Mitchell, had to endure some of the heaviest rain of 2016!

BIG FREEZE BEATS CHRISTMAS FOOTBALL CLASH

Yesterday's football clash between Barnetby United and Jolly Miller (Wrawby) did not take place due to a frozen pitch at the railway village's Silver Street ground.
We'll bring you the re-arranged date once it has been agreed between the clubs.

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BRIGGENSIANS FOOTBALL

FROM JON TAYLOR

The annual Briggensians football game was held  at Sir John Nelthorpe School. 
Over 30 players turned up, and a good crowd, to watch an entertaining game of football. 
There were the usual old boys such as Jon Taylor, Craig Benson, Paul Neale, Jonathan Alcock, Steve Jordan, Matthew Bell and a large number of younger old boys such as Elliott Gunn and Chris Rodgers and, of course, Col Mumby!
The game was played between those who were 30 and over against those younger. 
There was a minute's applause before the game in memory of Adrian Gibbons. 
This was the closest game in years but experience proved valuable in the end with the Old Boys winning 1-0 with a Rodgers goal. 
A good crowd supported, including Jane Gibbons, Kelley Gibbons, Lucy Gibbons, Alan Taylor and Matthew Mosey. 
Everyone went to the Brittania Inn after the game for darts, dominoes and other festive fun. 
We were  joined by other familiar faces such as Keith Barnes, Carl Sherwood, Rich Rivron and Phil Clipson. 
The Old boys ended up overall convincing winners and £180 was raised to go towards the British Heart Foundation later in the year.
I will be organising another charity game at Brigg Town during the May bank holiday. 
Please contact me if you would like to be involved. It is hoped to be a Briggensians v Brigg Town Old Boys game.

5 PUB & RESTAURANT THEME NIGHTS FOR BRIGG PEOPLE TO TRY

Brigg folk will be enable to enjoy theme nights at a local pub/restaurant early next year.

Five have been arranged for people to savour at the Jolly Miller, on Brigg Road, Wrawby.

• Wednesday, January 25: Burn's Night with piper
• Tuesday, February 28: Breakfast at Tiffany's American Night
• Friday, March 17: St Patrick's Day "Irish Night"
• Saturday, April 22: Medieval Night
• Sunday, April 23: St George's - The Great English Menu

The chef at Jolly's is Richard Smith, who many will know from his time at the Black Bull in Brigg town centre, where theme nights became a feature.

Contact the Jolly Miller by calling 01652 655658, visit www.jollymiller.co.uk or call in next time you are passing through Wrawby on the A18.

COUNCIL TO IMPROVE GENERAL WASTE & RECYCLING COLLECTIONS, BRIGG HOUSEHOLDS TOLD

FROM SARAH HOWE, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

Due to the extra waste people will have over Christmas and New Year, refuse collectors will be out in force ensuring residents’ bins are emptied.
For the next two weeks, the council will concentrate on collecting bulky items, excess waste and rubbish from people’s general waste and recycling bins.
To do this, the council will suspend brown bin collections for one cycle only from Tuesday 3 January. Brown bin collections will resume from Tuesday 17 January.
coun Neil Poole, Cabinet Member for Environment at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Residents are telling us they want a better service. We have listened and are now responding. This blitz on rubbish will mean our refuse collectors will be out in force in the next couple of weeks emptying people’s general waste bins, recycling bins and taking away any excess waste and bulky items that may have accumulated over the festive period.
“This is our busiest time of year when we collect the most waste over Christmas and New Year.
“I am confident that our refuse collectors will be doing all they can to ensure your festive and any other waste is collected, so please bear with us.”

FOOTBALL CUP CLASH TODAY

Weather permitting, Barnetby United Football Club will be playing Jolly Miller (Wrawby) for the Beel Cup (Barnetby Charity Cup) later today (Thursday) at the Silver Street ground (1.30pm KO). 

BRIGG EATERY IN LINE FOR BUSY NEW YEAR

 

There's a new eatery in Brigg that's a shade off the beaten track. But it's certainly  in line for a busy 2017.

Harrison's Hideaway cafe is located at Smithy's Pond. And in addition to meeting the needs of visiting anglers, it is also catering for many workers on the nearby Island Carr industrial estate, plus folk from the town looking for a decent breakfast or a snack.

Brigg Blog paid an early afternoon visit at the invitation of proprietor Mick Smith, the well-known local businessman.

To find the eatery, exit Bridge Street and drive to the end of Island Carr Road, then turn right.

The entrance to the pond and cafe is about 100 yards along on the left, and is signposted.

It's not difficult to find, but if you are a sat-nav owner go to DN20 8PD.

The contact number is 01652 653940, and opening hours are 7.30pm to 2pm.

Further to our earlier reference to "snack" we should add that we watched a customer being served with the biggest jacket potato, with topping, we've seen for many a year!

The building housing the cafe, pictured above, also contains a bait and fishing tackle shop.

You may recall that the Island Carr estate once had Piggy's Cafe - located halfway along the main entrance road. 

ELEVEN BRIGG JOB VACANCIES

North Lincolnshire Council has ELEVEN current vacancies in the Brigg area.
Most are permanent positions, some temporary or casual.
The list includes a Children in Care/Children in Need Transport Assistant, who will  be paid about £15,000 and based at Hewson House, on Station Road.
View full details of all the vacancies through this link

BRIGG COMMUNITY CELEBRATION TODAY

There's a new 'spirit of Christmas' event taking place in Brigg today (Wednesday, December 28).

Dozens of people accepted an invitation to book places at the free Community Celebration, with refreshments, to be held in the Angel Suite from 3pm to 8pm.
It is being organised by the Brigg  Angels Women's Institute and has been helped by a grant from the Town Council.
A warm welcome was extended to elderly, isolated or lonely people from Brigg. 

BRIGG AREA ENJOYS LIFE-SAVING SERVICE FROM LINCS & NOTTS AIR AMBULANCE

FROM KAREN JOBLING, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

While most of us will be celebrating Christmas with family and friends, the crew of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance will be on duty as usual, should anyone need us.  
Available both day and night, 365 days a year, our highly skilled team of Doctors, Paramedics and Pilots can be at the scene of an incident within minutes, ready to deliver the same level of care that you would expect from a hospital emergency department.
Every week I hear inspiring, heart-warming stories from people whose lives our air ambulance has touched. One such story that springs to mind is of a cyclist we treated earlier this year. He received significant life-threatening injuries after a collision with a car. He was treated by our crew before being flown to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. Thanks to the treatment he received at the roadside by our highly-trained paramedics and doctor, he was able to walk out of hospital just a week later. Four months on, he visited our airbase to thank the crew who saved his life and ensured that his 18-month-old son still had a dad. It was a very emotional reunion for all involved – including our crew.
So far this year, we have undertaken 988 missions, 41% of these being serious road traffic collisions. We also attend many other incidents such as cardiac arrests, sporting injuries, agricultural and farming incidents and falls, including calls to babies and young children. Many families still have parents, children, brothers and sisters thanks to our Charity.
As 2016 draws to a close, the Charity is gearing up for the imminent arrival of our new helicopter – the AgustaWestland 169. This amazing aircraft is our most technologically advanced to date. It is bigger than our current aircraft – enabling the crew to have 360-degree access to the patient in flight; it will be faster – able to reach the far corners of our two counties in under 20 minutes; and has greater endurance, enabling us to fly from job to job without refuelling as often.
As well as a new aircraft, we continually look to improve the level of care our clinicians can bring to emergency AW1situations by investing in the very latest medical technologies. For example, we recently introduced a top of the range, portable ultrasound to our kit of life-saving equipment. On its very first outing, our crew was able to use it to successfully detect a very weak heart beat in a patient. This patient’s heartbeat was so feint that it would not have been detected by conventional means. Using the ultrasound at the roadside, enabled our clinicians to quickly and effectively treat the patient at the road side before transporting to hospital in the fastest time possible, greatly impacting on their chances of survival and recovery.
It costs over £2.1million a year to keep the helicopter. This is only achieved thanks to the support we receive from the people of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire so a heartfelt thank you for your support during the year.
I wish everyone a safe and Happy Christmas and a peaceful 2017.
For more information on the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance or to make a donation, visit www.ambucopter.org.uk

N.F. ADDS: The Ambucopter covers the Brigg area. Hopefully, it won't have to pay any visits during the year ahead to attend local accidents or mishaps.  

IMPORTANT BRIGG CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR BIN COLLECTION REMINDER

We notice that some Brigg householders have put their bins out for collection by North Lincolnshire Council today.
There won't be a collection today, as rounds have been revised due to  public holidays following Christmas.
Brigg households normally enjoying a Tuesday collection will now be visited tomorrow - Wednesday, December 28.
Crews will be emptying your general waste bin (green or black) and your plastic/cardboard burgandy bin.
There will be NO collection of blue boxes containing paper nor garden waste (brown bins).
Things will return to normal on Tuesday, January 3 when there will be a collection of blue boxes, general waste wheelie-bins, paper boxes, dark green boxes (cans/glass/foil) and textile bags.
The next colleciton of brown garden waste wins will take place on Tuesday, January 10, together with our burgundy bins.

MAJOR CHARITY CYCLE EVENT IN BRIGG TODAY

Brigg sees a big cycling event today - Tuesday, December 27, 2016.
The Sportive charity ride sets off from Brigg Town Football Club/Brigg Rec, off Wrawby Road/Hawthorn Avenue, at 10am and will finish at 3pm.
Competitors have a choice of covering 30 miles or 50 miles.
It's called the Festive Fifty II - Rudolph'Return - and is in aid of the Neonatal Hospital Intensive Care Units at Scunthorpe General Hospital and Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby.
Read full details here...
Our picture - taken near The Monument war memorial early this morning - shows a sign warning drivers to watch out for cyclists using the A1084 and also the nearby A18. Slow down and give them a wide berth, please.

SO MUCH FOR SHOWING CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IN BRIGG

Christmas humbug! The unwanted award for failing to show a bit of Christmas spirit must go to the Scooge-like van driver we saw on Christmas Eve pip his horn at a shopper with a bag-on-wheels who was blocking his path through supposedly vehicle-free Brigg town centre.
He was driving down Wrawby Street at the time, and she duly moved aside to let him past.
It's bad enough that some drivers feel the need to flout the rules by taking vehicles into the pedestrianised zone. But this took things to a new level.
We also observed another driver who'd parked his vehicle in the Market Place while he popped to the fruit and veg stall. It's good that he chose to make his purchase in Brigg. But as he was able to walk back to his car we aren't sure that disabled badge-holder applied in this case.
Both incidents were within view of the CCTV cameras, but we aren't confident any action will follow.
As Brigg Blog has said so many times before, the only want to stop drivers driving into the pedestrian area is to take them to task and hit them in the pocket. Once this is done to some offenders, it will deter many others.

BRIGG SHOP HAS VACANCY FOR MANAGER

A shop in Brigg town centre is advertising for a manager.
The vacancy is at the Sue Ryder charity shop, on Spring's Parade.
This post offers an annual salary of £15,600 - and the closing date is January 8.
To apply, visit www.sueryder.org/careers and use Keyword 6260.

BRIGG HOUSE EXTENSION PLANNED

An extension is being planned to a Brigg home.
The applicant is asking North Lincolnshire Council whether there needs to be a formal planning application.
"An application for the requirement for prior approval of a household extension" has been made for 33 Hawthorn Avenue.
As ever with such applications, Brigg Town Council will be consulted as part of the process.

LATEST BRIGG CRIME 'HOT SPOTS' REVEALED

The Bridge Street area of Brigg has seen the most crime, according to latest figures.
Statistics released through www.police.uk show where crimes took place during November.
At/near Bridge Street had seven crimes during the month, and there were five in the town centre.
Take a look at the crime map in greater detail to see where incidents took place

REJECTED: PLAN TO BUILD NEW STORE NEAR BRIGG

North Lincolnshire Council's planning committee - comprising elected representatives from across the district - rejected an application to build a new store in the Brigg area when it held its December meeting at the Civic Centre in Scunthorpe.

The Co-op unsuccessfully sought the go-ahead to create a food store in Scawby.
Read the full story here...
Brigg Blog recently visited Hibaldstow where a new Co-op store is up and running in the centre of the village. There's also a Co-op in Broughton, and a number of others in North Lincolnshire.
We wonder whether the retailer might one day decide to build one in Brigg.

BRIGG SPORTING CLUB LOOKING AHEAD TO 2017 EVENTS

The hard-working Lincsquad group, which organises well-watched athletic events in Brigg including the Bomber, Sprint Triathlon and Quadrathlon, has released details of its forthcoming annual general meeting.
This will be held from 8am on Wednesday, January 18 at Arties Mill, Castlethorpe, when officials are to be elected for the year ahead. Tea and coffee will be available on the night. 
View the agenda here...

CHRISTMASES PAST IN BRIGG - SPECIAL MEMORIES FROM CLIFF TURNER

BY CLIFF TURNER, NOW 91, WHO GREW UP IN BRIGG DURING THE 1930s

When I was a boy the approach of Christmas was heralded by Mam making the Christmas puddings. I think this was done in November. She used to make three; one for Christmas Day, one for the first Sunday in the New Year and one for the Sunday nearest to my birthday on 21 March.  The puddings were cooked in boiling water and then put aside until being re-heated on the big day.  Mam never had a gas or electric cooker in either 5 Princes Street or 4 Redcombe Lane, the two houses in which I spent my boyhood.  All cooking was done either on a gas ring, in a steamer perched above the open fire grate or in the oven which was heated by the fire.
The next sign of Christmas was the opening of Robinson’s showroom. W B Robinson’s shop was near the Black Bull and sold newspapers, toys, stationery and items suitable for presents. It had an upstairs room which opened a week or two before Christmas so that people could browse around. Lots of cotton wool was used to suggest a white Christmas. To children the showroom was a huge attraction. Mr Robinson retired in the mid-thirties and a newcomer to Brigg called Richardson took over but I cannot remember if the new owner continued the showroom tradition.
In 1936 I had started to study chemistry at the Grammar School and yearned for a chemistry set; at the time these were very popular. One night my parents went out and my friend Henry Jacklin came round with his chemistry set. Things went awry and we sprayed a pink substance all over the ceiling. My ambition to get a chemistry set for Christmas was never realised!
School finished a few days before Christmas. At the Grammar School we sang Adeste Fideles (Come All Ye Faithful) in Latin at the last assembly of the year and Headmaster Daughton read out the placings in the term’s exams for every boy in the school.
Christmas was a busy time for the family business and every year Grandad Turner, my Dad and his brother Fred worked through the night just before the big day to ensure enough products to meet the extra demand. Until we grew too big that was the night we were allowed in Mam’s bed. It only now occurs to me that if Christmas Day fell on a Monday the busy day at the shop must have been Saturday; like most shops at the time we did not open on Sundays. We did not have refrigeration but probably did not need it in December.
It was probably Christmas 1939 when more pork was urgently needed. Dad and Fred were so busy that their brother-in-law Arthur Cross stepped into the breach to slaughter another pig. I was press-ganged to help him, mostly by carrying hot water from the copper. Meat rationing was not introduced until 1940 and after that we were then not allowed to sell pork, only pork based products like pies and sausages. So our firm did not have to cope with ration books. An allocation of pork was made but I do not know where it came from. The slaughter house in Redcombe Lane fell into disuse and was never used again.   
In the early 1930’s we used to visit my great grandmother on Christmas Eve at Oakleigh House next to the Grammar School to take her a box of biscuits. Dad was her first and, I think, favourite grandchild. Then it was home to get to bed and put pillow cases out ready to accommodate the expected presents. I do not recall how old I when I realised it was Mam and Dad and not Father Christmas that filled the pillowcases.
One present did not fit into a pillow case. I think it was before I started school that I got a pedal car. It was discovered under the kitchen table when we came downstairs along with a tricycle for my younger brother Ken.
After my parents started keeping poultry in about 1935 we always had a chicken for Christmas dinner. We usually reared one or two sittings of eggs and the cockerels were kept for the table. 
A day or two in advance the chosen victim was put into a sack and taken to Arthur Bulleyment’s house in Glebe Rd. Arthur and his sons Geoff and Cliff had a sideline of dressing poultry to an oven-ready state. I think the charge for a cockerel was six old pence.
I was a choir boy in the mid 1930’s so must have attended St John’s church on at least three Christmas mornings but nothing memorable about the services has stayed with me. 
Christmas dinner at about 1:00 p.m. was always a gargantuan feast. The chicken was cooked with balls of what we called forcemeat, which had parsley as a main ingredient. I have never tasted stuffing so good as mother’s product. Then came the Christmas pudding. I do not know why it was called plum pudding – it had never seen a plum. A small quantity of rum on top of the pudding was set on fire and more rum was added to the sauce to accompany the pudding. 
By the time dinner had been eaten and the dishes washed it was time for the King’s speech. King George V had been asked to make a Christmas broadcast several times since the early 1920’s but did not consent until 1932 when Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald persuaded him to do it. His first speech was written by Rudyard Kipling. (I am cheating here – I have only discovered these facts on the internet). I am however almost certain that I heard all four of his speeches
Dad was a fervent Royalist and until we got our own wireless we used to listen at my grandparents’ house. Mam did not share Dad’s enthusiasm and stayed at home. Thanks to the internet I have been able to hear George’s words and discover that he had a very good speaking voice. He died in January 1936 and the next Christmas speech was given by his second son George VI as his first son Edward VIII had abdicated on 11 December. We sang ‘Hark the herald angels sing, Mrs Simpson’s pinched our King’.
George VI did not inherit his father’s speaking ability and his first Christmas speech was an ordeal for both him and the listeners. A recent film ‘The King’s Speech’ tells of his efforts to overcome this problem.
By Christmas 1939 we were at war. Apart from the blackout and the war at sea, life went on much as usual. The period before the spring of 1940 was called ‘the phony war’. Rationing had not yet been introduced so our shop was as busy as it had been in peacetime.
 By Christmas 1940 dramatic events had occurred.  Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland and France had all capitulated to the Germans; Britain and its Empire and Dominions were Germany’s only opposition. That Christmas we had two soldiers from the Devon regiment as dinner guests; Dad had, I think, met them in the Queens Arms. By this time many items of foodstuffs, including meat, were rationed. No doubt we had our usual home-reared cockerel. 
The situation was much better at Christmas 1941. The Germans, ignoring the lesson that Napoleon had learned in 1812, had invaded Russia and thus made an invasion of Britain highly unlikely. Then on 7 December the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbour and Germany declared war on the United States. Britain and its Empire now had two powerful allies which made victory a certainty in spite of Japan’s early successes in the Pacific and the loss of Singapore, Hong Kong and Burma.
Early in 1941 I had joined the navy as an artificer apprentice. At Christmas we had 14 days leave but only half of us could have Christmas at home; the other half had 14 days embracing the New Year. I cannot remember now which half I was in and I cannot be sure about the following year. I am sure about Christmas 1943 as it was a sad time for us as Mam was dying and was confined to a bed in the front room.  My brother had joined the navy a year after I did and we were both home for Christmas leave. This leave was the last time we saw our mother as she died in February 1944. Not many memories remain but one is of Ken and me taking the housekeeper Dad had employed for a Christmas Eve drink at the Angel. Ken was only 17 but no questions were asked. Perhaps being in uniform helped.
By Christmas 1944 I had finished my navy apprenticeship at Torpoint, Cornwall, and travelled to Portsmouth Barracks on 23 December. There I left my hammock and kitbag in the baggage store and left for home and 14 days leave. This was my first experience of travelling in an electric train. I arrived in Brigg mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve and walking from the station met a girl I had known since childhood. We agreed to go to the Grand Cinema that evening but when we got there found it was a full house. So we spent the evening in The Angel and the Queens Arms. Back then Brigg pubs closed at 10.00 p.m. but on Christmas and New Year’s Eves were given an extension to 11.00 p.m. and I have no doubt we took advantage of the extra hour. 
It was clear that the war was coming to an end but in mid December the Germans launched a counter attack in the Ardennes area which occupies parts of France, Belgium and Luxembourg. It was initially successful and the Americans sustained many casualties. Because the Americans’ front had been breached the operation was dubbed the ‘Battle of the Bulge’. By mid January the threat had been averted and the Germans lost many men and tanks. Concurrently Britain was under attack from the V2 rockets which travelled faster than the speed of sound.
Christmas 1945 was the first in peace time for six years. Rationing was still just as rigorous as it had been in the war years. Few, if any, would have guessed it would continue for many years; meat and some other food stuffs were rationed until July 1954. 
I had joined my first ship, HMS Birmingham, in October 1945 and as a result had a royal gift of food at Christmas. The Birmingham had been the first Allied ship to enter Copenhagen a day or two after VE Day and King Christian X arranged for a parcel of Danish cheese, bacon and butter to be sent to the home of every member of the crew. I had not been in the Birmingham at the time but was included in the bounty that was delivered to 4 Redcombe Lane.

Cliff Turner during his time in the Royal Navy

Cliff Turner now lives in New Zealand, from where he emailed Brigg Blog these Christmas memories

BRIGG CRIME FIGURES RELEASED EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS

Brigg Blog congratulates the authorities for issuing the latest crime figures early for our town.
We rather thought the Christmas and New Year period would mean the monthly update arrived a little later than normal.
But that's not the case - someone has worked hard to get them out a week early.
The latest figures are for November, when we are pleased to report the month-on-month crime total was DOWN when compared with October.
During November there were 36 crimes reported within a one-mile radius of our police station on Barnard Avenue.
This breakdown of crimes (by type) been released to Brigg Blog through www.police.uk 

NOVEMBER
Anti-social behaviour  8
Bicycle theft 0
Burglary 1
Criminal damage and arson 4
Drugs  0
Other crime  1
Other theft 4
Possession of weapons 0
Public order 3
Robbery 0
Shoplifting  2
Theft from the person  1
Vehicle crime  3
Violence and sexual offences 9

Please visit https://www.police.uk/shape/ChzFpj/ for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL BRIGG BLOG FOLLOWERS ACROSS THE WORLD

 

BY NIGEL FISHER, BRIGG BLOG'S FOUNDER

The clock on top of the Buttercross in Brigg town centre having ticked past midnight, it's now Christmas Day 2016 and time for Brigg Blog to wish all our valued followers across the world a very merry Christmas.

Some Brigg ex-pats, like Cliff Turner in New Zealand and our old Brigg Town Cricket Club colleague Simon Church in Australia, now live thousands of miles from the historic market town.

Whether you are based in Brigg, the surrounding area, elsewhere in the UK or further afield, the message is the same: Have a good one!

BRIGG COUNCILLOR WELCOMES 100 NEW JOBS

A Brigg councillor has welcomed the announcement that 100 new jobs are to be created on a new industrial site.

North Lincolnshire Council's deputy leader Rob Waltham, who lives in our town and is one of the three Brigg & Wolds Ward representatives on the unitary authority, has expressed his delight with the news that major car manufacturer BMW is to create 100 jobs through its new import base to be located at the Able UK site in North Killingholme.

It is hoped that this will be the start of further major investment at the site that is the UK’s largest enterprise zone and the capital for renewable energy.
Able UK has worked closely with North Lincolnshire Council to get the Able Marine Development Park and Logistics Park up and running. Together, this represents a £550m investment that will create a total of around 10,000 jobs – BMW being part of this.
Rob Waltham, who is also a member of Brigg Town Council, said: “This is a huge investment by BMW and further commitment that big-name companies want to invest and have a presence in North Lincolnshire at the UK’s largest enterprise zone. Enterprise zones are at the heart of the government’s long-term economic plan, supporting business growth by providing tax breaks and support to new and expanding businesses such as BMW.
“BMW has committed to creating 100 new jobs – this will act as a catalyst in attracting other large businesses to the site.
“This is just one part of the overall development to create Europe’s largest offshore wind park.
“North Lincolnshire provides a great location to do business, with excellent road, sea, rail and air links with its own airport.
“We are committed to providing better paid jobs and doing all we can to attract more businesses to the area. This latest development will benefit not just North Lincolnshire and Humber region, but further afield. This is excellent news.”
Brigg Blog has been following the development of the Able UK industrial development with great interest for some years. We've covered a number of North Lincolnshire Council planning committee meetings where it's been discussed and various parts of the project approved.
However, we suggest the New Year is also the time to start thinking about public transport provision for the site, which is near East Halton and Killingholme. Brigg - and other areas of North Lincolnshire - need bus links to Able UK. There are similarities with the Lysaght's industrial park on the outskirts of Scunthorpe, created many years ago on the site of the former Normanby Park steelworks. It is now well-served by the No 4 bus service from Brigg, Broughton and Ashby. 
Initial forecasts suggested some 4,000 jobs might eventually be created on the Able UK development, which would be fantastic for northern Lincolnshire employment. 
But workers will need to be able to get to and from North Killingholme. Not everyone has a car - particularly those looking to come off the dole, and the "green agenda"  frowns on lots of individual vehicle journeys of some distance to the same destination. Hopefully, there will be talks in the coming months between the council and bus providers to put a meaningful service in place. Subsidies, of the type councils can give to bus firms, will certainly help and prove to be public money well spent, we suggest.

BRIGG AREA TRAINER HAS HORSE RUNNING AT BOXING DAY MEETING

A trainer from the Brigg area will have a horse running in Lincolnshire’s own ‘National’ on Boxing Day.
The highlight of Boxing Day (Monday, December 26) racing at Market Rasen, in front of a crowd of some 9,000 spectators, is the Clugston Lincolnshire National.
Ten horses will contest the three-and-a-half mile contest, including Godsmejudge, hero of the Scottish Grand National in 2013.
Trainer Nick Kent, who lives near Brigg, runs Gonalston Cloud. Two other runners, The Mumper and Ultimatum Du Roy, have previous winning form at Market Rasen.
With more than 70 runners in the seven races, it’s set to be an exciting and competitive day’s racing.
The Rand Farm Park Boxing Day Family Funday fixture is a traditional day out for thousands of families every year. There’s free entertainment for the youngsters – and adult tickets can be bought in advance at a discount.
More information is available at www.marketrasenraces.co.uk where tickets are available from £9. Accompanied under 18s get in free on the day. Remember, 18 to 24 year olds can now get half-price admission – young adults should register at RacePass18to24.co.uk to receive a free RacePass membership card.
The first race is scheduled for 12 noon; the finale is at 3.30pm. Gates open at 10am and the best advice is to get to the racecourse early.
The first race is scheduled for 12 noon; the finale is at 3.30pm. Gates open at 10am and the best advice is to reach the racecourse in good time. The latest news is available at www.marketrasenraces.co.uk or on Twitter @MarketRasenRace

BRIGG SHOP WILL BE OPENING ON CHRISTMAS DAY

With all the planning that's involved for Christmas, it's very easy to forget something.
If that applies to you this year, then help might be at hand.
Brigg Blog has been asked to mention that Bargain Booze at 10 Springs Parade (very near B&M) WILL be opening limited hours, 12 noon to 3pm, on Christmas Day.
This town centre shop sells not only wines, beers and spirits but also sweets and chocolates.
If someone sends a present and you haven't got one for them, this might be the answer. The shop's phone number is 01652 657712.

'FULL SERVICE' FOR CHRISTMAS EVE ON THE BRIGG LINE

 

FROM PAUL JOHNSON, BRIGG LINE RAIL CAMPAIGNER

Train services will start to wind down around 1800 on Christmas Eve and the Brigg Line will be working a full service today (Saturday, December 24).
The last train from Sheffield,  Worksop, Retford, Gainsborough Central, Kirton in Lindsey to Barnetby, Habrough,  Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes arrives at Brigg at 1726.
The last train from Cleethorpes,  Grimsby Town, Habrough,  Barnetby to Kirton in Lindsay,  Gainsborough Central,   Retford, Worksop and Sheffield is 1908 at Brigg.

EXPERT ADVICE ON PLANNING YOUR BRIGG CHRISTMAS EVE PUB VISIT

Brigg pubs will enjoy one of their busiest nights of the year tomorrow, Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24).
Many local folk who don't usually frequent Brigg hostelries will be making rare outings to savour what our many, and varied, bars have offer.
So Brigg Blog, which has considerable experience and local knowledge, you understand, is perhaps well placed to offer a few pointers...
If you are planning a pub visit, give it a bit of thought before setting off.
The best advice we can offer is: Go out early to avoid the peak period from 8am to closing time. And think in advance where you're going to visit.
If you get to the door and see a particular pub is "heaving" then give it a miss and move on to another.
Don't be afraid to switch from pub to pub - it's something many regulars do as a matter of course.
The biggest hostelry in terms of floor space, with the cheapest prices overall, is Wetherspoon's White Horse, on Wrawby Street.
The Britannia Inn, near the Monument, will be a good starting point for your evening out, we suggest. It has a good range of seating and  does not tend to get too busy early on Saturday evenings.
The Exchange - which you can access from Wrawby Street (archway near the travel shop) and Bigby Street (opposite the entrance to St Clare's Walk) - is also a good choice, together with the Lord Nelson/Hardy's, near the Buttercross.
The White Hart, on Bridge Street, and the Nelthorpe Arms, on the other side of the road, are also well worth a visit. Both have sizeable beer gardens. 
Real ale fans tend to frequent the Yarborough Hunt, on Bridge Street, or visit Dexters (formerly the Black Bull) on Wrawby Street.
If you are still out and about late on, have a look in at the Dying Gladiator, on Bigby Street, where popular music is a Saturday night feature, as it is at the Woolpack, in the Market Place.
Take plenty of pound coins with you. Waving a £20 note in the air while  queueing at the bar might not help you to get served immediately if the place is particularly busy. And once you've been served, move away from the bar and make way for others. Staying in the serving area on a very busy night will not endear you to regulars or the bar staff.
We hope to see you out and about in one, or several, of the above on Christmas Eve.
Enjoy yourself but know your drinking limit. You don't want a hangover spoiling your Christmas dinner the following day!
PS Brigg Servicemen's Club, near the town's main car park, is a members' club.

KEEP THE NOISE DOWN THIS CHRISTMAS, PEOPLE IN BRIGG AREA ADVISED

FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

With Christmas fast approaching there will lots of parties and festive cheer, which can often lead to an increase in domestic noise complaints to the council.
North Lincolnshire Council would like to remind people planning on having a Christmas or New Year party to think about the time and the place to ensure you don’t disturb your neighbours.
Some ways you can keep the noise down include:

• Hold parties indoors and keep the noise levels down as the night progresses
• Don’t invite too many guests as it could end up spilling out into the garden and creating more noise
• Give your neighbours advanced warning that you’re having a party and maybe even invite them

Music is the main thing that people complain about at parties so be considerate when it comes to your music choice. Keep the volume down, especially later in the night when neighbours might be trying to sleep.
Make sure you keep windows and doors closed as much as possible to keep the noise contained.
Over the past 12 months, the council received 418 complaints regarding noise from domestic properties. The affects include lack of sleep, not being able to sit in their own homes and read a book, listen to their own radio or watch television.
The following complaints have been received this year:

• Noise from people shouting, singing etc – 188
• Noise from loud music – 168
• Noise from a party – 22
• Noise from a TV, stereo or radio – 40

The council has a duty to investigate noise that may be classed as statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The council investigates complaints of noise nuisance affecting residents and businesses. If it is considered that noise nuisance is an issue, an Abatement Notice will be served.
The following enforcement action has been carried out over the past 12 months:

• 396 letters to the source of noise complaints
• Digital noise monitoring equipment installed 135 times in complainants homes
• 42 formal interviews undertaken with people responsible for domestic noise nuisance
• 35 Abatement Notices served prohibiting the recurrence of noise nuisance in a domestic property
• 43 properties placed on the council’s out of hours noise monitoring service
• Four seizures of noise making equipment under warrant

Any items seized that are safe and passed electrical safety are donated to local organisations and charities.  
There have been two recent noise making equipment seizures. 
Coun Neil Poole, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We don’t want to stop anyone from enjoying Christmas and New Year’s Eve, however it is important we issue this friendly reminder to people about their noise levels when celebrating. Often people don’t realise the effect their levels of noise has on their neighbours. I would urge everyone to think about their neighbours when organising a party or get together this festive season.
“If we receive complaints of noise nuisance, officers will investigate and if they find there is a noise nuisance, an Abatement Notice will be issued. If this is breached, court action will be taken.”

NEW HOUSING: EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR BRIGG

FROM SARAH HOWE, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

The Government has today announced plans to award North Lincolnshire Council £600,000 from the Department for Health to help people with learning disabilities live independently.
The council submitted three separate projects as part of a partnership bid also involving Ongo, the Clinical Commissioning Group and Progress Housing.
The money will go towards providing around 10 homes in Scunthorpe for those with a learning disability. The scheme is for those with complex needs who will be leaving hospital placements.
A further six properties will be transformed in BRIGG into independent flats for people with learning disabilities on the autistic spectrum with low level needs – not necessarily receiving care or support services.
The money will also be used to provide assistive technology to other people with a learning disability who are living independently in the community, to further promote independence, safety and security and give family members more confidence that their loved ones can live independently.
Coun Rob Waltham (pictured), Deputy Leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This is great news and a welcome boost that will help those with learning disabilities live independent lives throughout North Lincolnshire.
“The council is committed to working with our partners to ensure we do all we can to help meet the housing needs of adults with learning disabilities – whether that be to enhance the quality of life for those who already live independently or to provide more assisted support to those who need it.”