Tag: Laura Wright

Lincoln comes alight this Christmas

Iona Shore / / Christmas

The festive season has begun this year, as the city’s Christmas lights were switched on. Laura Wright went to the event to find out just what makes Lincoln sparkle.

Lincoln's lights being switched on

Christmas officially started in the city of Lincoln on Thursday 17thNovember, when the Christmas lights were switched on by comedy duo Cannon and Ball.Starting at 6 o’clock at St. Mark’s shopping centre, the festivities -including a local live band and a dance performance by college students dressed as elves, definitely started to get people into the Christmas spirit.
As the crowds made their way over to the High Street, the bright glowing lights which had already made an appearance down the streets sparkled in the winter night’s sky.
Starting outside Lloyds TSB bank and working their way up the hill past theWaterside Shopping Centre, people closely gathered around with their warm Christmas drinks, eagerly awaiting the switch on.
After a few festive songs, a crowd warm up by BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Rod Whiting and a parade from the Mayor of Lincoln and the civic party, Cannon and Ball finally arrived to brighten up the city.
When the count-down hit one, they flicked the switch and the colourful, twinkling lights lit up the sky and a loud cheer from the crowd echoed around the street –as the Christmas season began.
The crowd then separated and went off into different directions, some heading straight into the Waterside, where Cannon and Ball were waiting to sign autographs, some took their children over to see special guest ‘Pudsey the Bear’ and others made a start on their Christmas shopping-as like every other Thursday night in Lincoln, many stores stayed open for trading up until 9pm.
It was certainly a festive, pretty way to bring the people of Lincoln together, to mark the start of the Christmas season.

Santa Clauses running to town!

Iona Shore / / Christmas, Entertainment

For the 6th year running, people in Lincoln will be reaching for their Santa suits and making their way to Steep Hill, all in aid of charity.

Santa's running for fun

During every Christmas period for the past five years, you may have noticed a rather large gathering of Santa’s who have been not-so-secretly meeting at the top of Steep Hill, amongst the picturesque area of the city. This is due to the ever so fun and festive event, the Siemens Great Santa Fun Run.
Organised by the Rotary Club of Lincoln in aid of the St. Andrews Hospice, the British Heart Foundation Lincoln, Samaritans Lincoln, the Siemens Charity and other local charities, its main aim is to achieve as many competitors as possible, raising as much money as possible.
The event is exceptionally popular and this year will see the 6th year of Santa’s gathering. Kimberley Howroyd, who is the Senior Purchasing Administrator at the Running Imp, (the running event suppliers) is very proud of the run becoming so popular, “I believe the popularity is down to the fun aspect of the event. The charities chosen are always local charities that are close to many people’s hearts.”
This popularity is proven by the amount of participants the event usually receives; near-enough reaching the 1,500 capacity every year and raising a total of £109,376 so far, it certainly seems like a fun and effective way to create money for something you really care about.
As well as raising money for your favourite charity, it’s also a great way to get a bit of festive exercise – before all of the Christmas turkey – as the event is a two lap course, approximately 3.5 km around the Bailgate and Castle Square area.
Although, don’t get scared off by the idea of having to run two laps around the city, as the Santa Fun Run is intended for everybody. You can walk, jog, push pushchairs or even take the dog – nobody misses out!
As this is the 6th year of the run, the organisers are trying to create a new record and raise more money than ever. Kimberley believes this goal shouldn’t be too difficult to reach, “This year we’re encouraging participants to raise a minimum of £20.11 each, and with the event usually reaching between 1,200 and 1,500 participants it shouldn’t be too difficult to raise a new maximum amount.”
This is not only a reasonable amount to ask for, but it also ties in with the event’s tagline for the year – ‘Run in 2011, Walk in 2011, raise £20.11.’