WAITER BIDS TO BE TOP OF TABLE

Scunthorpe Telegraph Tuesday 29th August 2006

The region is topping the list when it comes to great local produce and excellent catering staff but, according to one top waiter, the same cannot be said of the area's restaurants.

"North Lincolnshire has got the best local produce in the country, but we don't have many good restaurants to serve it in," said Shaine Ohrt (23), a waiter at Scunthorpe's San Pietro restaurant. Shaine, from Winterton, is currently bidding to become recognised as one of the best in the business.

The Young Chef, Young Waiter competition recognises talented under-25s in the catering industry.

The restaurant waiter put himself forward for the competition in a bid to increase publicity for North Lincolnshire's restaurants.

He said: "I wanted to put San Pietro and North Lincolnshire on the map. Hopefully this competition will achieve that."

The competition is open to all young waiters in the UK under the age of 25.

Applicants must fill in an application form which goes before a panel of judges, who then draw up a shortlist of eight candidates to take part in the heats.

Of the eight, two will make it through to the final - with a chance to win £2,000 and a holiday to Barbados.

The candidates have to participate in several tests in their bid for fame, including answering multiple choice questions on coffee and coffee service.

They will also be grilled on serving cheese, wine recognition and the correct procedure when pouring Champagne.

Shaine, who formerly worked at the renowned Winteringham Fields Restaurant, has made it to the final eight.

He said: "I am really flattered.

"People from small restaurants often get overlooked, so hopefully I will be able to bring a bit more recognition to the area.

"It would be quite nice to win as well - I'm not going to turn down a free holiday."

Dougie McMaster, a chef at Winteringham Fields, has made it to the shortlist in the Young Chef category.

The restaurant has previously enjoyed success with chef Robert Thompson, who was named the best in the country in 2004.

Robert beat off stiff opposition from around the whole of the UK, to be awarded the prestigious Craft Guild of Chefs title.

 

KILLED IN AFGHAN BATTLE

Scunthorpe Telegraph Tuesday 22nd August 2006

The latest British soldier killed in Afghan- istan has been named as former Scunthorpe man Corporal Bryan Budd.

Stepfather pays tribute to former town student The 29-year-old soldier, from 3 Para regiment, was involved in a firefight against the Taliban in Sangin, in the northern part of Helmand province.

He was on a routine patrol near the district centre in the town when he died, the Ministry of Defence said.

Cpl Budd (pictured) was a former pupil of Thomas Sumpter school, and had worked at top North Lincolnshire restaurant, Winteringham Fields.

Today his stepfather, Trevor Girdham, of Burringham Road, Scunthorpe, told of his heartbreak at the news.

He said: "I am so very proud of him - this is a terrible thing to have happened.

"Bryan put his heart into everything he ever did, and was totally devoted to his wife and daughter.

"When I was told about it I just felt numb."

Cpl Budd's mother Anne Girdham died 18 months ago.

Mr Girdham said Cpl Budd, a keen motorcyclist, would be sadly missed by everyone.

He had already done tours of duty in Iraq, Kosovo and Northern Ireland.

He added: "Being a soldier was his boyhood dream and he never shied away from any of his duties and was proud to serve in the British Army.

"He was a happy, smiling lad who lived life to the full and he was always there when people needed him."

Meanwhile Kevin Portess, who works at Winteringham Fields, knew Cpl Budd.

He said: "Bryan and I both started working at Wintering Fields on the same day in 1993, we even shared a room for a while.

"This is very sad news, he was a really nice man."

Cpl Budd worked at the award-winning restaurant for three years, initially as a waiter before progressing to sommelier - head wine waiter.

Cpl Budd was married to Lorena and had a two-year-old daughter, Isabelle.

Mrs Budd is expecting the couple's second child in September and the soldier's "keenest passion" was said to be his wife and daughter.

An MoD spokesman said Cpl Budd, who was softly spoken and a calm character, was 'incredibly proud' of his family.

Cpl Budd's death brings the number of British forces personnel who have died in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001 to 20.

He is the latest victim of persistent attacks on British troops who are in Afghanistan to help rebuilding and to tackle terrorism and heroin cultivation.

His body was due to be flown back to Britain on Friday. He also leaves a twin sister Tracy and an older brother, Stephen, who is also in the British Army.

They were serving as part of a multinational Nato force in the lawless south of the country.

Earlier this month British General Lieutenant-General David Richards assumed command of the 8,000-strong Nato force which is made up largely of British, Canadian and Dutch troops, as well as some US personnel.

In a statement issued following the incident Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne said: "I was deeply saddened to be informed of the death today of a British soldier and the injuries of three others as they supported the NATO mission in Afghanistan. I wish to express my sincere condolences to their families and friends. My thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

MARKING RAIL ANNIVERSARY

Scunthorpe Telegraph Friday 18th August 2006

A New exhibition at North Lincolnshire Museum celebrates the 100th anniversary of the North Lindsey Light Railway.

Full Steam Ahead runs from next Tuesday to September 24. The exhibition will tell the history of the railway using graphic panels, photographs, maps, posters and rarely-seen objects from the National Railway Museum and local collectors.

The North Lindsey Light Railway opened in September 1906, with a line running from Scunthorpe to West Halton. It was extended to Winteringham in 1907, and eventually reached Whitton in 1910. The railway became a heavily used industrial line, despite passenger services stopping in 1925.

Coun Ivan Glover, cabinet member for housing and leisure, said: "The North Lindsey Light Railway certainly has a colourful and extremely interesting his- tory. It will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about such an important and changing part of our area's history."

The museum is open from 10am to 4pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays, and from 1pm to 4pm on Sundays. It is closed on Mondays. For more information, call Dave Taylor on (01724) 843533.

'AGONY' INJURY DASHES EMMA'S DREAMS

Scunthorpe Telegraph Thursday 10th August 2006

Hockey ace Emma Bird was 'horrified' to see her toes facing backwards after a appalling injury.

The 19-year-old had been due to play in the International Inline Hockey Championships in America. Instead, she was confined to a wheelchair with a heavy cast after a collision on the Detroit courts left her with a fractured fibula and a badly dislocated ankle.

Although the on-court clash was no worse than a usual mid-game bump, Emma, from Winteringham, fell badly and her ankle was twisted around 180 degrees.

After the collision with a team-mate, she fell and her foot stayed still on the floor while her body rotated 180 degrees.

The 'agonising' injury meant Emma's chances of representing Great Britain were dashed.

"It was real agony. I think everyone heard me scream when I went down. I just saw my toes facing backwards - some of my team mates couldn't even look," Emma said.

Despite initially being 'heartbroken' over her injury, Emma decided the best way to forget her disappointment was to take part from the sidelines.

"It was hard not being able to play, but I became an unofficial coach - I got to see the team from a new perspective and see our weaknesses," explained the student.

"I benefited from it in the end and people did listen to me and take my advice on board.

"It was still frustrating. I started out being so active and ended up just watching - I have hurt myself before, but it was my first major injury," Emma added.

The team still managed to score a gold medal, despite the loss of Emma's defending skills and the sportswoman was 'delighted'.

"I do wish I'd got to play but I'll have another chance and I've played in the competition in America before, a few years ago," she said.

"It helped that everyone was so nice - random strangers and hockey mums kept coming up and asking if I needed anything.

"My team-mates were very supportive too. They helped stop me going into shock when I first fell - although it was too much for some of them, who skated away and had to be sick," she added.

After the initial shock, her fellow skaters helped boost her spirits and were glad to have her advising them on games.

The keen inliner and ice hockey player stayed in Detroit for the rest of the competition, but endured an operation on her leg after the nine-hour flight home.

She is now starting to use crutches and hopes to be back on her skates as soon as possible in order to try out for the Sheffield ice hockey team.

"I'm going to Sheffield Hallam in September to study sport technology and I will definitely try out for the team as soon as I can," said Emma.

"I'm up and about on crutches now so hopefully I'll be able to manage everything for myself when I move away. When I'm better I'm going to try out for the British world team."

Emma paid more than £2,000 - £450 of which was supplied by a North Lincolnshire Council sports grant - to take part, but she did not feel the money had been wasted.
 

RESIDENTS WELCOME

Scunthorpe Telegraph Thursday 10th August 2006

Winteringham residents have been invited to a parish council meeting.

A range of issues likely to affect villagers will be discussed, and residents are welcome to go along and ask any questions. At the previous meeting, road maintenance, planning applications and the village's playing fields were discussed.

The meeting takes place next Tuesday in the council room at the village hall, commencing at 7.30pm.

 

REVOLUTION TO PUT DINERS IN A SPIN

Scunthorpe Telegraph Friday 4th August 2006

A Revolving floor - believed to be the first outside London - could be built at a top restaurant as part of an expansion scheme to ensure diners do not go hungry.

Bosses at Winteringham Fields claim they even had to turn away rock legend David Bowie earlier this year because they simply could not accommodate him for the three nights he requested to dine there. And, when they learnt exactly how much trade was being lost at the 40-cover restaurant they decided it was time to create extra space.

Colin and Bex McGurran, the owners of Winteringham Fields, explained more than 2,000 would-be customers have been told there was no room at the restaurant - even though the bill for an evening meal for two and an overnight stay would set them back a fiver short of £400!

Bowie had been hoping to follow in the footsteps of other showbiz stars, including Sir Elton John, Robbie Williams and Michael Winner, who have all dined there.

Mrs and Mrs McGurran, who bought the restaurant last year in a reported £1.2-million deal, decided urgent action was needed after research showed 600 potential customers every three months were going hungry.

So, the culinary couple have announced a £500,000 plan, which will see the 18-year-old restaurant double in size - and become even more glamorous.

The McGurrans are seeking approval from North Lincolnshire Council to build an extension to the kitchen and restaurant and enhance the wine cellar on the site in Silver Street.

Mr McGurran said, subject to approval, he hoped to have the work completed in time for the Christmas and New Year festivities.

"Our plans include the introduction of a revolving floor in the restaurant, which will turn 360 degrees in an hour," he said.

"The doughnut-shaped floor, measuring eight by nine metres, will hold seven tables and will save diners from looking at the same wall.

"The idea has been copied from a hotel in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates where I once worked.

"We believe it will be the first of its kind outside London."

And when work is completed, diners will be able to watch head chef Robert Thompson and his team in the kitchen preparing their meals through a new glass partition.

Another new feature will be an Italian-made aquarium, full of tropical fish and eels, reaching from the floor to the ceiling on one of the other walls.

The latest investment at Winteringham Fields comes after the restaurant was named as one of the top four in Britain, receiving a coveted nine out of 10 stars by the 2006 Good Food Guide.

The only other restaurants in the country to receive such high marks were Gordon Ramsay in London, Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons and the legendary Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire. None received 10 out of 10.

The guide - which acts as an industry marker to the country's top restaurants - scores venues on quality of food and service.