POLICE LINK STRING OF BURGLARIES

Scunthorpe Telegraph February 28th 2005

Police in North Lincolnshire are appealing for witnesses following the theft of a car and a series of house burglaries.
 
Between 5am and 7.30am on Thursday, a blue coloured Ford Sierra motor car, registration J517 BWJ, was stolen from an address in Bigby Road, Brigg. Police then received a report at around 8.45am of a Ford Sierra acting suspiciously in Winteringham.
 
Later the same morning police received a report of a house burglary in Silver Street, Winteringham, where thieves smashed a window and gained entry to the property, before making off with a silver coloured Technics CD hi-fi system.
 
At 10am on Thursday a woman in Barrow-on-Humber reported seeing the Ford Sierra leaving the scene of a burglary in Westoby Lane in the village. Police believe nothing was stolen from the address.
 
During the course of the day two other burglaries were reported to police, one in Appleby and one in Brigg, and officers believe all the offences are connected.
 
Inquiries suggest three males were in the vehicle and officers want to hear from anyone with information about them.
 
Police also want to speak to anyone who saw the Sierra in the area or knows its current whereabouts, as well as anyone who witnessed any of the offences.
 
Members of the public with information should contact Humberside Police on 0845 60 60 222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

COUPLE CELEBRATE DOUBLE SUCCESS FOR FINE FOOD

Scunthorpe Telegraph February 28th 2005

North Lincolnshire's top restaurateurs, Germain and Annie Schwab, are celebrating a double success in the ratings.
 
Two months ago, the couple, who opened Winteringham Fields 18 years ago, won an appeal against the Valuation Office Agency to slash their annual rates bill. Now the world-renowned epicure Egon Ronay has saluted their cuisine.
 
Winteringham Fields is warmly recommended in Egon Ronay's RAC Guide 2005 to the Top 200 Restaurants in the UK, which has just been published.
 
It is the first Egon Ronay Guide after an eight-year interval.
 
The restaurant was inspected anonymously last year.
 
In addition to the recommendation in the guide, the restaurant has been awarded a two-star rating, which means it 'shows a truly exceptional level of excellence'.
 
The guide reports: "The Schwab couple have turned Winteringham Fields into one of the leading restaurants of the north in 17 years.
 
"Difficult as it is to remain at the top, they keep excelling with items like superb amuse-bouches, crisp fritters of hare and rabbit, fricassee of wild salmon - with dill - and exquisitely herbed salmon rillette.
 
"The superb list is endless and it is only natural that they we give it two stars."
 
Egon Ronay said: "Winteringham Fields is an excellent restaurant and richly deserves its position in the top 200.
 
"As always our inspection concentrated on the quality of food and we were very impressed with our meal there."
 
According to the book, dinner for two at Winteringham Fields is £200.
 
A set lunch for three courses is £32 per head and there is also a set dinner (£40) and a menu surprise (£72).
 
The guide points out a number of general issues about UK restaurants.
 
It criticises the totally 'shambolic' service charge, which confuses and misleads the public and suggests a law is needed to make the position clear for the customer.
 
It takes to task many excellent young chefs for pushing cooking boundaries too far, sometimes resulting in 'hubris on the plate'.
 
"There is too much testosterone in restaurant kitchens," said the guide.
 
It also nominates British sommeliers as the world's best and says they are well and internationally informed, without a bias for expensive wines.
 
Peter Smith, chairman of the RAC, said: "We are delighted to be supporting such a highly anticipated guide and believe it provides a fresh perspective on some of the UK's top restaurants."

COUPLE WIN THEIR BATTLE TO STAY IN BUSINESS

Scunthorpe Telegraph February 17th 2005

The premier restaurant in North Lincolnshire, Winteringham Fields, is to stay open after the owners won an appeal against a decision to increase the rate bill for the premises more than six-fold to £62,500 a year.
 
Germain and Annie Schwab, who opened the business 18 years ago, had warned their 35 staff if they had to pay the bill they would close the restaurant. The Schwabs saw their bill rise after a valuation officer reclassified their restaurant as a hotel.
 
However, a valuation tribunal which sat at Lincoln has upheld the appeal from the couple.
 
At one time the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) was considering an appeal against the decision to the High Courts in London, but has now ruled out such a move.
 
VOA spokeswoman Claire Covello said today: "The Agency has, after consideration, decided not to appeal in the case involving Winteringham Fields.
 
"The VOA accepts the decision of the valuation tribunal for the reasons released.
 
"The VOA is not able to go into details of the case, however, as it involves confidential trade information."
 
The three panellists, who sat behind closed doors in Lincoln, were told Winteringham Fields was listed in 2000 as a restaurant and premises with an annual rateable value of £11,000. That figure was increased to £11,500 in August 2001, following structural alterations.
 
But last September the business was reclassified as a hotel and premises with a rateable value of £39,500.
 
That figure was later amended to £29,500, but the Schwabs claim they were told the figure would rise to £62,500 a year from April 2005.
 
The tribunal was told the Schwabs operated predominantly as a restaurant with 11 trained chefs on the staff.
 
There were seven letting bedrooms, all of which were only available to diners.
 
The tribunal concluded it was not possible to separately book rooms as it was with a hotel and the occupiers were specialist chefs - as confirmed by the numerous accolades - and not hoteliers.
 
The rateable value was amended to £14,250 with effect from September 2 last year and the business again listed as restaurant and premises.
 
Miss Covello said: "All ratepayers have the right to appeal against their rateable value if they feel it is incorrect.
 
"Other assessments for comparable properties would have to be considered on their individual merits. Ratepayers can appeal directly to the VOA and it costs nothing."
 
Mrs Schwab said: "We are delighted with the outcome and now we can get on with what we do best - running a restaurant."
 
Winteringham Fields, which was on sale in 2003 for a reported £1.3-million has earned North Lincolnshire worldwide attention, attracting such diners as Robbie Williams and Sir Elton John.

CHEF HOPES TO CLAW TOP PRIZE

Scunthorpe Telegraph February 16th 2005

The claws will be out next month when a top chef enters a competition to find the country's top young chef.
 
Robert Thompson - who at the age of 22 is head chef at the Winteringham Fields restaurant - will be cooking his speciality crab in a bid to get through to the finals of the Roux Scholarship, one of the UK's most elite cooking competitions. If he is successful he will make competition history - because his brother, Patrick Thompson, is already a Roux Scholar. The Thompson brothers would be the first siblings to both land the prestigious scholarship, which is viewed as the 'ultimate' prize for chefs.
 
Robert will make his recipe 'duo of crab with a salad of celeriac, tatsoi and red orach, warm crab cream' in the competition.
 
He will have to prepare the dish in front of a panel of prestigious judges, including three members of the Roux family, and celebrity judges Rick Stein and Gary Rhodes.
 
The competition is due to take place at the Birmingham College of Food on March 3.
 
Robert admitted he would have some nerves before cooking in front of such distinguished chefs.
 
"You do get a few butterflies in your stomach, but you just have to get your head down and get the job done," he said.
 
Robert said he discovered his passion for cooking when he was just 10-years-old.
 
"I knew I wanted to be a chef because I love working with food," he said. "I've always cooked in the home, my brother was a chef and then I got my first job in a kitchen when I was 14-years-old."
 
Robert moved to Winteringham Fields in October 2001.
 
"The restaurant had a lot of awards to its name and coming here was a chance to work with great chefs," he said.
 
"I have had a great experience here but you need to enter these competitions to open up some more doors."
 
Robert said he would like a restaurant of his own, preferably in this region, within the next 10 to 15 years.
 
"I like the hustle and bustle of London but there are a lot of good restaurants and up-and-coming chefs in this country," he said.
 
Robert explained one of the advantages of Winteringham Fields' location was its access to fresh food - the restaurant uses Lincolnshire game and vegetables and fresh fish from Grimsby.
 
Robert said he sourced all the ingredients himself but did not limit himself to only local ingredients.
 
If it meant flying goods in from France to get the very best, then that is what would happen.
 
"That is what Winteringham Fields is all about," he said.
 
In addition to cooking their crab recipe, each contestant will be asked to prepare a dessert from a mystery box of ingredients, which is only given to them half-an-hour before the competition starts.
 
If Robert triumphs in this round he will move on to the national final at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, in early April.
 
And if Robert scoops the coveted award he will get £2,500 cash, up to three months training at a three-Michelin starred establishment in Europe, and trips to New York, Champagne and Milan.
 
Last summer Robert won a young chef of the year award at a prestigious London ceremony.
 
Annie Schwab, the owner of Winteringham Fields, has previously spoken of how proud everyone is of Robert's achievements.
 
She has also earmarked him as one of the up and coming chefs to watch out for.
 
"He's going to be one of the stars of the future," she said.

POETIC JOURNEY INTO 'THE SEASONS OF LIFE'

Scunthorpe Telegraph February 16th 2005

The president of Winteringham WI, Jackie Bateman, welcomed 23 members to the monthly meeting.
 
Members were told the new treasurer was Val Hayton and the subs for 2005 were due. The books had been balanced and were ready for audit. Members agreed to support a fundraising event for the tsunami appeal, where the WI would hold a lucky envelope stall. Prizes would be donated for this and for the other stalls at the event in the village hall.
 
The speaker for the meeting, Pam, had agreed to come along and read a selection of poems she had collected over the years. She explained she would cover 'The Seasons of Life'.
 
Beginning with childhood she travelled through the teenage years and the trials and tribulations of living with youngsters and on to courtship and marriage.
 
Many of the poems were amusing and the ladies were moved to laughter, especially by 'Just Like His Mother Used To Do'. Then it was on to middle age and 'Since I Had My Op'.
 
Pam finished with 'The Definition of Life' and 'Friendship'.
 
Christine Hammond thanked her on behalf of the members.
 
Pam was a very entertaining and amusing speaker and had told the ladies little anecdotes about her own life and family.
 
While enjoying their cups of tea and coffee the ladies discussed Winteringham's entry in the Federation competition for a time capsule, depicting the year in the life of Winteringham WI. The items are to be packed into a shoebox - no food or perishable items. Lots of suggestions were made which the secretary noted down and would be collected before the next meeting.
 
Members were also asked for fundraising ideas for the ACWW project to help street children in Ghana.
 
Hostesses for the evening were Mary Nuttell and Janet Campbell and the mystery parcels given by Mary and Janet were won by Heather Bateman and Josie Ogg.
 
The competition was for a farm animal (definitely not live!) and winners were 1 Ann Carnaby, 2 Josie Ogg and 3 Barbara Ashton.
 
Members were reminded at the February meeting on Thursday, the speaker would be Jennie Shepherd with 'Laughter in Straw' and the competition would be for something heart shaped.

LAST TO TAKE UP CHALLENGE

Scunthorpe Telegraph February 12th 2005

The last time someone walked across the River Humber was in the summer of 1953.
 
Lord Noel-Buxton hiked from Brough to Whitton, a distance of one and three-quarter miles. The walk took him 70 minutes and afterwards he described it as 'easy'.
 
"The crossing was unexpectedly easy," he said after the challenge.
 
"At no point was the water above my waist, and at many places on the sandbanks it was little more than ankle-deep."
 
The event took place on August 27, 1953, and was watched by about 500 people on both the north and south banks.
 
Lord Noel Buxton claimed his successful walk pointed to the existence of a Roman ford across the river.
 
He claimed the water never came above his hips.
 
Lord Noel-Buxton took a bath in the Bay Horse Inn, Winteringham, after his walk.
 
It was an adventure which made headlines across the region.
 
One report said: "For Lincolnshire 'Humbersiders' it was the greatest ever locally-staged event. For many, it was a sensation.
 
"And when Labour Peer Lord Noel-Buxton, with rolled-up grey flannel trousers and a lifebelt over his pullover, neared the Lincolnshire shore, people surged into a few square yards of river bank to welcome him with cheers and claps."

HUMBER WALKER'S BEST WADE PLANS

Scunthorpe Telegraph February 12th 2005

A Businessman has set himself the challenge of being the first man for more than 50 years to WALK across the River Humber.
 
His wife has branded her husband 'mad', and river experts have described the challenge as nigh-on 'impossible', but Graham Boanas (42) isn't bothered. He will be doing the muddy march to raise money for a charity to help children with a rare skin condition.
 
The last person to walk across the River Humber was Labour peer Lord Noel Buxton, back in 1953.
 
The walk - which took just over an hour - was described as a 'sensation' and deemed 'the greatest ever locally-staged event'.
 
But this year Mr Boanas, a businessman from near Hull, is determined to succeed in the trek across the estuary.
 
Mr Boanas will have to crawl over mud flats far too soggy to support his weight.
 
And he will have only half-an-hour in which the sandbanks are fully exposed before the tide starts to come in.
 
The walk will start at Brough on the north bank of the Humber, and will finish at Whitton, north of Winteringham.
 
At low tide, the river will be 4ft deep. When the tide turns, water travelling at about four knots - or 4.6 miles per hour - begins to rise by a foot every 10 minutes to a high tide of 16ft.
 
The walk, under the watchful eye of a Humber Rescue crew, is expected to take about 90 minutes.
 
The challenge will take place on Sunday, August 21, one of only two tides a year low enough to attempt the feat.
 
Mr Boanas, who owns Hull-based electrical firm Power Plus, said he was determined to help DebRA UK, a charity which aids people with a genetic skin-blistering condition after being moved by a feature on the condition shown on television.
 
He said he had done his research and was feeling confident, but the challenge would require some tough training.
 
"I am glad help will be at hand if I need it," said Mr Boanas, of Swanland. "But I think I am going to be able to do it."
 
Since devising the daring plan, he has been training two hours a day and wears leg weights for most of the day to build up his muscles.
 
A Bradford diving company has been commissioned to make a special suit to stop the mud sucking him down and speed up any rescue attempt.
 
And he is hoping the suit's built-in boots will stop him sinking.
 
Mr Boanas' wife Janine said her husband could be very single-minded. "I think he is mad, but he has made his mind up," she said. "He is very determined."
 
Tidal expert Mike Holmes, of Associated British Ports, described the madcap plan as 'an almost impossible task'.
 
Mr Holmes said it was extremely dangerous and added the Humber was a treacherous river to negotiate. "I believe it is almost an impossible task. The Humber is one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the UK," he said.
 
And Dave Roberts, from Humber Rescue, said supervision from coastguards was going to be vital for this summer's challenge, as it would be very difficult not to get stuck in the mud. "Crawling across the mud will be like ploughing through treacle," Mr Roberts.
 
Mr Boanas is raising money for DebRA which is a charity for parents of children suffering from Epidermolysis Bullosa. The condition makes skin so fragile the slightest knock will cause painful blistering and often permanent damage.

STAFF AND PUPILS BID FOND FAREWELL TO 'HYACINTH'

Scunthorpe Telegraph February 10th 2005

She has been likened, in the nicest possible way, to the television character Hyacinth Bucket by her friends and colleagues at Winteringham Primary School.
 
And when Shirley Mumby, who likes to host candlelit suppers, retired after 22 years working as a teachers' aid at the village school, they showered her with gifts and cards in a show of affection which, she said, was most moving and poignant. "I wasn't looking forward to the last assembly," said Shirley. "I asked if I might be excused because I was so, so nervous and I really didn't want to say goodbye to the children."
 
But her request was rejected out of hand by headteacher Jacqueline Taylor, who 'insisted' Shirley put in an appearance at the assembly - where she was warmly applauded for more than two decades' work at the school.
 
However, the career path which finally led her to the school had been a long and colourful one and saw her travelling to some of the world's more exotic places.
 
Born in South Ferriby, Shirley was one of a family of five until she was 16, when her younger brother was born.
 
Shirley was educated at South Ferriby school, before continuing her studies at Beretun School in Barton and at North Lindsey College, where she undertook maths and bookkeeping courses.
 
Later, she married Bernard Blanchard, who lost his battle against cancer in 1985, after more than 20 years together.
 
During their time together, Bernard was serving in the army and Shirley travelled with her husband on his overseas postings. "Between 1963 and 1965 we were in Hong Kong and I worked as an auxiliary nurse," she said.
 
Later, the couple were posted to Germany, where their son Gavin was born, and where Shirley worked in the wages department of the NAAFI at Herford, a district of Hanover.
 
"And then we went on to Cyprus for six months before going to Singapore. By that time Bernard was an officer and I had the role of an officer's wife, which meant I often visited sick people and had wives' clubs to run. After Bernard's tour of duty in Singapore we returned to the UK and settled into civvie street," said Shirley.
 
She went on to explain her husband was still serving in the army at the time and would often be away from home. "So I took a job in the village shop at Winteringham and worked there until I took up the teachers' assistant post at the primary school in 1983."
 
Shirley went on to say she undertook training at South Leys School, Scunthorpe, which enabled her to work with children who had special needs at Winteringham Primary and she studied for both the ordinary and advanced certificates.
 
During the past 22 years at the village school, Shirley said there had been a number of changes - not least of which had been in the size of the premises and the number of pupils.
 
"When I first went there, I worked in an old classroom as a temporary measure, but it was only removed three years ago."
 
Shirley went on to say her working day would see her arriving at school each day before 8am to photocopy material and set up displays.
 
"And then when the children arrived I would take the dinner register before helping those with special needs with their numeracy."
 
She would also undertake playground duties and, later in the day, helped the children with their literacy lessons.
 
"I was secretary of the school council and we would have a meeting with two children from each class, who would raise issues for discussion.
 
"The head would listen to them and if there was sufficient need for whatever issue they had raised they would be acted on. To know they were being listened to made the children feel important," said Shirley.
 
She went on to say there had been a number of very funny moments during the past 22 years. "And quite a few embarrassing ones, too - like the time I slipped on the ice. The children thought that was very funny. I will really miss the children because you never, never knew what would happen. There was something fresh every day."
 
During the past couple of decades, Shirley has also been involved in 20 residential school holidays. "And on those occasions, you tend to be their mum and nurse. If they are crying for their mother you give them a cuddle, or if they are not well you give them their medication.
 
"And in school you tend to be a listening ear for the children. You have to be all things to all children. It's no good working in a primary school, if you are not prepared to do this."
 
After 13 years of widowhood, Shirley found happiness again when she renewed her acquaintance with her best friend's cousin David Mumby, whose wife died in 1996. The couple were married at the church in Winteringham on August 1, 1998, and made their home together in Scunthorpe.
 
She described her last day at school as a very moving experience.
 
"They had organised a kind of Mastermind event where I was asked questions about myself.
 
Shirley confessed, because she used table napkins at every meal and hosted candlelit suppers, her colleagues had nicknamed her Hyacinth Bucket after the comedy character in the TV series, Keeping Up Appearances.
 
"They would make fun of me, but in a nice way," she said, adding the children presented her with a breadmaker.
 
"This is something we had talked about because I used to make bread for my children. I would bake it before they got up in the morning."
 
As well as the breadmaker, the children also presented her with a crystal basket and flowers.
 
"And then a child from each class gave me a big card on which they had all drawn their own pictures and that was quite moving."
 
There were more gifts from the staff, which included a table lamp base fashioned from crystal and a bottle of sherry.
 
"They gave me sherry because they always used to kid me about my sherry trifle. But the day was a lovely ending to a career. It's been hard work but very rewarding and I have made lots of nice friends."
 
Now Shirley and her husband are looking forward to their more leisurely future together and in particular to a Mediterranean cruise later in the year, which is David's retirement gift to her.
 
At home they both enjoy gardening, reading and walking and Shirley's other interests include handicrafts and making soft furnishings.
 
Retirement will also give them more time to spend with their respective families. Shirley explained how her first husband, Bernard had children from a previous marriage. "His wife died when she was just 27. But then he and I have our son, Gavin, and David also had three sons from his previous marriage."
 
Between them the couple have eight grandchildren, with another expected in April.
 
"So I will have plenty to keep me occupied," said Shirley, who added she would like to call in to see her former colleagues and the children from time to time.

JUMBLE RAISES CASH

Scunthorpe Telegraph February 3rd 2005

Hundreds of pounds was raised for the Asian tsunami appeal at a jumble sale in Winteringham.
 
The event, at Winteringham Village Hall on Saturday, raised a total £682.75.

RATES INCENTIVE TO ATTRACT FIRMS

Scunthorpe Telegraph February 7th 2005

North Lincolnshire Council will be rewarded for encouraging new businesses to set up in the area, under a new Government scheme.
 
From April, authorities will have more control over the spending of business rates collected in their areas from new firms, under the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives scheme. Estimates claim councils in the Yorkshire and Humber region alone could receive up to £120-million extra a year.
 
But, because the scheme is dependent on new businesses, it is not yet known how much would be generated in North Lincolnshire.
 
The full terms of the new plans are subject to further consultation.
 
At present, business rates are collected by the local authority and go directly to central Government, which then redistributes according to population.
 
In the past financial year, North Lincolnshire Council collected £61.8-million in business rates from firms such as the Corus Scunthorpe steelworks, but only received £46.3-million back from the Government.
 
This meant the council paid an extra £15.5-million to the Government, which it did not get back.
 
But now the council has an extra incentive to encourage new businesses to the area, because it can keep a share of the business revenue to spend on its own priorities.
 
A North Lincolnshire Council spokeswoman said: "Any measures that would give the council a fairer share of the money local businesses pay must be welcomed.
 
"However, the announcement only relates to new businesses and will not address this shortfall."
 
But the owner of North Lincolnshire's top restaurant, Winteringham Fields, said the Government was not 'singing from the same hymn sheet'.
 
Annie Schwab opened the business 17 years ago with her husband Germain.
 
She said: "They are talking like two different people. The Government claims it wants to help small businesses, particularly small rural business and, on the other hand, they have a Government office looking to increase business rates."
 
Mrs Schwab is currently contesting an increase in Winteringham Fields' business rates, and claims it may be forced to close if she is asked to pay up.
 
She added: "On one hand we are being told they want to help businesses and with the other they are pulling our legs out from under us."
 
Phil Haskins, of the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, said: "By allowing local authorities to keep some of the extra revenues from any economic growth in an area, this initiative should provide an incentive to local authorities to produce business friendly policies."
 
Mr Haskins said it did not call for a total relocalisation of business rates, which he said would be a backward step.
 
He added: "This new arrangement could be a convenient middle way showing businesses are prepared to play an important part in their communities, while allowing local authorities to reap the rewards of encouraging and supporting businesses in their areas.
 
"We will be looking to see any extra revenues produced by the scheme are put back into the business community in the form of business support measures, loans and grants, as well as other incentives for business to operate.
 
"We don't want to see extra money raised cross-subsidising other parts of the local authority's operations."