On May 21st a group of U3A members visited Lincolnshire Police HQ.
We were met on the coach by John Horton our host for the day. After being given name badges we went to a conference room where the tour agenda was explained.
Our first stop was a brief talk by Special Sergeant Kevin Taylor on the use of drones. He explained how drones have been used over the last few years and the life-saving events that have occured. It costs around £16,000 to introduce a drone however the running costs are negligible whereas a police helicopter costs £3,000 an hour to run.
We then split into smaller groups and toured the building. We stopped by the TV editing suite where Wendy from our group had the chance to introduce a programme using an autocue machine. We were all very impressed by the sophistication and professionalism achieved. To see the videos click here…
After a quick replay of the recording we were off again to the stores where there was an opportunity to inspect the stab vests worn by all police 
officers. The body armour and other equipment makes for a very heavy load to be constantly carried during their 12 hour shift. The modern police officer needs to be fitter than ever.
Onwards from the stores and outside to take a look at the various vehicles used in Lincolnshire from the All Terrain 
Vehicle to the Vauxhall Astra estate car. Here we had a chance to try the “blues and twos”. Some people were all set to go out on a “shout” however this wasn’t an opportunity open to us on this occasion.
The Command and Control Unit was in a very secure building well away from public access and we were privileged to witness incoming 999 and 101 calls and how they are dealt with by a very experienced team of police officers and civilian staff.
Our group completed the tour with a chance to talk to a firearms team. These highly trained officers volunteer for the role and undergo rigorous training. They don’t receive additional payments for the job but do it because they believe it to be an important function.
After lunch in the canteen (when the Chief Constable dropped by for a chat with us), we had a Q&A session with the Assistant Chief Constable and a member of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office. We learned a great deal about Lincolnshire Police and the challenges they face in a world where they are fighting crimes from pickpocketing to cyber crime.
The visit was well worthwhile and as always a big thank you to Brian Ward for making it such a great day.
st going through the Lincolnshire Co-operative Society’s archives in its HQ in Tentercroft Street in Lincoln, he soon understood its significance in Lincolnshire. As he examined balance sheets dating back to the mid-19th century, he became very aware of what a fabulous insight they gave into the LCS’s early trading activities as well as society in general.
in Silver Street had been built. Today, the Lincolnshire Co-operative has over 215 outlets and is owned by around 280,000 members, all of whom get to share its profits which includes paying dividends and a dividend bonus at the end of the year. LCS continues to invest in new and improved services and, in addition to its food stores, it also operates a mill, three farms and libraries, funeral homes, travel agencies, florists, post offices, filling stations and pharmacies as well as having a large property portfolio.
A 
The survey suggests that our membership consists of three quarters women however when we examine the actual membership list we find that it’s only two-thirds women. Maybe men don’t fill in survey forms. Nearly two thirds of you are between the ages of 55 and 74
Nearly 97% thought we offered an excellent or good range of activities. We had a number of suggestions for new groups: Architecture; Accordion; Creative dancing using classical music; Drawing/painting; Nature/wildlife study; Polish language; Politics; Saxophone/Clarinet playing; Science, Technology and Mathematics; cooking/baking- trying new foods/ improving skills; Learning Russian; Painting; GCSE Maths; Bird Watching; Philosophy; Languages for less experienced; Whist; Archaeology; Country dancing; Table tennis; Quilting; and Understanding which stars and planets can easily be seen without a telescope. All we need now is the volunteers to run the groups – let the Groups Coordinator know if you’d like to set up any of the above.
PINT OF SCIENCE COMES TO LINCOLN!
In one of our 2nd year modules in 2020 we will be thinking about women’s health. As such I want to connect with some women who have lived experiences of any issues such as (but not limited to); hysterectomy, termination, miscarriage, menopause, body image, eating disorders.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, there were several phases of expansion which included enlarging the moat and building defensive walls with a series of towers from where the reigning monarch could better defend and control.
or eminent prisoners held during the Tudor period who entered the building via the notorious ‘traitor’s gate’. It wasn’t all bad though as high-status prisoners such as Sir Walter Raleigh could expect to live in conditions comparable to those they might expect outside.
the Crown Jewels are protected by a garrison of soldiers. In Tudor times, the Yeoman Warders were the Royal Bodyguard but, by the 16th century, their main duty was to look after the prisoners. In 1845, the Duke of Wellington laid the foundation stone of the Waterloo Barracks which would eventually accommodate 1,000 men and is now the headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; the Crown Jewels are on display in the Jewel House in the Waterloo Block.
In recognition of their duties, Henry VIII granted the Yeoman Warders the right to wear a red ‘dress uniform’ which is still worn today on state occasions and for gun salutes. The more durable
dark blue uniform was introduced in the 19th century and is worn for every day duties which now include providing guided tours for the public, undertaking the ancient Ceremony of the Keys and caring for the seven ravens which must stay within the bounds of the fortress or legend has it that the monarchy will fall. 
