Lincolnshire Day celebrations shine through the rain

Lincolnshire Day celebrations by South Kesteven District Council began with a rousing rendition of The Lincolnshire Poacher at a flag raising to commemorate the county.

Students from The King’s School in Grantham provided the musical backdrop as SKDC Chairman Cllr Paul Fellows raised the Lincolnshire Flag.

The launch was echoed in Grantham Market Place with a collection of stallholders braving the rain to sell county-grow produce such as local bread and honey.

Then, historian, author and Chair of the Grantham Civic Society, Dr John Manterfield, led two historical talks about Lincolnshire at the nearby St Wulfram’s Church.

Cllr Fellows said: “The date was chosen to mark the anniversary of a significant event in the county’s history – the Lincolnshire uprising. This uprising serves as testament to the deep-rooted history and the resilient spirit of Lincolnshire.

“These modern-day celebrations serve the dual purpose of informing us of the county’s history and honouring those who sacrificed their lives during the uprising.

“By celebrating Lincolnshire Day, it gives us the opportunity to appreciate the history, culture and landscapes that make this county unique.”

Dr Manterfield’s talks on the topic of The Magnificent Seven shone a spotlight on seven individuals whose legacies have been carved into impressive memorials within the church.

Cllr Ashley Baxter, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Economic Development, said: “Lincolnshire Day is a great opportunity to celebrate our county’s rich history and heritage.

“It’s been a delight to have joined together for the first time in the recently refurbished Market Place to recognise all that is great about Lincolnshire while supporting our fantastic local businesses.”

Dr Manterfield said: “Lincolnshire’s history and heritage is long and fascinating and what better place to explore it than in the magnificent St Wulfram’s Church, home to a rich collection of funerary monuments commemorating the children of leading Lincolnshire families.”

His Magnificent Seven are:

• Sir Thomas Bury; Chief Baron of the Exchequer who died in 1972. Sir Bury amassed a fortune and is commemorated by a marble monument in the church.
• Captain William Cust; the younger brother of Sir John Cust of Belton, Speaker of the House of Commons. William was a naval hero who was accidentally killed by a cannonball in 1748.
• Rev Richard Stevens; a man whose career in the church was largely aided by the support of the Duke of Rutland and his son, the celebrated Marquis of Granby. Rev Stevens died in 1771.
• Sir Dudley Ryder; achieved greatness as a lawyer becoming Lord Chief Justice of the Court of the King’s Bench based in London but had a country seat at Harrowby. He died in 1758.
• Edmund Turnor; member of the Turnor family of Stoke Rochford Hall. His monument is unusual in incorporating a variety of marbles, designed by a Peterborough sculptor. He died in 1789.
• Charles Clarke; was the last member of a family of apothecaries and surgeons that had lived in Grantham High Street for over two centuries. One of his ancestors provided the lodgings when Isaac Newton was in Grantham. He died 1796.

Lieutenant Rupert Hardy Parker; killed at Passchendaele in 1917. His monument is a unique design made from alabaster and the epitaph reflects the loss felt by his family.