LINCOLN AtoZ

This week we're back in the city centre, in the area around Newland and Brayford Wharf North, where Paul and Jonny are pleased to find that students haven't changed too much since their day despite the worrying presence of a gym, and enjoy a trendy Japanese beer on the balcony of the Hilton hotel whilst ruminating over how the area has changed since it's years as a working dock.  We also recall the halcyon days of the 2012 Olympics and hear from Nick Hope who was one of the lucky bearers of the Olympic flame when it passed through this very grid.  All this plus some bone-fide facts from Jo Hughes and Tref's view of the area, plus another round of A Question of Lincoln.

This week we're in Producer Jonny's beloved 'hood - Lincoln's West End - and whilst Jonny can't resist his customary moan about PVC windows and cars, he quickly wins Paul round to the manifest merits of the area.  We also hear from Simon Fitch about West End Lights, an annual community event where locals display short films, shadow puppets or other light-based art in front of their houses, and we hear more about the experience of living in the West End from residents Nigel, Grace, Ted, Josie and Bess The Dog.  All this, plus a history of the area from Jo Hughes and a West End themed Question of Lincoln.

This week we visit the graffiti-ridden, wee-smelling concrete carbunkle that is Pelham Bridge where we lament the streets that were flattened to build this 50s flyover.  Jonny questions why, 55 years after it opened, drivers are still moaning about the railway crossings which it was supposed to bypass, whilst Paul uses his vantage point on the bridge to narrate the story of Lincoln.  Having thoroughly depressed ourselves, we decided to try to bring something beautiful to this unpromising grid, as local singer-songwriter Michael Reeve performs live and acoustic under the bridge while the traffic thunders overhead.  Meanwhile, Jo fills us in on the history of the grid, and Tref takes us back to the day Liz cut the ribbon on the bridge. All this, plus a Pelham Bridge-themed round of A Question Of Lincoln.

This week we head to Hartsholme Country Park and the Swanholme Nature Reserve, where the news that grass snakes and adders have been spotted sends the ophidiophobic Jonny into a panic, while Paul's more bothered by the geese. We also hear some childhood reminiscences of the area from Ben Pickard, as well as more history from Jo Hughes, Tref's take on the grid, and of course another round of A Question Of Lincoln.

This week we once again head out of town, to the exceedingly well-equipped Skellingthorpe – less than half a mile from the Birchwood estate but a very different ambiance, prompting us to question whether public money always goes to the right places. We also stumble across some Sunday League footballers, leading Paul to reveal his Roy Of The Rovers delusion, while Jonny runs away from the ball like a girl.

Back in the studio, we hear more of your memories of lost Lincoln pubs, and Paul invokes the spirit of Bruno Brookes to countdown the OFFICIAL TOP TEN of Lincoln's most missed boozers. All this, plus some proper history of the area from Jo Hughes, Tref's unique take on the grid, and of course another round of A Question Of Lincoln.

This week we visit Producer Jonny's childhood 'hood, Brant Road, where we learn about his love of lego and curly wurlys, and his life on the road as The Littlest Hobo.  Meanwhile, Paul and Jonny are caught peeping on the current occupants of Jonny's childhood home and are forced to scarper.  Back in the studio, we invite your comments on Lincoln's lost, lamented pubs and are deluged with responses.  All this, plus the history of K19 from Jo hughes and more from Tref, and of course another Question of Lincoln...

This week is all about transport as we visit a grid square where road, rail, canal and cycleway intersect.  Having thrashed Jonny on the Skelly Straight cycle challenge, Paul reveals his rock & roll past and is shocked to discover Jonny's criminal tendencies.  Paul and Jonny then consider the current popularity of cycling and the "Wiggins Effect", and we hear more on this from Trevor Marsh of cycling charity Sustrans.  As always, we also find out about the history of the grid from Jo hughes and Tref, being Welsh, can't resist a song.  All this, plus another round of A Question Of Lincoln...

This week we venture up Canwick Hill to an area alongside Lincoln Road which apparently contains Canwick Pits.  At least, that's what our map tells us - but we were once again thwarted by fences and "keep out" signs, leading Jonny to speculate what the authorities might be hiding in there.  Meanwhile, Paul discovers that, whatever Elton John may claim, "Sorry" is not the hardest word - the hardest words are in fact "Oil Rape Seed Field".

Talking of words - back in the studio, we invite your thoughts on Lincoln words, phrases and sayings and are deluged with suggestions, from "weckie" to "gansey", "mardy" to "rammal", and of course "D'you come from Bardney?!".  All this, plus a history of R14 from Jo, more musings from Tref, and another round of A Question of Lincoln... it's enough to cobble dogs wi'!

This week, we visit Sir Francis Hill School and the surrounding area, where Paul looks back on his idilic childhood and reveals his part in getting golf banned near Tritton Road.  A house proudly displaying an England flag leads us to muse over the meaning of patriotism, while Jo Hughes from Lincolnshire Archives fills us in on the history of the area, and Tref gives us his take.  All this, plus another round of A Question of Lincoln...

This week we schlep out to Branston to stare at big iron gates and high walls in the area around Branston Old Hall. The discovery of an orchard in the grid prompts the first and probably last editions of Jonny’s new quiz A Question Of Apples. Meanwhile, Paul ponders the preponderance of “No Dog Fouling” signs and we use all our considerable cunning to sneak into the off-limits part of the grid.

We also hear memories of yesteryear from some of the village’s old timers, as well as more history from Jo Hughes and Tref’s take on the area. All this, plus another round of A Question of Lincoln.