First Lincolnshire Day civic celebration held at Normanby Hall

Political leaders, MPs, mayors and guests from across greater Lincolnshire came together today to celebrate our great county.

The leaders of North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire County councils – Cllr Rob Waltham, Cllr Phillip Jackson and Cllr Martin Hill – hosted the event at the venue near Scunthorpe to mark Lincolnshire Day and strengthen ties across the whole of the historic county.

It is hoped the civic celebration will become an annual Lincolnshire Day tradition.

The event also saw the winners of the Greater Lincolnshire Menu competition announced. The competition was launched by the three councils earlier this year to showcase the wealth of amazing food producers in the county.

The winners are:

• Breakfast category: Smoked haddock kedgeree from Alfred Enderby in Grimsby
• Lunch category: Sautéed Lincolnshire sausage, black pudding and chorizo on sourdough, from The George in Kirton in Lindsey
• Dinner category: ‘The Yellow Belly’ pizza from The Wood Shed Pizza in Louth, featuring slices of Lincolnshire sausage, Lincolnshire Poacher cheese, red onion and mozzarella.

Cllr Philip Jackson, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said:

“We are proud of what we are achieving in North East Lincolnshire alone, but working together as part of Greater Lincolnshire, we could do so much more to deliver our collective green agenda and economic aspirations and make the county a place where people want to visit, live, work and stay, to the benefit of all our authorities.”

Cllr Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said:

“Lincolnshire has a rich heritage and culture, of which we’re all proud. And it’s that shared pride in our county that has brought us together to celebrate Lincolnshire Day.

“As well our great history, we come together today to reinforce our commitment to Lincolnshire’s present – improving the lives of our residents, supporting our local businesses and boosting tourism and investment – and to our prosperous future.”

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said:

“This is the first time colleagues from across our great county have come together to celebrate Lincolnshire Day and it is a real privilege to be able to host the occasion.

“Lincolnshire Day is about showcasing all that is great in our region, so it is fitting that we meet at Normanby Hall – one of many fantastic tourist attractions our county has to offer – to plant a tree that will be enjoyed by generations to come.

“By standing together with shared purpose we can look forward with renewed optimism. The green shoots are everywhere as we build a future of opportunity, of well-paid, sustainable jobs and investment that will improve the lives of residents, now and in the future.”