Latest news with #BBCRadioLincolnshire
Daily Mirror
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC legend dies as devastated colleagues pay tribute to 'champion of local radio'
A star of BBC radio has sadly passed away as tributes from his former colleagues and friends pour in for the iconic one-time Managing Editor of BBC Radio Lincolnshire Colleagues have been paying their respects to Charlie Partridge following the announcement of his passing. The respected media figure had a long-standing career with the BBC, serving as Managing Editor of BBC Radio Lincolnshire from 1999 until his departure in 2020. Tributes poured in over social media on Saturday, July 19, led by former BBC News Foreign Correspondent and presenter Jonathan Charles. While the cause of death has not been disclosed, Jonathan shared his personal reflections on Twitter: "I am very sorry to hear of the loss of Charlie Partridge. More than 45 years ago, he taught me a lot about broadcasting @BBCNottingham - he was a great guy and we stayed in touch, occasionally swapping messages in the years since. Sometimes discussing @springsteen - My thoughts are with his family." He also shared a tribute from John Hess, who expressed his sorrow and celebrated Charlie's life and contributions to public service broadcasting and local radio. BBC Radio Lincolnshire's own Sean Dunderdale joined in commemorating his late colleague with a touching post accompanied by a photo of the two together. He wrote: "As others have posted online, I'm deeply saddened to have learnt yesterday of the death of Charlie Partridge." In a further tribute, Sean recalled his personal connection to Charlie, saying: "I remember - and often reminded him - of how, when a teenager, I listened to his breakfast show on Radio Humberside." "When he was appointed Managing Editor at Radio Lincolnshire, I showed him around Lincs FM and spent years winding him up with daft stunts - including parking my Lincs FM car right outside the BBC reception doors and other such tricks. "I was proud to then become his final presenter appointment before his well deserved retirement from the BBC. His love of radio - especially local radio - shone through everything he did. He continued to judge the National Hospital Awards for me right up until earlier this year and was always full of praise for the winning entries." Sean added: "He was the genius behind Lip Dub Lincoln (check it out on YouTube) and created Lincolnshire Day and the Lincolnshire flag - neither would have happened without Charlie. Next time you see the flag, think of the great Charlie Partridge. Lincolnshire is poorer for his passing but much richer for the time spent he with us." Former BBC presenter Andy Comfort posted on Twitter: "Oh my goodness. How sad. Charlie was indeed a champion of BBC Local Radio and I very much enjoyed working with him, especially in my NUJ role. Condolences to Jill and family and friends. RIP Charlie." BBC radio fans also paid their respects, with one writing: "Sad to hear Jonathan, John. Charlie was a lovely man, who believed in truly local radio. He was also very kind and supportive. Thoughts with his family." Another added: "It is indeed very sad Jonathan. Lovely man." This follows the announcement five years ago that the editors of BBC Radio Lancashire, Radio York and Radio Lincolnshire, including Charlie, had opted for voluntary redundancy.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police chief warns of 400 job cuts due to funding
The chief constable of Lincolnshire Police has warned 400 staff and officer jobs could be cut if the force cannot secure extra funding by October. It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the government's Spending Review, which includes a 2.3% real terms yearly funding increase for policing in England and Wales. Chief Constable Paul Gibson said this was not enough for Lincolnshire and would leave the force facing a deficit of almost £70m. He said he had begun negotiations with the Home Office. But Reeves told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme she did not "accept" the need for cuts to police jobs. Speaking during a hotseat with BBC Radio Lincolnshire presenter Frances Finn, Mr Gibson said the Home Office had recognised Lincolnshire as a "significant outlier" in terms of funding. "If we don't get more money by October, then, unfortunately, I have to start consultation to reduce our organisation significantly," he said. Mr Gibson said cuts to officer numbers could result in reductions to services that were "hugely important" to communities, including neighbourhood, roads and rural policing and crime prevention work. He said: "I have to make sure that I balance the budget, and if I can't do that then I have to reduce resources, which obviously will be felt within the communities across our great county." The chief constable said he had a meeting planned with Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson for early July, and he would be "pitching for more money". "I'm as optimistic as I can be, but I can't guarantee money will come along," he said. In April, Lincolnshire Police announced previous planned cuts to 400 jobs had been delayed due to a new £5.7m government funding package. But speaking on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Mr Gibson said this was "one-off money" to provide "stability" for six months. A report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue, released in May, rated Lincolnshire Police inadequate at investigating crime, responding to the public and managing offenders and suspects. Mr Gibson said he appreciated the findings of the report would be "concerning" for residents, but he said funding had a "massive impact" on the level of service the force could give. He said: "It's [the report] not as good as I wanted it to be, that's absolutely clear, and there's no doubt that there are things we need to do better. I completely accept that. "We're working incredibly hard in the background to make sure we are investigating crimes better, supervising criminal investigations better, meeting the requirements of victims better." Caller Chris Fairweather, from Old Leake, near Boston, told the chief constable she had not been visited by officers after reporting a garage break in at her home. She said tools and equipment had been stolen, but she had received a letter from police a week later to say the case had been closed. Mr Gibson said it was "just not possible" to visit the scene of every crime, and officers had to work out the likelihood of solving a crime. He said: "Finance, whether we like it or not, has a major impact upon what you're able to do, in terms of the quality of service you can deliver." Later in the discussion, Mr Gibson said: "I know that people are concerned about policing – they always want more, quite understandably. "But I also need to make sure that I balance that with my staff, who are operating in difficult circumstances. "They get assaulted quite frequently. I write to them, I speak to them, almost daily, in terms of someone who's been punched, kicked, spat at." The Home Office has been approached for comment. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Police cuts postponed after funding boost Winners and losers: Who got what in the spending review? 'Serious concern' over police crime investigations Lincolnshire Police
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Three peregrine falcon chicks hatch at Cathedral
Three peregrine falcon chicks have hatched at Lincoln Cathedral. The birds, which have made their nest on a ledge on the side of the main tower, laid four eggs last month. Bruce Hargrave, a tower guide, said three of the four hatched overnight on Tuesday and one was "still to hatch". Speaking on BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Breakfast Show, Mr Hargrave described the chicks as "little white balls of fluff with big feet". He said: "The first three hatch quite quickly and the fourth takes a bit longer." The nest has a live video feed on the internet. Mr Hargrave said the male peregrine had been nesting at the Cathedral for the past 10 years and the female arrived in 2023 following the death of his previous partner. The peregrine population in the UK declined in the 1960s due to human persecution and the impact of pesticides, according to the RSPB. However, improved legislation and protection has helped the birds to recover and they have now expanded into many urban areas, although they are still illegally killed to stop them preying on game birds, the charity added. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Peregrine falcons lay eggs at cathedral Peregrine falcons return to city nesting spot Lincoln Cathedral - Peregrine Falcons
BBC News
22-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Three peregrine falcon chicks hatch at Lincoln Cathedral
Three peregrine falcon chicks have hatched at Lincoln birds, which have made their nest on a ledge on the side of the main tower, laid four eggs last Hargrave, a tower guide, said three of the four hatched overnight on Tuesday and one was "still to hatch".Speaking on BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Breakfast Show, Mr Hargrave described the chicks as "little white balls of fluff with big feet". He said: "The first three hatch quite quickly and the fourth takes a bit longer."The nest has a live video feed on the Hargrave said the male peregrine had been nesting at the Cathedral for the past 10 years and the female arrived in 2023 following the death of his previous peregrine population in the UK declined in the 1960s due to human persecution and the impact of pesticides, according to the improved legislation and protection has helped the birds to recover and they have now expanded into many urban areas, although they are still illegally killed to stop them preying on game birds, the charity to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lincoln athlete aged 85 sets two British running records
An 85-year-old athlete has set two British records for the 800m and 1, Stracey from Lincoln won the races in the women 85 and over category at the British Masters Athletics event in Stracey said she had been running for about 40 years and was a member of a road running said she started track racing after a friend invited her to go and keep her company at an indoor championship in Birmingham about 25 years ago. She told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "I said I'm only going if I do something. I've being doing it ever since."Mrs Stracey attends a local parkrun every week and has also taken part in them in other parts of the UK and other countries."It gets you out in the fresh air," she said."It probably does me good and also the group of friends I have are a completely different set of friends to everything else."We just get together usually twice a year for the indoor and outdoor championships."Mrs Stracey set the record in February at the Lea Valley Athletics Centre, completing the 800m in five minutes and 31.77 seconds and the 1500m in 11 minutes and 11 to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
