Sunday's spotlight - A Lincolnshire Thank You

By guest blogger Pete.

Twice a year for the past few years it has been possible for Lincolnshire residents to visit their local heritage sites free of charge.  This is a "thank you" to local folk for all the support, direct and indirect, that they give to local sites of importance.  Some visitors think that it is wrong to make an entrance charge to such sites - Lincoln Cathedral, especially, is selected for this criticism - but what such folk, often conveniently, forget is that all these various heritage locations need upkeep and upkeep, especially on old buildings, is extremely expensive.  In the case of Lincoln cathedral, no one is ever refused admission but the cost to maintain this beautiful, extremely old and very large building is astronomical.  No help at all is received from the Government.

It's unfortunate that some coach companies operating outside the county have decided that the two annual weekends when free admission is offered to Lincolnshire folk is also a most opportune time to run outings to various sites in the area.  It's easy to see why such companies feel that the offer of free admission will be a fee incentive for them to do their profit margins no harm at all.

Last Saturday and Sunday was one of those weekends when admission charges were dropped.  It's sometime since I had taken any photos in Lincoln Cathedral - especially of the beautiful nave windows - so I decided to pay a visit.  Ruth and John, as a birthday present for Pam, had paid for the restoration of part of the "David Window"  in that area of the Cathedral.  Whilst photographing these windows I met a very interesting character, who was researching the life of Robert Swan.  There is a large window dedicated to this Lincoln Benefactor, who was the first man to try and introduce a sewerage system into the city.  Unfortunately he was not successful but his efforts in that direction and other achievements were and are recognised.  My new friend asked me if I would email him a copy of the "Robert Swan Window" for his publication, which I was only too pleased to do.

Off to London soon so the camera batteries will have to be recharged for a day in the big city.  Just hope it doesn't rain.  Oh dear!  What a pessimist!
Still it is said that a pessimist is a realistic optimist who has all the facts.

Keep hoping.