~ Current Issue ~

A New Voice & a New Look for The Gander

Issue #157 introduces Rebecca de Torre as Assistant Editor and “Digital Honker,” taking over The Gander’s social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. Editor Rose Williams celebrates the smoothest production to date, expanded colour printing, and 77 remaining issues still to digitise for the fully searchable online archive. The 1987 issues are now available at www.goxhillgander.com. The Winter 2026 edition deadline is 15th November, with delivery around 1st December.

A Village Full of Events This Autumn

• Calendar photo competition viewing & voting at All Saints Church, 12th September; Junior Prize £15 Amazon voucher, Front Cover winner £25 voucher.
• Goxhill Village Show at the Memorial Hall, Sunday 27th September — painting, mini gardens, needlecraft, poetry, baking, and more.
• Fantasy Scarecrow Trail, 30th–31st August, with a £10 prize draw for solvers.
• October Photofrolics online competition on the Goxhill Grapevine — five categories, £10 prize each, entries to Ann Carter by 31st October.
• Christmas Craft Fair, Sunday 29th November, 10am–3pm at the Memorial Hall.
• Christmas Comedy Night, Saturday 12th December — professional comedian Joey Howard with the Tenna Ladies. Tickets £15, bring your own booze.
• Goxhill Gander AGM, Thursday 24th September 6.30pm at the Parish Room.

Church & Chapel: Community at the Heart of Goxhill

The Methodist Chapel celebrated its Birthday Weekend with bingo, a pop-in, a special service, and a tea party — including a specially composed song, “We Built This Chapel,” performed by the Goxhill Singing Group (lyrics printed in full). The Chapel’s regular programme includes Knit & Natter (Thursdays), Luncheon Club (2nd Wednesdays), Whist Drive (last Saturdays), and Pop-in (3rd Saturdays). At All Saints Church, the summer concert on 25th July raised £307.73, and the Street Boot on 1st August raised £300. Remembrance Sunday services are planned for 8th November: 10.45am at the Memorial Hall and 2pm at Goxhill Airfield. Churches Together 2027 Open Gardens are planned for 18th April and 12th–13th June.

The Short Award 2026 — Vote Now!

Twelve nominees are in the running for the 2026 Short Award, including June Gathercole (OLIO food waste hero), Richard & Heather Jaques (village planters), Angela & Paul Weeks (planting initiatives), Mike Jones (Parish Councillor and Memorial Hall trustee), Ann Carter (Memorial Hall community events), and Iris Thompson (raised over £10,000 for the Memorial Hall via the 200 Club). Voting closes 1st November via the website or ballot boxes at the Chippie, Co-op, Library, and Primary School. The winner receives an Amazon voucher from the Gander plus £25 of food from Goxhill Chippie — the first name on the newly donated board (by Bruce Margetson, BFM Painting Services). The 2025 winner was Amy Shephardson.

Goxhill History: Willow Lane Cottages & the Royal British Legion

Elizabeth Fincham continues her “Houses Long Gone” series (Article #5), tracing the families of two demolished cottages in Willow Lane through census records from 1861 to 1901: the Nottingham, Farrow, and Jackson (Nicholson) families. Detailed family trees and an aerial 1971 photograph of Willow Lane are included. Separately, a 1965 photograph of the Goxhill Royal British Legion branch, shared by Charlie Guilliatt and taken at the Brocklesby Hunt pub, is published with a full identification of 32 members including Jim and Mary Sobey, Francis and Ethel Nottingham, and Ray Dunwell. Two attendees (numbers 13 and 15) remain unidentified — the Gander team welcomes information.

Fighting Food Poverty & Waste in Goxhill

The Goxhill Co-op foodbank drive collected 93.3kg and 281 items in a single day, contributing to a wider Lincolnshire Co-op campaign that donated 2,114kg of food (equivalent to 5,032 meals) across 12 stores. Volunteer Janet Shephardson highlighted growing demand, especially during school holidays. Meanwhile, June Gathercole’s OLIO food-saving efforts are celebrated: in July alone she saved 850kg of food, covered 8,944 car miles, and served over 300 local residents — entirely at her own expense. June is a 2026 Short Award nominee.

Parish Council: Play Park, Cherry Trees & Finance Clarity

Goxhill Parish Council has overhauled the zip wire and base area at the play park, adding new safety bark chippings and a children’s military scramble net. The Council has applied for an NLC Community Grant to replace lost cherry trees along Thornton/Ferry Road (Paul & Angela Weeks) and plans a further application for South End trees. Cemetery drainage issues are ongoing following a blocked main drain in Howe Lane, hydro-jetted by North Lincolnshire Council in May. The Gander also publishes a detailed explainer on parish council finances, covering precepts, reserves, NALC guidelines, and accountability — responding to recent local petitions. Parish meetings continue on 9th September, 7th October, and 11th November.

Library Legacy, Nature & Village Life

Goxhill’s volunteer-run library — saved from closure in 2010 following a campaign by the WI and transferred to Parish Council management in April 2011 — is now in its 16th year, run by Alison, Isabelle, Linda, Mick, and newest member Olivia. The issue also features new regular sections: a Nature Spot covering swifts and long-tailed tits, a Horticultural Focus on wildflowers and cherry trees, a Farming & Food feature on harvest at East Marsh, and an “Off the Hoof” column by Joanne on horsey adventures. James Dennett, a local student, contributes a personal “Top 10 GCSE Tips” article as he begins A-Level studies.