20
I love a big crane moment! Amazing how
I can clear my diary and disappear from
the office whilst something `big' happens
that doesn't entirely require my presence
but somehow, there I am, hovering. The
concrete pour for the Heritage Skills
Centre; the arrival of the lift tower which
was literally squeezed through the East
Gate and best of all when the stair tower,
dwarfing Lincoln's narrow streets, was
eventually craned over the Castle walls.
What's not to like?
Big crane
moments
Fund raising
help
Despite all our funding bids we were still
short of our required total. The Historic
Lincoln Trust was formed under the
chairmanship of Lord Cormack, who
had just moved back to live in his native
Lincolnshire, to raise those funds. We
got on from our first meeting, despite he
being punctuality personified and me being somewhat less so under his influence, I
have greatly improved. Lord Cormack has more ideas than I can keep up with, but with
such exciting ones why wouldn't you want to? After the completion of the works at
the Castle, I do believe that Lincolnshire's Great Exhibition (27 June-27 September),
entirely his baby, is going to be the highlight of 2015 for the county. On our first
meeting, I remember him saying "Let's have fun with this" - we have and although we'll
be on our knees by the end of the year, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Securing
the support of the David Ross Foundation was critical, David is also a Lincolnshire
native and his commitment to us means a lot.
"
...Magna Carta being placed
in its case at 7am as we opened
at 10am! And that my friends is
cutting it fine!...
"
Clockwise from top left; lift tower cylinder
squeezing through the Eastgate; stair tower
being craned into position; newly painted
prison wing; Magna Carta vault auditorium;
finishing touches