Gainsborough Charity Ride 7th June 2026

Cycling UK Gainsborough Air Ambulance Charity Ride 7th June 2026

As part of Cycling UK’s Bike Week, Trevor Halstead and Dan Nicholson from Cycling UK Gainsborough had once again organised a Sponsored Charity Ride. Held each year since 2000, to date, £34,425 has been raised for The Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance. This year Tim Newbery would represent Cycling UK Louth and take part in the 26th running of the 30 mile event, with Gainsborough’s Morisons Car Park acting as Ride HQ. 12 riders were in attendance.

Departing a little after 10 am and having been waved off with great enthusiasm by Gainsborough’s new Mayor, Councillor Richard Craig, it felt a little chilly with temperatures around 15 Degrees Celsius along with a blustery sou’wester averaging 20 mph, gusting 30 mph.

Within a few miles, the majority of the group led by Dan Nicholson had forged ahead leaving Tim and Gainsborough members Trevor and Dougie to take up the rear, enjoying a pleasant chat as we made our way through Upton and Kexby and onwards to the Stow Villages with their rich history. Stow itself the most impressive boasting a Saxon ‘Minster’, partly built under the patronage of Leofric, Lord of Mercia, and his wife, Lady Godiva! The name stōw is Old English meaning a holy place.

Heading east along the picturesque Till Valley (we’d go on to cross this river at least three times, the Till having its origin at a spring line in Gainsborough) we continued through Thorpe le Fallows, best known for its Knights Templar landholdings in the 12th Century.

Crossing over the main road at Brattleby, the village is notable for giving its name to the nearby First World War Royal Flying Corps aerodrome. Home Defence Flight Station Brattleby (also known as Brattleby Cliff) was opened on the site of former RAF Scampton as early as 1916. Royal Flying Corps 33 Sqn was tasked to defend the skies from Zeppelin attack.

One big climb now up the steep escarpment to the Lincoln Edge. Time for a breather and water break whilst admiring the great views all the way to the Trent. Just a few years ago there were a number of power stations visible with their iconic cooling towers, but now all that remains are those associated with the West Burton power station, actively undergoing a £200 million redevelopment to become the UK's first prototype commercial nuclear fusion reactor (STEP Fusion).

Passing Ingham, views emerged of the weather radar which Tim used to have to visit on a regular basis when he was stationed at RAF Scampton. What Memories! Nearby too is the museum dedicated to the Polish crews of the bomber squadrons based at RAF Ingham which opened in 1942. The Polish Bomber Squadrons Centre is continuing to develop and now boasts a fine Airman’s Rest Café which was open today and would I’m sure have merited a visit along with the museum and gardens. On this occasion we opted to return another time and instead continued to the steep descent at Glentworth.

With warm sunshine lifting temperatures to 20 Degrees, Trevor would point out the uncut Upton Grange Verges along Cow Lane, a Roadside Nature Reserve managed by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Full of a large variety of flora, most notable were abundant displays of Oxeye Daisy (dog daisy - Leucanthemum vulgare) vital for butterflies and bees and define the quintessential British Summer. These verges remain uncut to produce seed for the following year.

With just a few miles from home, one final stop for refreshments at Sturgate Airfield between Upton and Heapham. Here we’d meet up with the forward group giving us a chance for a chat over over drinks and a selection of cakes and sandwiches, the cheese panini highly recommended. The ‘Cosy Cockpit’ has undergone a major refurbishment with seating outside and comfy seats inside. Plenty of time to watch a number of light aircraft take off and depart.

The final leg along Heapham Road led us back to Morrisons Car Park, arriving at 1.30 pm, just as skies threatened a little rain. Hoping the ‘Picnic in the Park’ taking place at 4 pm enjoyed a return to warm sunshine.

For Tim, a celebratory drink (flat white!) at ‘The Lincolnshire Otter’ which has become a tradition on these rides over the last 8 years that Louth has participated.

Many thanks to Trevor and Dan for all the organising.

Tim's 'Relive' fly through video: https://www.relive.com/view/vwq1zyJGxLv