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Welcome to this month’s fantastic festive issue, which celebrates all that we love about this magical season and is packed with a great selection of entertaining and illuminating features to delight and inspire.

The highlight of the month saw the Lincolnshire Life team welcome guests and nominees to our 30th Taste of Excellence Awards, celebrating the best in food, drink and hospitality across the county.

Held in the elegant Orangery at Charlotte House Hotel in Lincoln, which had been transformed into a magnificent setting by Ruby Adds of Ruby & Co Events, the evening was brilliantly hosted by Dan Hadfield, Gary Barlow’s favourite tribute artiste.

If you couldn’t join us in person on the night, don’t miss our full 20-plus page report on page 45 and find out if your favourites were among the winners and finalists.

This issue also turns the spotlight on more of the talented and dedicated people who are contributing to the lure of life in Lincolnshire.

Since launching a one-man mission to improve the health of the River Freshney, James Elliott, who is known as The Canoe River Cleaner, is leading the way in vital environmental work (p.30).

James also runs educational programmes encouraging youngsters and adults to reconnect with the natural world and inspiring people by taking a positive approach to their community.

“I say things like ‘look at our beautiful river, look at the wildlife’ and tell everyone, ‘this is great, we’re grateful to have this, and it’s our river’, and it seems to be working.”

We also feature another dedicated devotee, dog-lover Marie Edwards, who put her nursing career on hold to launch Dexter and Mee, which specialises in high-standard care for canines who have special medical needs (p.76).

Marie, whose own beloved dog Dexter was diagnosed with diabetes, says: “I wanted to be the person who owners felt safe leaving their dogs with, so they could finally have a little break which they truly deserve.”

Finally, we have another of our bumper Christmas Gift Guides (p.91) and Diary pages full of events and places to go to celebrate the season (p.110).
Happy Christmas from all the team at Lincolnshire Life.