Ten years ago I made a Friday evening trip up the A14/A1/A46 to lovely Lincoln.
That journey can be done in 1:48 hours now, but the extra 8 minutes gives you time to admire the statue of your favourite UK Prime Minister (#FACT) in gorgeous Grantham.
I was paying homage to another trailblazer at Sincil Bank.


Keith Alexander, the first full-time black professional manager in the Football League, as well as being the first black qualified referee in England, a legend of the lower leagues with a CV to match Claridge and Clarkson (not Jeremy).

An emotional night, and the commemorative programme is an absolute treasure, packed with the joys of life.

The funeral took place at Lincoln Cathedral 3 days later.


One of our great cathedrals, worth the jog up Steep Hill that Keith no doubt made the Imps do 3 times a day back in their hey day.


Not sure how, but I think I struggled up the hill after the 3-1 Lincoln win to visit this one, appropriately.

Plenty of craft, but still plenty of graft in Lincoln, as Keith would have known well.
She’d have been toppled already, but no one can find a rope long enough to go round her brass neck!…
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Politics. Always politics. Think her statue is being stored in the kitchen at the Grantham Spoons.
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I was a regular visitor to Lincoln, back in the early 80’s, as an old school friend lived there for a while.
Good memories of the city and its pubs, especially the Sam Smith’s one halfway up Steep Hill.
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There’s a pic of Widow Cullen’s Well here
https://retiredmartin.com/2019/11/15/running-up-that-hill-a-lincoln-lollop/
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I didn’t recognise the rather strange name, so had to check on WhatPub. It was the Wig and Mitre when I knew it.
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The Widow WAS called the Wig & Mitre so the same pub you knew it.
Confusingly there’s also a smart gastropub next door actually called the Wig & Mitre. I’m always confused, anyway.
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Yes, the Strugglers and the Victoria just round the corner are the reward for that climb up the appropriately named Steep Hill. Haven’t been for a few years, and it may be a few more before my (or anyone’s) next visit.
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And the Morning Star used to be a Bass stronghold up there.
There’s at least half a dozen Proper Pubs from Sincil Bank to the Cathedral, with craft diversions just before the steep hill for the Mudgies.
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