October 30, 2019 4.20 pm This story is over 26 months old
Meet five Lincolnshire competitors in Team UK for the 2020 Invictus Games
The 2020 Invictus Games will be held in The Netherlands
HRH Prince Harry (centre), with staff and competitors of Team UK, at the Honourable Artillery Company in London on October 29.
A man from Horncastle, who lost both his legs and the tops of four fingers after standing on an IED bomb, is one of five Lincolnshire competitors in a 65-strong squad to represent the UK at the 2020 Invictus Games.
The 2020 Invictus Games in The Hague in The Netherlands will bring together over 500 competitors from 19 nations between May 9-16.
More than 350 hopefuls trialled nine sports for one of the 65 places available on Team UK.
The UK team was unveiled on Tuesday, October 29 by HRH The Duke of Sussex, and 89% of the team is brand new to the Invictus Games. They will undergo training camps delivered by Help for Heroes to prepare them for next year's international competition.
The Invictus Games have been held since being created by HRH The Duke of Sussex in 2014. Wounded, injured or sick military personnel and their associated veterans take part in nine sports including archery, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby.
Lincolnshire competitors
Tom Folwell – Horncastle
Tom Folwell. Photo: Help for Heroes
Tom, 43, was a former Sapper, who stood on an IED in June 2012 whilst on foot patrol in Helmand Province. One minute he was walking, the next he was lying on the ground.
He lost both his legs and the tops of four fingers on his left hand. Since the injury, he has also developed sleep apnoea.
Tom has taken a renewed interest in sport and he said: "Competing in the Invictus Games will show that my hard work has been rewarded and that I am still a member of the greater military family.
"It will provide me with a much-needed sense of achievement. The Games would provide my little boy an opportunity to experience his dad in an environment that he has never been a part of. One of brotherhood, camaraderie and excellence. This would give him a sense of pride and an opportunity to inspire his young mind."
David Morris – Sleaford (Vice Captain)
David Morris. Photo: Help for Heroes
Sleaford man David is the vice captain of the team. Rachel Williamson, from just over the border in Rutland, was unveiled as Team UK's first female captain.
David, who was born in Peterborough, has been a corporal in the RAF since 2000. He was diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder after an incident in 2011, whilst serving as a survival equipment specialist with the Red Arrows.
David's brother Antony Morris is also part of Team UK for 2020. Photo: Help for Heroes
Rachel Williamson from just over the border in Rutland is the team captain. Photo: Help for Heroes
The illness effected him to such an extent that David was "scared of his own shadow" and "didn't event want to leave the house".
David, who competed in the 2018 Invictus Games in swimming and rowing, said: "The power of the Invictus Games is hard to describe to people; it has to be seen to be believed. The benefits have dramatically changed my way of life.
"I am learning to cope with anxiety and how it controls certain aspects of my life. I want to be able to manage that level of anxiety which still plays a massive part in blocking me from achieving simple goals, and can often be debilitating, through raising my self-confidence to a point where I actually believe that I can do something without thinking worst case scenario and giving in before I have even tried.
"I hope this will have a positive impact on my children who, on more than one occasion, have missed out on activities because I have suffered panic and anxiety problems".
Lucy Holt – Digby
Lucy Holt. Photo: Help for Heroes
Lucy, 26, was a keen netball player, who struggled to come to terms with the end of her playing career following a serious ankle injury.
It had a knock-on effect on her mental health and the Invictus Games has opened her up to new sports, which she can still play and enjoy.
The former Senior Aircraftsman in the RAF works with disabled children, promoting the benefits of sport in helping to build confidence and improving both mental and physical health.
She said: "It has given me new hopes and dreams within sport, albeit achieving it in a slightly different way. It is still difficult for me to come to terms with the end of my netball career, as I was so passionate about it, but my new focus is on rowing and athletics. The Invictus Games has helped me discover an affection and appreciation for alternative sports disciplines".
Daniel Tasker – Market Rasen
Daniel Tasker. Photo: Help for Heroes
Daniel, 38, was left feeling "broken" when he was medically discharged from the RAF after an injury to his arm.
It affected him physically and mentally, facing the challenges of adjusting to a different path in life outside of the RAF.
The former corporal has started to "feel normal again" with the support of family, friends and Help for Heroes.
He said: "Since my injury I have felt defined and judged as a broken thing. From the friendships that I have already made, along with the help and support that comes with this process, I have started to feel normal again.
"The people that I have met during the Invictus UK Trials and training camps have taught me to trust in people and friendships again. I have met some truly inspirational people who have taught me that I can overcome my limitations and that they shouldn't be allowed to hold me back any longer. It is helping me to rebuild my confidence".
He added: "This is giving me a chance to show my five-year-old son that you can achieve if you have the determination to do so, if you don't allow limitations or injury to hold you back. It is a chance for me to show my son that daddy can, rather than daddy can't."
Dean Tofton – Grimsby
Dean Tofton. Photo: Help for Heroes
British Army Corporal Dean Tofton 35, has struggled to find motivation and drive through bouts of anxiety, which would leave him house-bound and isolated.
Dean is now on his sports recovery journey and he said the Invictus programme has given him a purpose and focus.
He said: "The benefit of being part of the Invictus Games so far has been incredible. I am now a lot more active and have even joined my old football team again. There was a time when all I wanted to do was stay in the house as the anxiety of going out was too much.
"I would often make excuses or have a little drink of vodka to build up courage. Now I am planning days out with the kids and family and taking each step forward rather than backwards.
"My goal is to be able to handle any situation that life throws at me and to get back to the old me with the new improved look on life. I want to learn from experiences I have had to deal with this past year; to believe in myself, physically and mentally."
TO LET – Ingham Road, Coningsby, Lincoln
Apartment 30, Cathedral Heights, Chichester Road, Bracebridge Heath
Elswood, New York Road, Dogdyke
TO LET – 21 Greetwell Gate, Lincoln, LN2 4AW
Warren Farm Barns, Panton, Market Rasen
TO LET – 71 Dunkirk Road, Lincoln
Wykehurst, Stanhope Road, Horncastle
High Street, Horncastle
Work from home, COVID passes and face mask requirements to end, announces PM
Self-isolation will end soon as well
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking on Wednesday.
By Daniel Jaines Local Democracy Reporter
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the scrapping of Plan B COVID restrictions from next week.
In a statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mr Johnson confirmed the changes would take place from Thursday, January 27 and will see work from home guidance scrapped, the removal of the COVID pass requirement and the mandatory wearing of face masks.
Mr Johnson told MPs the measures, introduced prior to Christmas to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant had worked.
"Our scientists believe it is likely that the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally," he said.
"There remain of course, significant pressures on the NHS across our country… but hospital admissions, which were doubling every nine days just two weeks ago, have now stabilised with admissions in London even falling and the numbers in intensive care not only remaining low but are actually also falling."
Face masks in classrooms will no longer be needed from tomorrow.
"In the country at large, we will continue to suggest the use of face coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces, particularly when you come into contact with people you don't normally meet, but we will trust the judgement of the British people," he said, adding the government would "no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to".
Further restrictions on visits to care homes are also due to be relaxed.
"There will soon come a time when we can remove the legal requirement to self-isolate altogether," said Mr Johnson.
A long-term strategy for living with COVID-19 is due to be published at a later point.
Mr Johnson's statement came amid further controversy around lockdown parties attended by government staff and MPs while restrictions were in place last year.
Just before Prime Minister's Questions, Bury South MP Christian Wakeford defected from the Conservatives to the Labour Party.
His constituency was one of the red wall seats to go Conservative in the 2019 general election.
He said his former party had been "incapable" of providing the leadership "this country deserves".
Elsewhere national media outlets are reporting how up to 20 MPs could be submitting letters of no confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
A total of 54 letters could trigger a leadership vote, but the number submitted remains unknown until chairman of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady makes any announcement.
Military forces arrive at Lincolnshire hospitals to help aid staffing shortages
Personnel are already underway with work at the hospitals
30 armed forces staff will be on hand to help with both emergency and non-emergency care for patients at Lincolnshire hospitals. | Photo: ULHT
A team of 30 military personnel has arrived at hospitals in Lincolnshire to assist the healthcare sector suffering staff shortages caused by COVID-19.
The announcement was made by United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust in response to declaring a critical incident due to 'unprecedented' staff shortages earlier in January.
The critical incident then became a major incident on January 11, with operations and outpatient appointments being temporarily postponed to cope with urgent care needs.
The major incident was stepped down by ULHT after 48 hours, but due to a large number of staff members being off sick or self-isolating with COVID-19, there is still a very high demand for hospital services.
To help cope with demand, a team of 30 armed forces staff will be based at Lincoln and Boston hospitals for the coming weeks, with 20 of them having military healthcare training and helping patient care in emergency departments, while a further 10 general duty officers will support non-clinical roles.
The armed forces will be helping hospital staff across Lincolnshire for 'a few weeks'. | Photo: ULHT
The personnel have already completed their inductions at the trust and started work at both Lincoln County and Pilgrim Hospital.
ULHT Chief Executive, Andrew Morgan, said: "The NHS has a well-established relationship with the military and they have provided amazing support throughout the pandemic in hospitals across the country, supporting ambulance Trusts and also assisting with the vaccination programme.
"As a Trust we are extremely grateful to receive their support and look forward to working alongside them in providing the best care for our patients over the next few weeks.
"Those patients needing specialist and medical care will still be seen by our own doctors and nurses. The military personnel will be able to assist with some elements of patient care and observations in our emergency departments, wards and other areas."
Andrew Morgan. | Photo: ULHT
When he spoke to The Lincolnite last week, Andrew Morgan confirmed, at the time of reporting (January 12), there were 780 employees off work, around 300 of which had tested positive for coronavirus.
Armed Force Minister, James Heappey, said: "This deployment is the latest example of how our dedicated Armed Forces have continuously stepped to support the UK's response to this pandemic.
"20 medics and 10 general duty personnel will be working hand-in-hand with the fantastic staff of the NHS, just as thousands of other military personnel have done over the last two years, to help protect the nation from COVID-19."
The same has also been done at East Midlands Ambulance Service, with military forces going through training stages to help with non-emergency patients, allowing EMAS professionals to get to urgent calls quicker.
Three named after A1 pile up: Tribute to man who 'drove wrong way' on carriageway
Police believe one of the cars drove the wrong way down the carriageway
Craig Hewitt, 34, is one of the people to have died in the crash. | Photo: Cambridgeshire Police
The names of three men who died in a crash on the A1 near Stamford have been revealed by police.
At around 1am on Sunday, January 16, on the A1 northbound carriageway near Wothorpe, Stamford, there was a serious crash involving a BMW 520D, a VW Golf and a Land Rover Discovery.
Cambridgeshire Police believe that the Golf had been travelling the wrong way down the carriageway for unknown reasons, and are still appealing for witnesses and dash cam footage.
Craig Hewitt, 34, of Sherwood Walk in Bedford, the driver of a VW Golf, lost his life as a result.
In tribute, the family of Mr. Hewitt said he was: "A loving father, son, brother and friend to many. We'll keep the red flag flying high."
Adil Hussain, 25, of Woodlands Street and his front seat passenger Mohammed Riyajudin, 39, of Boardman Street, both in Manchester, died after Hussain's BMW was involved in the collision.
Two other men also received serious injuries and remain in hospital.
Anyone who has dash cam footage or saw the vehicles in the moments leading up to the crash could call 101 and quote incident 24 of January 16.