Sunday, December 31, 2017

BRIGG BLOG'S REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2017 RECALLS SOME MEMORABLE EVENTS & ACHIEVEMENTS


 Springbank housing estate, Brigg. PICTURE BY NEIL STAPLETON.

Brigg Blog today looks back on 2017 - a generally good year for the town - in our review of the year, posted on December 31.
There have been improvements to sporting and recreation facilities,  many newsworthy items relating to local pubs and eateries, and some honours and awards for local people.
Over the 12 months we have brought readers almost 1,500 posts.
March proved to be the busiest with 161 items of interest.
Follow the links in the story that follows to see the original posts.


Brigg Recreation Ground's new "Blue Astro" floodlit pitch. PICTURE BY NEIL STAPLETON.
 
JANUARY saw a major milestone in sport with the first game played on the newly-refurbished Recreation Ground.
We also reported  the installation of new equipment at one of our parks.
There was  a welcome addition to one of the town centre's pubs.
Sadly, though, we lost two people who contributed much to education in Brigg.
One through his work as a governor and another as headteacher at one of our schools.

FEBRUARY saw a welcome extension at a local pub specialising in meals.
The top building in Brigg was selected by the Town Council.
A Brigg sportsman hit the headlines at the tender age of 67!
And Brigg Blog took its hat off to some old-fashioned policing in the town.

MARCH saw a pop-up shop come to town.
A well-known figure in Brigg was elected to the Town Council.
The town's first citizen praised the Friends of the Brigg Line rail campaign and others.
And we reported how a Brigg shop was impressing visitors from far away.

APRIL saw a Brigg team finish runner-up in the final of a national knockout competition.
People turned out in force to support a fundraiser in memory of a well-known Brigg teacher.

And Spring having sprung, the weather had a few surprises in store.
 

MAY saw us reporting from - and photographing in depth (pardon the pun) -  the Ancholme River Festival.

Brigg installed a new Town Mayor and Deputy Town Mayor.
Unsurprisingly, we provided very detailed coverage of Brigg Beer Festival 2017.
Sadly, there were also incidents of fly-tipping which came under fire from a high-ranking councillor.

In JUNE a Brigg town centre shop had a busy final day before closing its doors for the last time.
There was a national honour awarded to a Brigg man. And a local eatery underwent refurbishment

JULY saw Brigg Bike Night 2017 prove a major success and we posted many pictures of  motor-cyclists and visitors enjoying the event
Brigg Blog reported plans for a new restaurant and bar.
And a quality award was won by a local business.

AUGUST saw  Brigg Horse Fair 2017 draw big crowds to the town. and afforded many good picture opportunities.
During a hot spell of weather, war-time songs were enjoyed during a social event held in one of our pub's beer gardens.
And Brigg Blog made a 20-mile public transport ride to compile a unique summer feature.

In SEPTEMBER there was a big turn-out for the unveiling of a Brigg memorial.
A major athletics event - centred on Brigg - attracted a large entry. And a Brigg sportsman was honoured as he began his 50th season.

In OCTOBER Brigg Blog celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Shoppers were invited to bag a bargain as a new shop opened.
And Brigg shared in a £14-million investment.



Sir John Nelthorpe School, Brigg, on the left, close to Woodbine Avenue, Central Square and East Parade. PICTURE BY NEIL STAPLETON.

 NOVEMBER saw a Brigg shop serve its final customers before closure.
A celebrity couple came to town and five programmes about their stay appeared on TV.
A father and son took over one of Brigg's best-known hostelries as the long-serving landlord retired. And a Brigg 'white elephant' was criticised.

In DECEMBER there were a few changes to the normal arrangements for the Brigg Christmas lights switch-on 2017, which drew crowds of eager shoppers.
A Brigg feature's long-term future was secured. And plans for 20+ new  homes in the town were welcomed by councillors.


This article is illustrated with some striking bird's eye drone pictures of Brigg taken by local man Neil Stapleton. He kindly shared a selection of his images with us this year.  Here's a link to enjoy one of his videos.

Brigg Town Football Club and Hawthorn Avenue. PICTURES BY NEIL STAPLETON.

Wrawby Road, Brigg.