Hickling Standard

This page features issues from February 2020 onwards – including the current issue. For previous issues and the history of the Hickling Standard, click on the buttons, below.


We are always looking for contributions to the newsletter; it is, first-and-foremost, created by the village, for the village – everyone is very welcome to contribute.

Personal messages; Adverts; Events; Reports; Thoughts; Suggestions; Your favourite things; Information articles – natural history, village history, anecdotes, seasonal; Are you an expert and in something and want to share advice; Things that make you laugh; Poetry – your own or favourites.

We are also looking for someone to index back issues of the newsletter; we can help with how to do it – please contact us if you would like to give it a try!



(Issue 152) The Feb/March 2024 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image:

Local History articles in this issue:

  • Headmaster’s Logbook 1778
  • The next local history talk: Rufford Abbey through the Ages with Emily Gillott – Village Hall, 7.30pm, Friday March 8th 2024
  • Belvoir Angels weekend:
    • Saturday May 18th – Open Day and Activities in Church
    • Sunday May 19th – Discussion Event in the Village Hall

Hickling Standard: 2023


(Issue 151) The Dec 2023/Jan 2024 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image:

Look out for Christmas Events, including:

  • December 3rd: Village Hall Christmas Breakfast 9-11am
  • December 3rd: St. Luke’s Church Family Christmas Carols Singalong supporting The Storehouse in Melton Mowbray
  • December 16th: Village Hall – Carols round the Christmas Tree 6.30pm
  • December 24th: St. Luke’s Church – The Grumpy Innkeeper, a Children’s Nativity 5pm (tbc)
  • December 24th: St. Luke’s Church, Midnight Mass 11.30pm
  • Have you seen our webpages recording Christmases past?

Local History Articles in this issue:


(Issue 150) The Oct/Nov 2023 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image:

This is our 150th issue of the Hickling Standard and our 25th Anniversary!!! Many thanks to everyone who has helped, contributed or simply read and enjoyed it over the years.

In this issue we look back at this year’s scarecrows and welcome the return of Village Breakfasts and the Film Club.

Local History Articles in the issue:

  • Headmaster’s Log 1877 – parents and pupils go on strike …
  • Our next Plough Inn drop-in session will focus on our farming heritage: Tuesday October 31st 2023, 5pm-8pm.
  • The WI have installed a new bench in the churchyard to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III.

(Issue 149) The Aug/Sept 2023 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image:

Scarecrow news and suggestions in this issue – if you can help at either The Village Hall, the Church or on car parks, please contact the committee.

Local History Articles in this issue:

  • Maps and Aerial Photographs
  • Trip to Historic Lincoln – September 14th
  • Local History Talk: Fields in the Landscape – September 22nd, 7.30pm.
  • Headmaster’s logbook – extract 1878
  • The Hickling Information Board Project – Village Hall panel installed

(Issue 148) The June/July 2023 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image:

Local History Articles in this issue:

  • The Coronation of King Charles III
  • How to join our email contact list
  • Dates for the Local History quarterly gatherings at the Plough
  • Birthday letter to Fred Maltby Warner
  • British Legion: the Korean War Armistice
  • Extracts from the Headmaster’s logbook 1876
  • Historic Lincoln trip – 14th September 2023 (in aid of the information board project)

(Issue 147) The April/May 2023 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image:

Local History Articles in this issue:

  • The Coronation of King Charles III and memories of 1953
  • Dr Lucy Jocelyn Burnett; the history of an extraordinary woman (including her motorbike and her dog called, Christopher)
  • Extract from the Headmaster’s Logbook 1876-1897
  • Can you help?
  • Would you like us to hold quarterly gatherings in the Plough Inn?
  • Would you like to join our email contact list?
  • Coach Trip to Historic Lincoln – September 14th 2023

(Issue 146) The February/March 2023 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image.

Local History Articles in this issue:

  • ‘Romans in Rutland’ a talk by Peter Liddle – March 10th 2023
  • Coach Trip to Historic Lincoln – September 14th 2023
  • Daffodils

Hickling Standard: 2022


Issue 145 Dec 2022/Jan 2023

(Issue 145) The Dec22/Jan23 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image.

Local History Articles in this issue:

  • Hickling Scarecrows 2022 – presentation evening
  • Christmas traditions; greenery
  • What was it like to be evacuated during WWII?
  • Are you interested in local history – we need your help!
  • How DNA solved the mystery of George Warren and Richard Brooks
  • ‘Romans in Rutland’ a talk by Peter Liddle – March 10th 2023

Issue 144: Oct/Nov 2022

(Issue 144) The Oct/Nov 2022 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image. This issue commemorates the late Queen Elizabeth II and marks the Accession of King Charles III.

Local History Articles in this issue:

  • Village memories of the Royal Family
  • Hickling Scarecrow weekend 2022
  • Mrs Windey – Hickling residents who made a difference

(Issue 143) The Aug/Sept 2022 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image. This issue prepares for Scarecrow Weekend, looks back at the village Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, includes a look at July’s hottest temperatures and asks whether the fox is a friend or a foe! Importantly the Church are in the middle of their Promise Programme and ask parishioners to consider giving regularly to support the Church in our community.

Hickling Standard (issue 143)
Issue 143: Aug/Sept 2022

Local History Articles in this issue:

  • Hickling Churchyard – the plague pit
  • The Grantham Canal pages have now been written up; whether you are in for a short read or the long read, we hope that you enjoy this new section of the website.
  • Can you help us? We are always looking for new members and for help with research and transcribing.

(Issue 142) The June/July 2022 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image – this issue includes all the events planned for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend at the beginning of June. In summary:

Issue 142 - June/July 2022
Issue 142 – June/July 2022
  • 2nd-5th June  Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Village Celebrations
    • Bunting goes up during the week before – please contact neighbours or members of the committee if you need help or if you can offer help.
  • Thursday 2nd:            
    • 1pm Town Crier Proclamation                                         
    • 6pm Plough Jubilee Quiz (closing early for Beacon)
    • 9pm Beacon Lighting on Standard (all welcome)
  • Sunday 5th:                  
    • 9am-11am: Bucks Fizz Breakfast at the Village Hall (please book)
    • 12 noon onwards: Village Picnic, games & sports—Plough Inn
    • 12.30-1.30: Competition judging – poshest picnic, fancy dress, best-dressed pooch
    • 3.30pm: Tug of War Competition
  • Events at The Plough Inn – all weekend (check their FB page)

Local History Articles in this issue:

  • Married vs Single cricket
  • Hickling Churchyard: more than just a graveyard
  • Letter to Farmington (Fred Warner’s Birthday)
  • 70 Years on the Throne & Three of the Six Longest Reigning English Monarchs are Women
  • Also, The British Legion: Falklands War 40th Anniversary

Platinum Jubilee - village events
Platinum Jubilee – village events
Platinum Jubilee - village events
Platinum Jubilee – village events

front cover issue 141

(Issue 141) The April/May 2022 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image – we hope you enjoy the first of our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee editions!


(Issue 140) The February/March 2022 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image – we hope you enjoy it!

Local History Articles in this issue:


Hickling Standard: 2021


(Issue 139) The December 2021/January 2022 issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter can be found by clicking on the front cover image – we hope you enjoy it!

Local History Articles in this issue:

(please note the following correction; p47. the swans referred to have since been tested and identified as victims of avian flu.)


(Issue 138) The October/November issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter is now available – we have returned to delivering print editions to all households in Hickling and Hickling Pastures; this is an e-version. This time we’ve managed to arrange the pages in the right order (we’ll gradually work back through previous editions) and you still get to see the full colour version! Click on the cover to open up this issue.

Local History Articles included in this issue:

  • Nelson Outhwaite (including; disappearing down a rabbit hole when researching).
  • Are you interested in local history?
  • A letter from our ‘sister city’, Farmington in Michigan (Fred Maltby Warner)
  • Date for your diary: The Plough Inn presents a Local History Night – November 25th (tbc)
  • Hickling animals & wildlife calendar on sale now; £7.50
  • ‘There but There’ – Remembrance.

(Issue 137) The August/September issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter is now available – welcome to the 8th e-issue of the Hickling Standard. We are currently circulating the pdf version; the advantage is that you get to see the full colour version! Click on the cover to open up this issue.

Local History Articles included in this issue:

  • Black Cat for luck: news clipping from 1971 (not helping the fishermen …)
  • Vashti Daft: news of a sampler stitched in Hickling by 10-yr old Vashti Daft
  • Women’s Institute: new page published on the website
  • 2022 Calendar on sale now
  • We need your help!

(Issue 136) The June/July issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter is now available – welcome to the 7th e-issue of the Hickling Standard. We are currently circulating the pdf version; the advantage is that you get to see the full colour version! Click on the cover to open up this issue.

Local History Articles included in this issue:


(Issue 135) The April/May issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter is now available – welcome to the 6th e-issue of the Hickling Standard. We are circulating the pdf version because we can’t produce the usual door-to-door printed version under the current restrictions; the advantage is that you get to see the full colour version! Click on the cover to open up this issue.

Local History Articles included in this issue:

Hickling Standard April May 2021
Hickling Standard April May 2021

(Issue 134) The February/March issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter is now available – welcome to the 5th e-issue of the Hickling Standard. We are circulating the pdf version because we can’t produce the usual door-to-door printed version under the current restrictions; the advantage is that you get to see the full colour version! Click on the cover to open up this issue.

From February to March (article Hickling Standard 2021)
From February to March (article Hickling Standard 2021)

Hickling Standard: 2020


(Issue 133) The December/January issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter is now available – welcome to the 4th e-issue of the Hickling Standard. We are circulating the pdf version because we can’t produce the usual door-to-door printed version under the current restrictions; the advantage is that you get to see the full colour version! Click on the cover to open up this issue


(Issue 132) The October/November issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter is now available – welcome to the 3rd e-issue of the Hickling Standard. We are circulating the pdf version because we can’t produce the usual door-to-door printed version under the current restrictions; the advantage is that you get to see the full colour version! Click on the cover to open up this issue


(Issue 131) The August/September issue of the Hickling Standard newsletter is now available – welcome to the 2nd e-issue of the Hickling Standard. We are circulating the pdf version because we can’t produce the usual door-to-door printed version under the current restrictions; the advantage is that you get to see the full colour version! Click on the cover to open up this issue


(Issue 130) The June/July of the Hickling Standard newsletter is now available – we are circulating the pdf version because we can’t produce the usual door-to-door printed version under the current lockdown restrictions; the advantage is that you get to see the full colour version! Click on the cover to open up this issue.


Hickling Standard Feb 2020
Issue 128; Hickling Standard Feb 2020
Hickling Standard April 2020
Issue 129; Hickling Standard April 2020