Welcome To Chris Burke's Home Web Site
Have a Happy New Decade!
A City Set Upon A Hill 2001 (Lincoln High Street )
This is the petite City of less than 90 thousand people where our little family of Sue & Sean, three cats and a wonderful dark green car in an 1880's modest but historic Victorian house live (I love history).
You can read more about Lincoln by going to Wikipedia, The County or City Council.
When square bashing at nearby RAF Swinderby long ago the magnificent Irish senior drill instructor told me the City of Lincoln was "a graveyard with traffic lights". With the coming of the University (a project I played a very minor role in promoting), a new Arts & Museum Centre (I played an equally minor role at the opening) and many other changes, my adopted little City is now a bustling & diverse community, a microcosm of Britian but still with its own great charm and a momentous history. What has almost always been here is that glorious symbol of peace and unity, and among England's finest Cathedrals, up there on the hill. The Sermon on the Mount always comes to mind Matthew 5:14 states "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."
Come and visit us, we are one of Englands best kept secrets.
STOP PRESS: My job ends During March/April, go here for CV.
Sue & Sean at last year's Civic Sunday
This site is around 14 years old and reflects the work, thinking, sadness and joy we like to share with friends and colleagues. A colleague is a friend you have yet to make - only joking. For an "in progress" index to the site click here.
I joined Catch22's brilliant Conference Team for our first outing as a new merged Charity
With Health Minister Gillian Merron, Euro Leader Glynis Wilmott MEP and Euro Minister Caroline Flint
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Pictures Left to Right
1. Bishop Tim of Grantham, Marcus Colman DCX County, Paul Bott Director Catch22
2. Tony McCardle CX County with Catch22 young people
3. Mark Kerridge Head SS Peter & Pauls School, Deacon Peter Brogan, Bishop Tim, Governor Malcolm Moore, Fr Kevin Clark (then Parish Priest SS Peter & Pauls Church). Bishop Tim became the first Anglican Bishop to visit my parish & the school.
I like to promote my work which is currently with undersupported young people via the Charity Catch22, I have been with them for nearly a decade. I am however a fully qualified manager in the usual areas & manage a number of departmental heads and I represent the Charity and other organisations at some fairly strategic levels. My primary goal's are to strongly campaign and work to reduce homelessness, support the new Rape Crisis Centre and help build a single equality council for Lincolnshire. At February 2010 I have just been appointed one of three directors to the council. My current post and that of many other managers is at risk on March 31st or sooner due to funding reductions the Charity has sustained locally & regionally. Naturally then you will find my CV is here ;-). I have always supported this work in the past either via the CAB, YMCA or other partners. A crucially important partner in Lincoln is the Nomad Trust which takes homeless people of any age. I particularly like the Nomad Trust because it is a truely local charity working in the City. More on these vital organiations by clicking on them. That said I am available to manage and support services in Lincolnshire or elsewhere.
I also like to produce photographs and share them via my Webshots or Flickr sites, I have even sold them for charity. Also, at the foot of this page you can access my Windows Live Best Pictures.
Many of my Lincolnshire pictures have been taken in places only accessable to groups like Martyn Lavericks Real Ale Walks group. This informal group started at the Golden Eagle pub on the High Street (some people think I bought my house to be near it). Martyn makes us walk between real ale pubs, which sounds fine until you find they can be 16 miles apart.
Music is the food of life (someone once said) and my meat is classical music, jazz and folk. I had a brief sojourn with a folk group during the 70's (I must have been about 9 at the time) and some people think I can still sing (and some know better). Of course it was Shakespeare who said "If music be the food of love play on", a different thing entirely!
At the bottom of the page is some stuff from one of my most favourite of pubs and favourite of bands. This is the New Orleans Experience led by Andrew Hall at the Dog & Bone every second Sunday of the month. Do go there when next you are near John Street in Lincoln and Eve and her staff will make you so welcome. The Dog & Bone is also a lending library and a community centre and I was privilaged to attend their celebrations in November 2009 when they won the unique Best Community Pub in Britain Award. The first video gives a flavour of Andrew's music and the second one a hint of his vast knowledge and insightful views. He is the Alister Cook of his genre. I apologise for my shaky camera skills, something to do with the real ale. If you don't want to wait you can attend this feast of good music at the Castle in Newark every Friday.
I am a member of SS Peter & Pauls Parish and also the Catenian's which is a charity supporting worthy causes and men and families in their vocations. While supporting my church I also try to join with the minstries of other Christians such as Bishop John Saxby in his work with the Lincolnshire Assembly and the Church of England's Youth Bishop, Bishop Tim. I helped set up the Lincolnshire Racial Eqaulity Council and support also the Muslim and other communities in mutual respect as we all strive towards a more diverse but equal community. I am working as a member of the Community Cohesion Partnership led by Nigel Howells CX East Lindsey District Council & Marcus Coleman Deputy CX County Council with others towards a single equality council for the County.
Keep coming back, I change this quite frequently and there is more to point out on the site. If you go here there is a box you can fill in which notify's you when I make changes. Feel free to email me at chrisburkelincs@googlemail.com
Warmest Regards,
Chris.
