AN INTERNET version of a village magazine is being blamed for a bout of homesickness among transatlantic Yellowbellies.
Saxilby's Foss Focus has zapped onto the world-wide web after nearly 30 years of print... and is proving a real hit with former villagers on the other side of the ocean.
Foss Focus was originally launched as a church and parish news sheet but has expanded into a community magazine covering local and area news, events and advertising.
The man behind Foss Focus' cruise on to the information superhighway, Trevor Fawcett, said it had already provoked a great response.
"A couple who lived in Saxilby for 24 years and moved out to the USA two years ago sent me a message over the Internet," he said.
"They said they were really pleased to have a regular link with the village again."
"I also had a message from Martyn Bowler, who lives in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. He said Foss Focus brought back memories of growing up in a Lincolnshire village."
The 14-page web site includes news from the village itself, the church, the parish council and the district council.
Mr Fawcett (25), who lives in the village, said he launched the new facility to show some of the basic skills he uses in his business, T-Force Computer Services. "If a company wants to go on to the Internet, then my company can design their pages." he said.
"I became involved with the on-line version of Foss Focus because I'm the advertising representative for the printed magazine - it's a voluntary project. When you receive messages like those from people who really appreciate what you have done, it's more than enough reward."
The publication was edited from 1967 to 1993 by the Rev Canon Edward Crooke and is presently edited by Gordon Nangle.
The Internet version of Foss Focus can be found at http://www.t-force.com/Foss_Focus/.
by Seb Ramsey
Lincolnshire Echo 525252