The event raised £160, bringing their total fundraising to date to £1090 !

Congratulations to all who have been involved in the events. The society would like to extend special thanks to Don Simpson for his work in organising the land available for the events. More events are being planned.

Dave Mann handing over proceeds of the days detecting of £160 to Don Simpson.

Photo courtesy of W Burton.

You can find out more information on the concert and how to get hold of tickets here.

It will be a lasting record of the church’s place in the life of the village. The DVD will be available immediately after the reopening of the church.  All proceeds from the sale of the DVD will go to the Restoration Fund.

If you would like to be informed when the DVD is available, please contact James Fleuty (883708) or Alan Jones (334443).

These can be purchased for £10 via Martin’s website www.martingreen.me.uk or by contacting Martin directly on 01926 613466.

Martin’s website also contains lots of information about his music and charitable causes.

We have some good news !

The Planning Application has been submitted at last … Since the village meeting in January at which the Architects presented their plans and model for the restoration of the church and despite the church being “under wraps”, much has been happening.

It has taken some time to get the detail right, but it was agreed at a meeting on July 15th to go ahead and present the plans to the planning authority and the Diocesan Advisory Committee. Both these bodies are crucial in the progress of the project, and we have kept them informed with details of how it is all developing, so hopefully their decision should not take too long.

Once permission is granted, the project will be drawn up in minute detail and costed ready for putting out to tender. So we have taken a big step in moving on to the next stage of this, and are praying that nothing will hold up the process.

Fundraising

May I also take this opportunity to turn your attention towards our fund-raising efforts. As you are aware from previous Bulletins, the insurance company will pay a large part of the re-build cost but in order to create facilities within the church for both present and future generations, a further £90,000 is needed to install toilets, a kitchen and an office as well as providing facilities for wider community use.

We are encouraging anyone who would like to run a fund-raising event, whatever that might be, to simply have a go.

We have already had some excellent events – the Village Voices concert, a poetry evening, a few metal-detecting afternoons, and a talk about hearing difficulties have help raise over £3,000 so far – a magnificent sum.

Our fundraising total now stands at over £14,000.

So if you want to hold or help run an event to raise funds for the restoration project, or to make a donation, please contact James Fleuty (883708) or Don Simpson (426652).

Donations can also be made via the website www.stnicholasrestoration.com

Rev Martin Green

The Hinckley Search Society would like to extend their thanks to Don Simpson for his help in the co-ordination of our events with the kind help of local landowners and farmers in Radford Semele and the surrounding villages. They couldn’t have done it without you!

Further events are planned, as the group hope to break through the £1000 raised milestone !

Wayne Burton handing over proceeds of the days detecting of £180 to Don Simpson.

Photo courtesy of W Burton.

To donate online, please click the Donate button on the right hand side.

The church was extensively damaged as a result of an arson attack on Palm Sunday 2008. The skeletal four walls and bell tower remain but the only salvageable item from the inside was the Collection Plate – God has a sense of humour!

A Fundraising Group has been set up to co-ordinate the many offers of help that have been received and the first major event was held on Saturday 15th May at the Community Hall in Radford Semele when the Village Voices Choir presented “An entertaining look at the Journey of Life” to a large and appreciative audience.

The Village Voices Choir, founded in 1995, raises money each year for a number of local charities by donating the proceeds of their concerts.

To set the mood, the Choir began with The Entertainer and moved musically through different stages of life, from Teddy Bears Picnic to Now it’s time to leave, taking in songs from the shows, an African medley, the topical Over the rainbow sung by musical director Clare Langstone (“could Clare be Dorothy?!”) and concluding with a rousing rendition of Razzle Dazzle!

A very entertaining evening which raised over £700 towards the target – only £89300 to go!

Article by Peter Morrell

The concert starts at 7:30pm, and tickets are £12 (concessions for under 18’s and OAP’s: £10) and are on sale now. Refreshments will be available, as will Gordon’s merchandise.

All proceeds from this concert will go to the St Nicholas Restoration Fund.

Tickets and details available from The Vicarage (01926 613466) or by email Louise@kerrins.net.

Gordon performed a concert last summer here, and it was a sensational evening so don’t miss it !  Tickets are limited and are selling quickly so make sure you get one soon.

Thanks also go to Don Simpson for his help in the co-ordination of these events.

Mark Pickles, Hinckley Search Society Commitee member, handing over the proceeds for the day to Don Simpson.

Photo courtesy of W Burton.