NEWS AND EVENTS - ARCHIVES 2005

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Development : Summary 2005 :
At long last, progress is being made towards the provision of toilets in St.A's church to put an end to 800 years of crossleggedness! Our recently appointed architect, Mr. Matthew Thomas, has presented a splendid scheme which comprises two toilets, (one for disabled), and a kitchen area within the North transept. The scheme has been well received by the diocesan authorities and it is hoped that a long needed amenity will soon materialise.

English Heritage turned down the grant application to assist in the funding of the second phase of of restoration on the grounds that they did not consider the work sufficiently urgent. They did invite a further application in due course and this is now being prepared. If successful, a further grant will help to meet the costs of replacing the leadwork on the tower roof and attending to eroded masonry at belfry level. This latest application covers costs of approximately £120,000 and is a substantial reduction on the rejected one which included work on the south transept.
In the meantime, every effort is being made to continue local fundraising through a series of events which it is hoped will be well supported.


FUNDRAISING BARBECUE - REPORT :
In much trepidation, Mr.and Mrs. Edward Johnsons' lovely garden at Mill House, Hedon was prepared for the St.Augustine's Appeal barbecue scheduled to take place on Sunday, 15th.August. Days of very dodgy weather did not augur well for the event and accordingly, much of the lawn was shrouded in numerous borrowed gazebos, marquees, tarpaulins and anything that would turn an odds-on downpour; - it didn't happen! High factor sun oil might have been the order of the day as the event was blessed with glorious sunshine from beginning to end.

Kathryn Danby was the instigator of this event and she had organised everything to the last detail. A carefully coordinated preparation ensured that on the day, everything went smoothly. Barbecued food was cooked to perfection, served with an imaginative array of sundries, and even second helpings were on offer to the numerous trenchermen present.
A lively band, H2H, entertained the gathering throughout the afternoon and received the rapt attention and applause they deserved. They made a real contribution to the afternoon.

The Revd.Bill McLaren welcomed guests at the outset and Edward Johnson conducted an auction of several fine lots which had been donated. A raffle was also enthusiastically supported.

This event was an outstanding success and acknowledgement is particularly due, for all their efforts, to the Johnson family: Jean, Edward, Kathryn, Michael, who had extended his visit from San Francisco to help, grandchildren Robert and Hannah Galloway and their other helpers on the barbecue, (at considerable loss of sweat on the day), Phil Danby and Paul Bereton.

The function raised over £1600 on the day and a match funding agreement with B.P. plc will raise this amount even further. How fortunate the Appeal will be if future fund raising events meet with similar success!

See this page for some photos.



Auction Saturday 21st May 2005
The days leading up to the auction in the church saw great activity as a wide variety of donated items arrived for this event which had been very well arranged by Councillors Ann Sugitt and Peter Bamford. Peter did sterling service before and on the day fetching and carrying most of the 360 lots on offer ranging from pieces of masonry, replaced in the restoration, to furniture, objets d'art and various household effects.
A good attendance of keen bidders responded to the auction which was conducted by Mr.Ralph Ward, assisted by Jean Johnson and Pat Gamble as his clerks. It is expected that the final figure raised will be around £5000 which included about £1000 for the pieces of reject stone. The committee agreed that the auction had been a great success and felt that it could be repeated sometime in the future.

Hedon Open Gardens 18/19th.June 2005
After a period of very indifferent weather, some 18 garden owners must have been keeping their fingers crossed for an improvement for Saturday and Sunday. Their hopes were realised and the sun shone! Those who trailed around the town would have been impressed by the very high standards displayed and the £684 realised by the event is a useful contribution to the Restoration and Development Fund. Thanks are due to the local tradesmen who donated raffle prizes and also to Mr.and Mrs. Coates who hosted a barbecue for the gardener owners after the event.

Cheese and Wine 9th December 2005 : The cheese and wine evening held at the home of Mr and Mrs..Malcolm Coates on 9th.December raised £501.00. Mr.and Mrs Coates put on a splendid spread of food and wine in their very comfortable home and although a bigger attendance could have come forward, they deserve great credit for their efforts.

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