The Appeal to raise funds to carry out
repairs to the tower of St Helen's was
launched in June 2009.
Over £96,000 has been raised.
TOWER APPEAL NEWS
Grant Application
It is so encouraging that we approach the target we set back in the spring of 2009. The target took account of the tenders we had received and the amount of professional fees to be added. Against this we had reserves which could be added to the funds we were aiming to raise through the Appeal, both through direct donations and fund-raising events. The third element in our project was to apply for grant aid towards the cost. As I write we await a response from English Heritage on whether the application passed the ‘first round’ of the selection process. This third element is the unknown at present. We applied for a grant from English Heritage in 2007 and were not successful, the reason being that English Heritage felt that the reserves we held were sufficient to cover the project, or, at least, not to merit their support. The situation is now quite different with our reserves very much depleted and the little amount we have left already committed to further repairs on the Done Room. Our case now is a great deal stronger: we have demonstrated to English Heritage that we have made a great effort to raise funds but have few or no reserves.
Whatever the outcome of the grant application we shall then need to obtain more current tender figures and take stock of the situation.
What is so positive is the amount raised in just over a year, giving us real encouragement as we go forward. And the fund-raising continues:
Thanks go to Ian Swaffield who completed another of his marathon walks; Ian invited sponsorship, to be shared between Tarporley War Memorial Hospital and our own Tower Appeal. Ian was recently able to hand over to our Appeal Secretary a cheque for £795, to boost our funds. Last month I reported on the very enjoyable concert by The Decibellas and this month I can report that the total raised was £495.
August has been a quiet month for fund-raising but we pick up again this month with an old favourite and two new events. Phillip and Becky Posnett will be opening their beautiful gardens on the evening of 10 September, with a chance to stroll around the garden and to enjoy wine and nibbles, and the chance too to meet old friends and make new ones. If you know the gardens of Haughton Hall I’m sure you will want to return and if you don’t I can recommend the visit. The other events are a Band Concert and an Yves St Laurent Evening
For forthcoming events see News page on this website
The Appeal to raise funds to carry out repairs to the tower of St Helen's was launched in June 2009.
Over £93,00 has been raised.