Looking forward to 2017

Another year of events for FOSMA is being planned and now we have a real focus!
FIRSTLY, we have agreed to fund the complete refurbishment of the second south window despite the revised quote being considerably higher than expected.  Hopefully the work will begin soon.
THEN the big task is the tower, which was highlighted in the Quinquennial Report as needing significant repair work. The cost of this has been estimated at c. £400,000.   It is hoped that the Heritage Lottery and other grant giving bodies will agree to fund  the lion’s share of this, but even with their help, FOSMA will probably need to raise c.£30,000 over the next 18 months to make up the shortfall   It is hoped the work will be completed late 2018.
So as you can see, your support is needed even more than ever and with that in mind, we have three dates for you to put in your diaries to get things started before we have a proper ‘launch’ a bit further into the year when you will be able to come and hear for yourselves exactly what the work entails.

• RHODESIA AND ZIMBABWE – Rhodesia – the Gem of Africa and the situation after Independence when the country was renamed Zimbabwe. Friday 3rd March – 7.30  pm.  Church House.  A talk kindly offered by Jill Reeve-Johnson
• POETRY EVENING Thursday 27th April – 7.30 pm.  Church House.
• VOICES ACROSS TIME - Thursday 21st December.  7.30 pm.  Details nearer the time.

Tickets for the talk and Poetry Evening are available from Trish Fennell 01295 811059 trish.fennell@btconnect.com  and Val Scarff 01295 810386.
We do hope you will support us in our mammoth task – St Mary’s tower is such an iconic landmark in the village that we ALL enjoy.  Let’s get it back to its full glory!
As always, thank you for your encouragement and support.
Trish Fennell
Chairman