Donington's most famous son: Guest from Australia reveals details from Matthew Flinders' letters
A picture of a loving marriage between Donington born hero Matthew Flinders and his wife Ann emerged at a special evening to celebrate the man who gave Australia its name.
The Matthew Flinders Bring Him Home group hosted a visit by Dr Gillian Dooley, from Flinders University, Adelaide.
Intimate letters exchanged between Matthew and Ann told a tale of soul mates and best friends leading a mostly harmonious life.
Also there was film-maker Tim Purcell, who aims to make feature film, TV series and documentary on the man he sees as “probably Britain’s greatest navigator, hydrographer and cartographer”.
St Mary and the Holy Rood Church houses artefacts relating to Flinders - including four stone tablets that he directed in his will of 1812 should be placed opposite the chancel door.
The tablets pay homage to the explorer (1774-1814), his father - also Matthew (1750-1802), grandfather John (1713-1776) and great-grandfather, also John, 1682-1741.
There’s a stained glass window depicting Flinders in the central pane, with his benefactor Sir Joseph Banks to the left and Australian explorer George Bass to the right.
There’s a bust of Flinders in the same corner and another part of the church houses a small museum.
The Matthew Flinders Bring Him Home group hope one day the church interior will become a final resting place for Matthew himself after his remains were unearthed in January by archaeologists working on the HS2 project in London.
The aim has widespread support, including that of Matthew’s descendants.
Matthew’s remains were identified beyond doubt by a lead breast plate on his coffin and Jane Pearson, from the group, saw that for herself on a recent visit to Australia House in London.
Australia House was the setting for Gringotts Bank in the Harry Potter films - and one of the Harry Potter stars, Domhnall Gleeson (Bill Weasley), is on a film company’s wish list to play Matthew Flinders in the proposed movie.
Tim Purcell, director of Tropikana Studios, hopes the film will be made in time for a premiere next year when Australia and Mauritius celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations.
Flinders is a nationally celebrated figure in those countries while here it is largely the people of Donington who keep alive his name and achievements.
Tim told the gathering in Donington parish church: “I think we have got a very powerful and dramatic story to tell and I think it will also raise the profile of Matthew Flinders in the UK.”
Gillian Dooley read extracts from contemporary documents, including Matthew’s reaction when he was not allowed to take Ann on a voyage to Australia.
Writing to Sir Joseph Banks, the pragmatic Flinders said: “I shall give up the wife for the voyage of discovery.”
Elsewhere Matthew describes Ann as his “most dear and intimate friend” while Ann, who survived Matthew by 38 years, refused to take another husband after such a perfect union.
Previously ...
UPDATE AND VIDEO OF EXCAVATION SITE: Remains of Donington-born Matthew Flinders discovered
Donington and Matthew Flinders: University expert says explorer wanted to retire to countryside
