Donington church and businesses seeing a boost from Australian tourists thanks to the return of Captain Matthew Flinders

Looking through the visitors’ book in St Mary’s Church in Donington, I can’t help but notice how regularly Australia features in the address section as scores of people have come to the village to pay homage to their hero.

In fact the last entry in the book is from a family who hail from Wollongong, who left behind the message: “Well done! We love Matthew.”

Similar addresses and sentiments are found on the other pages: ‘fitting tribute’, ‘very special place’ and ‘beautiful, so pleased he’s home’.

The reason that so many have travelled thousands of miles across the globe lies in the corner of this lovely church, where under a stunning gravestone, lies the remains of explorer Matthew Flinders.

Last year, thousands of people lined the streets of Donington to watch history being made as Capt Flinders - the first man to circumnavigate Australia - made his final journey home, to rest close to his family, in the church he would have used as a boy.

Within the crowds - and police estimate there were 6,000 to 7,000 people present - watching the funeral procession were many Australians and one journalist covering the event warned: “Donington is in for a shock as it will soon have a lot of Australian tourists.”

And this prediction seems to have come true.

One of the people who worked hard and fought to ensure that Flinders would return home is Jane Pearson, who has also seen a significant increase in the number of visitors to the church.

Mrs Pearson, who worked with Carol Holt on the project, said: “If you look at the visitors book, and not all sign, you will see that there are Australian visitors every week.

“I am still getting contact from groups and societies who want talks.

“I was told that Flinders is the Australian equivalent of Winston Churchill in the UK.”

Coun Jane King, another volunteer who played an important role in the event, said: “We have a few people pop into the library who like our displays. They are looking for the church. It is having a knock-on effect.

“I am seeing a lot more people walk through Flinders Park.

“I am still incredibly impressed with the way the entire village pulled together in the run-up to that weekend to make sure everywhere was looking tidy.”

Rewind a year, and the pair were giving up days and nights to put together the prestigious event which brought famous rugby players and high ranking politicians to the village.

Matthew Flinders was rediscovered in January 2019 by archaeologists excavating a park near Euston Station in London as part of the work for the HS2 line.

However, his return home had been delayed by a few years due to the pandemic - which Mrs Pearson feels helped the organisation of his funeral.

Mrs Pearson said of last year’s event: “I don’t think we have any regrets or look back and think ‘I wish we had done this’.

“Covid gave us the leisure of time. We had two-and-a-half years to put it together.”

Coun King added: “There were times when it was nice and graceful on the surface but we were frantically paddling underneath to hope and pray that everything would come together.

“I remember that Saturday morning looking down the street and no-one was there. When I returned a little while later, everyone was there and it was real.

“The crowds were overwhelming.

“When we were doing the preparations, a family member asked if we realised we were doing something that was historic and nationally recognised.”

While Flinders is helping to support his home village by increasing footfall to the church and boosting the local economy, it is hoped that one day there will be a museum to honour his achievements along with housing all of the artefacts which have been presented since he returned.

There are plans to hold a commemorative service in July to honour the explorer and what he has done for the village.

Amy Carney, owner of Amy’s Kitchen, would like to see an annual festival in his honour.

Amy - who served 950 cups of coffee during last July’s event - said: “He has definitely made an impact - we are always going to get people into the village now.

“It would be nice to have a big celebration to honour him.”

Another business owner, Antoinette Young, who runs Antoinette’s Vintage in Market Place, has also seen the Flinders effect.

She said: “There were a lot of people last July - and it was lovely.

“Right up until Christmas, people were coming in for Matthew Flinders books.

“We’ve had a lot of Australians - they don’t seem to want to go home.

“I am pleased they brought him back - and it is good for the village.”

Antoinette is hoping for a good turn-out to the first village market of the year, which will be held on March 30 in Donington’s Market Place.