Donington’s Bring Matthew Flinders home campaign wins £35,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to ensure fitting celebration and reburial for the explorer who discovered Australia

A Donington hero will be getting a fitting reburial and celebration next year after organisers have won grant funding.

The Matthew Flinders Bring Him Home Campaign has received £35,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund along with 13 other projects.

This will help finance the return of the famous explorer’s remains to Donington, the place of his birth, in the middle of next year. His re-burial was delayed due to the pandemic.

Organisers are planning a major celebration along with a special ceremony in St Mary and the Holy Rood Church, where his body will be interred.

One of the people working on the campaign is Jane Pearson - who is thrilled to have received the money which is being distributed by the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership.

She said: "I am absolutely delighted to have received this support.

"We are hopeful now that with these funds we will be able to provide a really good event for the whole of the village."

A specialist stone mason, who is connected to Lincoln Cathedral, is also sourcing a suitable stone from Ireland.

Archaeologists working on the HS2 project discovered his coffin, which was buried in London in 1814, during excavations of a burial site near Euston Station last January, sparking huge interest across the globe.

Coun Paul Redgate, portfolio holder for finance, commercialisation, Levelling Up and UK Shared Prosperity Funding at South Holland District Council, was pleased to support the Matthew Flinders project.

He said: “It is great that we are able to continue supporting important projects across South Holland with this vital funding.

“We have already seen several successes with this funding throughout the district, including the very well-attended Holbeach Medieval Festival and the busy Long Sutton Youth Shed which is thriving.

“This funding will continue to play a huge part in boosting our economy and pride in all parts of our district, while supporting our communities, culture and heritage.”

"We are hopeful now that with these funds we will be able to provide a really good event for the whole of the village."

He also feels that Matthew Flinders will help boost tourism to South Holland as well as Donington.