Hopes for a Donington museum as a lasting legacy to explorer Matthew Flinders, who first circumnavigated Australia

More than 200 years after his death, one of Lincolnshire’s most famous sons will be returning home later this year – and there are plans to create a lasting legacy to the man who was the first to circumnavigate Australia.

Matthew Flinders - whose body was re-discovered as part of the HS2 construction - will be re-buried in Donington’s St Mary and Holy Rood Church during a three-day event in July which is expected to bring people from across the globe.

But the eight members of the Flinders Return Project are hoping that the events of July 12, 13 and 14 will not be the end of the story as they are hoping to create a museum to honour the Donington-born explorer.

Flinders had led an extraordinary life with his time in the Royal Navy and was held as a spy by the French for seven years during the Napoleonic Wars but he returned home in poor health and died shortly after in 1814.

Committee member Jane Pearson said: “We have a long-term aim of creating some sort of lasting legacy with a Flinders Hub.

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“We have gathered so much Flinders material and matter which we feel should go on long-term display. The environment in church is not conducive to looking after paperwork including Flinders original books. These have got to be held in an appropriate environment.

“It will be a future facility to build on the legacy we have created so far.”

But Jane is not blind to the challenge which lies ahead in creating this building – but after the campaign she waged to bring Flinders home there is no-one better placed for this.

She is also hopeful that the cause will win support of those in charge of dishing out heritage grants.

She said: “We are going to need to run a huge fundraising campaign – we are talking six figures.

“We are going to start fundraising after the events in July.”

Flinders will be the first person to be buried within the confines of St Mary and the Holy Rood Church for nearly 200 years when his body is interred during a ceremony on Saturday, July 13.

Dignitaries – including the governor of South Australia – are expected to descend on the village to watch a parade which will see Flinders remains brought to the church and laid to rest for the final time.

People will be able to line the streets of Donington to watch Flinders on his final journey but an appeal is going out for marshals to volunteer.

There are also plans for a schools event on Friday, July 12, with a further event for villagers on Sunday, July 14.

Flinders’ re-burial was postponed due to the pandemic.

Jane said: “I am pleased with how preparations are going.

“We have one chance to get it right and so we are hoping that we really can.

“If his remains had not been found that would have been the end of his story but his re-burial will bring home to everyone his significance.”

The campaign had received £35,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to help fund the July events.