Donington forced to wait to welcome Matthew Flinders home

Villagers may have to wait a couple more years before they can finally welcome Matthew Flinders ‘home’ – with an international audience awaiting Donington’s big day.

The remains of the explorer – who helped to map and name Australia – were recently discovered in London during the work on the HS2 rail project.

It was agreed that they could be re-interred at the St Mary and the Holy Rood Church in Donington, where he was baptised, and plans were in place for a large scale event last summer.

However, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic ensured that the event will have to wait – with the explorer’s remains still in the hands of HS2 for the time being.

The village wanted to put on a parade from the market place – as well as a series of events that involved schoolchildren in the area and a service that was likely to attract guests from across the world.

Jane Pearson, from the Matthew Flinders Bring Him Home group and the parochial church council, said: “We had a waiting list of people wanting to come. We were limiting it to 300 in the church but over and above that there’s a waiting list.

“There’s no way we can accommodate anything like that at the moment – that looks a long way off.

“I know there were seven media crews coming. Not only British television but there was Australia, France and Mauritius - who are making ‘Flinders the movie’ too.

“We had regular contact from people in Australia who were wanting to come over.”

Mrs Pearson vowed the event will still go ahead, but said organisers are prepared to be patient and need to wait until it’s safe to have mass gatherings and international travel. She added: “It’d be inappropriate to do it in a rushed or quiet way.

“Obviously it will not be this year and I’m not even sure it will be next year – we’ve got to be able to have a mass gathering and travel.”

Campaigners recently received the sad news that the explorer’s oldest surviving relative - Lisette Flinders Petrie - had died. The explorer’s twice great-granddaughter was known to many people in the village.

Mrs Pearson said: “We continue to have contact with her three daughters but it’s very sad that she herself won’t be able to attend. She had been involved in the story her whole life.”

In 2024 it will be 250 years since Matthew Flinders was born in Donington.