"Published on Thursday 25 March 2004 15:40 THE campaign to conjure up £3 million to save St Elphin's from closing forever may just do the trick, according to the school lay-chaplain. The school has sent letters to present parents, almost a thousand past pupils, staff and parents, local councillors and potential benefactors asking for donations to fill empty coffers. The plea was launched two weeks ago when a planning application to use some of the school grounds for housing to fund the school was rejected. "We're receiving piles of envelopes with cheques everyday now. We are incredibly encouraged by the positive response we have had," said Lay-Chaplain Wendy Kenyon, who is spearheading the campaign. "We have had children add their week's pocket money to their parent's cheque, one low wage earner gave her entire week's wages from one of her jobs and another contribution was someone's annual holiday money," she said. Anyone wishing to make a donation should make cheques payable to: The St. Elphin's Recovery Fund, c/o Mrs W Kenyon, St Elphin's School, Darley Dale, Matlock, DE4 2HA. All donations should be accompanied with a name and address and will be returned in full should the amount raised fail to secure the school's future." Reprinted by kind permission of Matlock Mercury |
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