Mayor has high hopes for church tower

The Mayor of the Royal Borough, Cllr Jesse Grey, is going to great lengths - or in this case heights! - to support the fund-raising efforts to repair the tower at Windsor Parish Church.

Cllr Grey has become the first borough Mayor to take a look at his mayoral realm from the unusual perspective of the top of the 100ft high tower of Windsor Parish Church of St John the Baptist in the High Street - while seeing for himself the need for repairs to the brickwork on the parapet.

After climbing to the top of the tower with churchwarden Michael Harding and Frank Blagrove, Captain of the Bells last week, Cllr Grey immediately pledged his support for the church's current fundraising efforts.

Recent inspections of the tower indicated some movement of the parapet brickwork and a full structural survey of the tower has been launched this week. Contractors Cliveden Conservation Workshop Ltd have erected scaffolding around the top of the tower, with initial survey work expected to be complete by the end of the month.

This means that, for the first time in many years, the standard of St George will not fly over the parish church on St George's Day on 23 April.

Cllr Grey said this week: "We have been advised by the contractors that the movement of the flagpole over the years has probably contributed to movement on the parapet brickwork - and it would be sensible not to fly the flag until the survey has been carried out.

"I was thrilled to be invited to enjoy the views over Windsor from the top of the tower last week - and was able to see for myself the need for the structural survey on the tower.

"I am delighted to be able to support the church in its fund-raising efforts and would urge residents of the Royal Borough to think about donating to this very worthy cause to maintain the condition of a very beautiful example of our borough's heritage."

Churchwarden Michael Harding said this week: "I was very pleased to give the Mayor a tour of the church recently, including climbing to the top of the tower. I am also delighted that the Mayor has pledged his support for our fundraising efforts."

The fund-raising campaign will initially focus on the £10,000 cost of the current survey of the tower, with the cost of any subsequent necessary restoration work still to be established.

Donations will be gratefully accepted by either the church warden, Mr Michael Harding, 1 Errington Drive, Windsor, SL4 5EG, tel: 01753 857109 or the chairman of the Parish Church Management Group, Mr David Shaw, 153 Clarence Road, Windsor, SL4 5AP, tel: 01753 855073. Cheques should be made payable to PCC Windsor Parish Church & All Saints.

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