FORMER Beirut hostage Terry Waite CBE has been announced as patron of the Lymm Heritage Centre project.
Former Lymm resident Terry was the Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs for the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, in the 1980s. As an envoy for the Church of England, he travelled to Lebanon to try to secure the release of four hostages, including the journalist John McCarthy. He was himself kidnapped and held captive from 1987 to 1991.
He is president of the charity Y Care International (the YMCA’s international development and relief agency) and patron of AbleChildAfrica.
When approached Terry immediately responded enthusiastically to the invitation. He told said: “I am delighted to give my support to the Lymm Heritage Centre. Lymm has been the home for my family for over 60 years and although I no longer live in the village my sister continues to live there and takes an active part in the life of the community.
“Archbishop Robert Runcie, for whom I used to work said, ‘Nothing is real unless it is local’. A village that take its heritage seriously is in a strong position to build a lively community. I hope to be able to assist Lymm in that endeavour.”
Heritage Group chair Alan Williams added: “ Terry Waite is the ideal choice for patron and we are delighted that he has accepted our invitation. His sentiments about engaging with heritage to the wider benefit of the community exactly match our own thinking. His guidance and support will, I’m sure, be invaluable.”
The group also recently received recognition from the Charity Commission as a registered charity and has been accepted as a member of the Association of Independent Museums. They are now waiting on news of the planning application submitted by the new owner of the former British Legion, Howard Platt which could transform the Legh St building into a modern showpiece site.
The group will shortly be holding their first major fundraising Event Brazilymm ’66 at the Lymm hotel from Feb 21-24 at which they will be also hope to launch their “Friends and Supporters” appeal.
