Money for Cromford

Published: Wednesday, 14 April 2010

IT WAS the very well known actor Brian Blessed who accepted a cheque for £3,000 on behalf of Friends of Cromford Canal, towards its restoration.

The money was donated by county councillor Juliette Blake and will go to help pay for interpretation boards, solicitor fees, general tidying, towpath work and repairs to the stonework, Roger Fox tells us.

Brian Blessed, who is president of the Friends group, remarked as he accepted the cheque:

"I think it is so generous of you as £3,000 these days, in a recession, is very difficult for a charity to find.

The Cromford Canal for me is a miracle. It's so wonderful. I think you're doing such a great job in holding on to keep this project going.

Members of the Friends of Cromford Canal are working on the 17 miles disused waterway with the aim to eventually restore it to connect with the Erewash Canal at Langley Mill.

£3,343 was donated by Mrs Blake from her £4,200 community fund, which Derbyshire County Council gives councillors to spend on good causes.