Only 39 shopping days until Christmas!

The fundraising volunteers from the Fusiliers' Museum Campaign Office are planning a refurbishment of their information stand in the Mill Gate Shopping Centre. The stand provides information for the public about the museum development project and is used to sell bricks sponsorship opportunities to raise much needed funds to assist with the final push in pulling together an amazing £3,750,000. The project which is already on site will see the Arts and Crafts Centre building in Broad Street completely refurbished and the creation of a modern interactive and accessible museum.

Joan Clarke and Joyce Elliot (pictured) have been loyal supporters of the project from its early stages and have already raised an enormous amount of money and goodwill. The two ladies, who also help with a competition to name the regimental mascot, admitted that they have really grown to enjoy the work and have become good friends as a result of working together.

Like many of the other museum volunteers they feel that they are doing valuable work and at the same time enjoy the companionship and gain worthwhile experience.

They will be attending a Christmas lunch in mid December at Wellington Barracks hosted by Colonel Brian Gorski. It will provide a good opportunity to get together with other fundraising volunteers and those working on the museum collection and archive as well as to catch up with museum staff.

Before the festivities begin, however, there is lots of work to be done and the information stand will be revamped to attract attention from Christmas shoppers who are looking for an unusual present. Sales increased dramatically last Christmas when gaily wrapped brick certificates were chosen by lots of people as an original gift with a long-term future.

Look out for the stand and its promised Christmas look next time you are in the Mill Gate!

The Brick Sponsorship Scheme is a vital element of the final fund raising push! The money raised will provide stack-bonded red bricks for the wall of the museum which faces on to Sparrow Park. Every brick sponsor is issued with a certificate and their name and message will be preserved forever in the museum. Call and see Joan, Joyce or one of their fellow volunteers or clip out the coupon here and send it to us.

Learn more about this and the museum project or make a donation on our website www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk. For other information call 0161 764 2208.