I was honoured to be invited to attend the re-interment of Captain Flinders in Donington last weekend.
What a wonderful event, so well planned and meticulously organised.
Well done to Jane Pearson and her amazing team.
The Church Service was very moving with thoughtfully chosen readings and hymns. The Coastal Community Choir sang beautifully, their rendition of ‘Bring him Home’ being a bittersweet moment for us all in remembering how many, many years it was since Flinders had left his home village.
I had a long conversation with a gentleman who was a descendant of ‘Bungaree’ the loyal Aboriginal guide and mediator for Captain Flinders during many adventures.
He had his own adventure when he arrived in England for the event last week.
His accommodation had been booked for him by Travel Agents and he found himself heading to a hotel in Castle Donington, Leicestershire instead of Donington in Lincolnshire. He and his companions realised the mistake during their journey and thankfully were able to cancel and rebook somewhere much closer for the momentous weekend events that he and so many others have travelled across the World to attend.
But, he said it all added to the general excitement of the trip!
Coun Elizabeth Sneath
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