Singers and dancers at Grantham schools are rehearsing for two concerts at St Wulfram’s Church to support its Spire Appeal.
A total of 16 primary schools and four secondary schools are taking part in ‘Inspiring Grantham’, two concerts featuring young musical talent on June 26 and 27, which will raise money to help repair the crumbling spire.
Among those schools preparing for the concerts is Huntingtower Primary School which has three groups taking part - Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 choirs and a group of Year 6 dancers.
The younger choir will sing ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ and the older singers will perform the official Diamond Jubilee song called ‘Sing’, written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The dancers will perform a dance they did for ROCK Challenge.
Teachers Donna Kightly and Nauvoo Goddard-Tate have been overseeing the singing rehearsals and Susie Steeples has been coaching the dancers.
It will cost £600,000 to repair the spire on St Wulfram’s Church. It is a Grade I listed building and its steeple rises to 86m.
The original Norman church was the subject of an ambitious building project in the 13th century following a fire and the tower and spire were built during the 14th century.
At the beginning of the year, a grant of £272,000 was awarded to the appeal by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
This grant will enable urgent repairs to the spire, as its iron cramps have rusted and expanded, causing the top of the spire to become displaced.
The top 16ft, which was repaired in 1947 and is in good condition, will be removed and set aside for re-use, then the next 24ft, which displays problems, will be dismantled and rebuilt.
Tickets for the concerts cost £5 adults and £2.50 children and are available from Helen’s Flowers on St Catherine’s Road, Grantham.