Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, has backed the Rayleigh Town Museum Project in their effort to secure funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to create a new local heritage museum in Rayleigh.
The Rayleigh Town Museum Project had submitted a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for monies to help create the museum some months ago, but were unfortunately turned down. However, following a debrief from HLF officials, the project team, led by local historian Mike Davies, have now resubmitted a revised application and Mark has written to the HLF to lend his support to the new bid.
Commenting on the second bid made by the Rayleigh Town Museum Project, Mark Francois said:
"I am very supportive of Mike Davies’ proposals for a Rayleigh Town Museum not only as the local MP, but as a Patron and Friend of the museum too. The fact the Friends group has signed up over 300 members in a just a few months is a good indication of the level of support there is locally for the proposal. I believe the museum would be a heritage asset to both the town and its people, as well as those coming from further afield and I very much hope that the bid may yet succeed. I wish Mike Davies and his team all the best with their reapplication to the Heritage Lottery Fund."