Inspired by the wonderful swimmers he sees swimming in the lake at Thames Young Mariners, Zachy is doing a sponsored swim and his aim is to swim one whole lap of the lake! That’s 500m in open water! Not bad for a guy who wouldn’t dip even a toe in a few months ago. Go on Zachy, you’ve got this 💪🏼

St Richard's is approaching its 60th anniversary. The soaring ceiling, the light streaming in on every side, and the brightly coloured 'dalles de verre' windows make it a remarkable building. But the copper-soaked roofing felt is increasingly letting in water and desperately needs replacing. Heavier rainfall and higher winds caused by climate change have caused structural damage which needs urgent repair.

Just stage 1 - repairing the side chapel - is expected to cost £350,000, so replacing the entire roof covering and repairing other damaged roof beams and windows will cost much more! Church members have already put aside over £70,000 and raised a further £12,500, while Marshalls Charity have pledged £20,000. Other grant-giving bodies will be approached, but we hope that many who appreciate this iconic building and have fond memories of activities within its walls will want to ensure its future for the community for the next 60 years.