record funding year for ‘Patriot’

The £250,000 appeal for the boiler of ‘5XP’ No. 5551 The Unknown Warrior has reached its target, rounding off a record fund-raising year. When its financial year concluded at the end of March, the LMS-Patriot Project had raised over £600,000 – having exceeded its target figure of £498,000 by gathering £503,000 in the first nine months. The boiler appeal remains open, having been extended by £25,000 to cover the cost of Monel firebox stays – a corrosion-resistant material used by BR which will have a longer life and reduce boiler maintenance costs. For the forthcoming year, the group has set its target at almost £500,000, and donations will be welcomed at the LMS-Patriot Company Ltd, The Hub, 17 Eastgate Street, Stafford ST16 2LZ or via www.lms-patriot.org.uk