AT last week's Volunteers' Christmas lunch Colonel Brian Gorski took time out to thank all of the volunteers and supporters who have done so very much to help raise funds and spread the good word about the Fusiliers' Museum Development Project.

The contractors are now on site at the Arts and Crafts Centre and work is going ahead on conservation of the collections and exhibition development plans for an official opening on Gallipoli day in April 2009.

Three essential groups of volunteers were at the lunch together with other project supporters. These were the museum volunteers, who work closely with the documentation officer Helen Castle on research, documentation and care of the collection; the campaign office volunteers, who have already raised over £15,000 for the project and provide a vital information link with the community, and the NADFAS (National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies) volunteers who undertake conservation work at the museum.

The lunch was a simple but friendly affair with many taking the opportunity to catch up with old friends with common interests.

Colonel Brian's thanks were heartfelt and certificates were presented to volunteers as a token of the very high esteem that people are held in who give up so much of their time for nothing to such a worthwhile project. Three volunteers at the museum who have worked over many years to improve the status of the collection were given special mention: Roy Woods, Brian Cooke and Joyce Fowler. Brian was playing Father Christmas on the day of the lunch - but Roy and Joyce are pictured with Brian Gorski.

Please continue to support our Brick Sponsorship scheme - and help the volunteers with a vital element of the final fund raising push!

The money raised will provide stack-bonded red bricks for the wall of the museum which faces onto Sparrow Park. If you haven't already bought some, please clip out the coupon below or visit our stand in the Mill Gate Shopping Centre. Every brick sponsor is issued with a certificate and their name and message will be preserved forever in the museum.

Learn more about this and the museum project or make a donation on our website: www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk.

For any other information call 0161 764 2208.