DOUBLE CELEBRATION FOR UPHOLLAND

There may be 655 years between them but St Thomas the Martyr Parish Church and Holland Hall Country House Hotel came together this week for a joint celebration.

The Venerable Peter Bradley, Team Rector of the Parish Church, Head Teacher Mr Craig Heaton and five, fiver year old children from St Thomas the Martyr C.E. Primary School were guests of Holland Hall for a special presentation to celebrate the 700th Anniversary of the Church and five years at Holland Hall Hotel for owner, Ron Jones.

To mark the milestones, the hotel has set up a Community Partnership with the Church that will also involve all the local primary schools in the area.

The hotel is looking to support the church and local schools in a number of ways over the coming year and beyond, including the donation of prizes for school and church fetes, financial donations, refreshments for parent and governor functions, meeting rooms, and a healthy eating project for the school children.

Ron said; “As owner of the hotel for the last five years, I felt it was time to make a substantial contribution to the local community. When we heard the church was celebrating it’s 700th Anniversary and that all the local schools were taking part in a variety of fantastic projects we wanted to support them.

“We are delighted to have the Venerable Peter Bradley, Head Teacher Mr Craig Heaton and local children here to accept our donation and look forward to the ongoing support for the church and local schools community projects.

“Since taking over the hotel we have increased the staff from 20 to 70 and feel this has also made a positive impact on the local community. With more expansion plans in the pipeline including a further 20 bedrooms we hope to increase our community involvement further over the coming years.”

The presentation included the cutting of a giant number five cake which was then taken back to school for the children to enjoy.

Venerable Bradley said; “Having links with Holland Hall Hotel will benefit the community in many ways and we are delighted to have their support for our 700th Anniversary.”

With the school year just about to end, Holland Hall plans to contact the head teachers of all the local primary schools at the start of the new term to work with them on the fun and educational projects.

Ron added; “We are looking forward to working with all the local schools and supporting individual school projects and children’s education.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:
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