Light Up The Abbey
Andrew Parr recently died on 22 January 2019 , aged 74, and it was his wish that any donations should go towards funding exterior lighting at Minster Abbey on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
Minster Abbey or, to give it its full title, The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Sexburgha, occupies one of the highest hilltop positions on the otherwise largely flat island. The Abbey has been a place of worship for over 1,400 years and has survived ransackings by Danish Vikings, Norman invasions and the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII.
Andrew felt that floodlights would provide a warm welcome for both the community and visitors alike and would allow one of the Isle of Sheppey's oldest and most famous buildings to be seen and admired by all.
Andrew Parr was an active member in the community, serving as Parish Councillor, Church Secretary, Village Fair Organiser and Rotarian.
Having worked at the Steel Works in Sheerness for over 30 years, he discovered the workers had lost their pensions when the company, then Allied Steel and Wire (ASW) went bust. Andrew, with several other pensioners from companies in a similar situation to ASW, helped set up the Pensions Action Group and fought for over 150,000 people to help restore their pension entitlement.
Members made national headlines by stripping off outside Labour Party conferences and standing behind a giant banner proclaiming "Stripped of Our Pensions". This led to a major change in the law when the Government was finally forced to set up the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme, underwriting a large proportion of worker's lost pensions.
Given his significant contribution to the local community, his family hope that all can give generously to this project and help "Light Up The Abbey"!
Minster Abbey or, to give it its full title, The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Sexburgha, occupies one of the highest hilltop positions on the otherwise largely flat island. The Abbey has been a place of worship for over 1,400 years and has survived ransackings by Danish Vikings, Norman invasions and the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII.
Andrew felt that floodlights would provide a warm welcome for both the community and visitors alike and would allow one of the Isle of Sheppey's oldest and most famous buildings to be seen and admired by all.
Andrew Parr was an active member in the community, serving as Parish Councillor, Church Secretary, Village Fair Organiser and Rotarian.
Having worked at the Steel Works in Sheerness for over 30 years, he discovered the workers had lost their pensions when the company, then Allied Steel and Wire (ASW) went bust. Andrew, with several other pensioners from companies in a similar situation to ASW, helped set up the Pensions Action Group and fought for over 150,000 people to help restore their pension entitlement.
Members made national headlines by stripping off outside Labour Party conferences and standing behind a giant banner proclaiming "Stripped of Our Pensions". This led to a major change in the law when the Government was finally forced to set up the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme, underwriting a large proportion of worker's lost pensions.
Given his significant contribution to the local community, his family hope that all can give generously to this project and help "Light Up The Abbey"!
Co-organizers (3)
Simon Parr
Organizer
THE PCC OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF WEST SHEPPEY
Beneficiary
Alison Parr
Co-organizer
James Parr
Co-organizer