Help for Heroes sorry for blunder

A sponsored swim held as part of the annual Byron Festival last summer raised £920 for Help For Heroes, which helps British service personnel who have been injured in conflicts.

Members of Hucknall and Linby Dolphins Swimming Club raised £745 of the amount, while three members of Hucknall University of the Third Age (U3A) were sponsored for the rest.

A cheque presentation ceremony was arranged at Hucknall Leisure Centre on Linby Road, where the swim took place -- but no-one from the charity turned up.

Ken Purslow, chairman of the committee which organises the Byron Festival, received the cheque from 15-year-old Dolphins member Rosie Goddon on behalf of the charity. He described the lack of response from Help For Heroes as ‘disappointing’.

Daisy Busher, a spokesman for the charity, blamed a ‘slight glitch in our procedure’.

She said: “A representative of the charity for the Nottinghamshire area is standing down from the position.

“Unfortunately, this caused the engagement in Hucknall to slip through the net.

“| would, however, like to take this opportunity to congratulate all who helped to raise such a staggering amount. I can assure them that H4H are very grateful for what they have done.”

The committee are now planning to send the cheque by post.