I sincerely hope the Colchester-based consortium wins its race to secure the Victorian Sergeants’ Mess.

It would be, beyond doubt, the most incredible acquisition and an historic building the town could be tremendously proud of.

Plus, for the type of money being quoted, it is a snip.

Clearly the vast majority of people will view it more favourably and generously than the shameful Vaf “Golden Blunder”.

In addition (and I cannot help but notice and pass comment) it comes with a roof, which is intact, watertight, and has been in place for 150 years!

On the subject of my least favourite project, I recall the director of Firstsite publicly pronouncing, two to three years ago, fundraising for the project was on track.

Fast forward a few months from that claim, and we were confronted with the scandalous truth, the projected fundraising had fallen woefully short.

We then faced what was the first in a long series of financial setbacks.

Not for the last time we had to shore up Firstsite.

But are we all missing a trick?

Firstsite’s fundraising efforts will, of course, have continued.

Consequently can someone from Firstsite bring us up to speed with how much more money has been raised?

With the grand projections made, it would be pleasing to hear that Firstsite has more than made up the £1million deficit we reluctantly had to cough up, and reduced the drain on our hard-pressed resources.

Does anyone care to hazard a guess just how much more Firstsite has paid in to the kitty?

Malcolm Mattack
Broom Way
Abberton