CHARITY CHOSEN FOR THE 2010 GOODWOOD REVIVAL

Boxgrove Priory to benefit...

Each year the Goodwood Revival works with a team of enthusiastic volunteers to raise money for an appropriate charity or beneficiary.  The nominated charity for next week’s annual Goodwood Revival (17-19 September, 2010) is a beautiful and historic local church on the edge 12,000 acre Goodwood Estate; the Boxgrove Priory. 

Boxgrove Priory’s most pressing priorities are to upgrade its disability access and to re-light the Church.  The access will require some major re-working of the entrance floor to incorporate a lift so that disabled visitors are able to enter the Church as easily and comfortably as possible.  This, together with some minor works, will ensure that this beautiful building with its marvellous acoustics and profoundly restful atmosphere will serve the community for many years to come both as a place of worship and also as a major venue for concerts, exhibitions, drama, and education. The quality of what has so far been achieved is remarkable and this final push will enable the building to be used for a huge variety of activities. 

The Boxgrove Priory has very strong connections to Goodwood stretching back over 300 years.  The Priory has enjoyed the support throughout history of all 10 Dukes of Richmond right up to date

Boxgrove Priory is the resting place of Billy Fiske III, the gifted and dashing young American pilot who flew from Goodwood/RAF Westhampnett and near0by Tangmere.  Fiske who was a famed member of the USA Bobsledding team and twice won gold at the 1936 Olympics. 

Fiske enjoyed life to the full, and was the first American to volunteer to fly for the RAF, piloting Hurricanes for the Canadian 601 squadron.  Upon his return to West Sussex from what turned out to be his last sortie, his plane exploded, and he was treated at Chichester’s St. Richard’s Hospital, where he died from his burns – the first American pilot to lose his life in World War II. 

There is a stained glass window dedicated to Billy Fiske in Boxgrove Priory where the sunlight through the window shines a very pale blue.  He is buried in a quiet corner of the graveyard there.

On Goodwood Revival Sunday, a moving tribute to Billy Fiske will be made, with a Hurricane aircraft on the grid, flanked by Fiske’s actual Bentley 4.5-ltre and 10 ‘old boy’ air men that were based at Goodwood/RAF Westhampnett during WWII.  A salute by the King’s Troop, The Royal Horse Artillery and The Majesty’s Band of theRoyal Marines will also take place, as will the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. 

The local community has already worked very hard to support the Boxgrove Priory, but Goodwood will also welcome any and all volunteers over the Revival weekend that can devote some time and help collect donations to this very worthy charity.  For more information please contact: speed@goodwood.com.

As in previous years, admission to the Goodwood Revival is strictly by advance ticket only.  Tickets can be ordered as follows:

For further information please contact the Ticket Hotline:
Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755055
E-mail: bookings@goodwood.com
On-line via Online Ticket section of the www.goodwood.com