Captain Matthew Flinders RN, Son of Donington, Lincolnshire
Join us for cake and wine as we celebrate with our friends in Tasmania by live link.
Read MorePlease take a couple of minutes to sign the petition to have Matthew Flinders' achievements to be recognised by the Royal Society
Read MoreYour opportunity to join the MFBHH Group and Donington Parish Council to find out what events are lined up for the big weekend in July.
Read MoreFrom our friend Tim Purcell. Unfortunately the feature film, Unchartered Waters, will not be ready for July, but there are still plans to be able to have the TV documentary series, 'An Adventurer Returns' completed by then with a big 'name' confirmed as Presenter. This will also be part of a campaign to have Matthew Flinders recognised by the Royal Society with a posthumous Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his scientific achievements with the support of many academics and organisations including the Royal Institute of Navigation, the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia and the Royal Society of South Australia. Follow the link to the Flinders teaser video - featuring Henry Esdon as Matthew Flinders - as he will be in the documentary.
Read MoreA public meeting will share the plans in place to welcome home Donington’s most famous son
Read MoreProposals for a dramatic feature film about the famous explorer and a campaign to make him a posthumous Fellow of the Royal Society are in the pipeline.
Read MoreThe remains of a Lincolnshire explorer credited with naming Australia will be reburied in his home village in 2024. Saturday 13th July 2024 is the date set aside for the reburial, with a weekend from 12th to the 14th of activities to mark the special occasion.
Read MoreDonington’s Bring Matthew Flinders home campaign wins £35,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Read MorePlans are now in preparation for the reinterment which is to be in the North Aisle of the Church - adjacent to the Flinders Stained Glass Window. The preparation work has already started following Church permissions. This involves an archaeological survey of this part of the church and to be present during the dig. The design and creation of an appropriate Ledger Stone for on top of the grave to provide an appropriate and permanent tribute to this great man is already underway, with the stone coming from Ireland to match other ledgers in the church.
Read MoreIts been confirmed that Flinders' remains will be reinterred at St Mary and the Holy Rood Church in Donington. This has been agreed by Lincoln Cathedral and the Faculties. We are excited to plan for his return, with your help, and make the long weekend event in 2024 something Donington can be proud of. Watch this space for more details!
Read MoreCaptain Matthew Flinders, the Lincolnshire explorer credited for naming Australia, will be reburied during three days of church services in his home village of Donington near Spalding this summer.
Read MoreMFBHH made the Calendar News.
Read MoreRelatives of explorer Matthew Flinders joined residents of his home village and friends from across the globe to celebrate the 250th birthday of the man who was the first to circumnavigate Australia.
Read MoreProfessor Colin Stirling and Dr Gillian Dooley share rare items from the Matthew Flinders collection at Flinders University.
Read MoreDonington is gearing up for a big year when people will travel from across the globe to watch navigator Matthew Flinders be buried within St Mary and the Holy Rood Church on July 13.
Read MoreA new group running alongside the MFBHH group to organise a fabulous day of events. A celebration of Matthew Flinders coming home to Donington, Lincolnshire on Saturday 13th July 2024. they have a whole day of entertainment planned, from music, market, food, games and much more. Let’s make it a day to remember.
Read MoreResidents are being urged to rally around and do their bit to ensure the final homecoming of one of South Holland’s most famous sons is a memorable occasion the village can be proud of.
Read MoreThe remains of explorer Matthew Flinders will be laid to rest in a replica of his original coffin, members of the community were told last week.
Read MoreSouth Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes calls for Donington-born Matthew Flinders, the first to circumnavigate Australia, to be made fellow of Royal Society.
Read MoreThe long journey of Matthew Flinders — the first man to circumnavigate Australia — is coming to an end.
Read MoreMatthew Flinders: Explorer who 'named' Australia to be reburied in Lincolnshire.
Read MorePreparations are made within Donington’s St Mary and the Holy Rood Church for the return of explorer Matthew Flinders.
Read MoreAn eighteenth century British explorer is set to make his final voyage when his remains are brought back to his home county of Lincolnshire.
Read MoreBusinessman Stuart Rose discusses the life of cartographer Matthew Flinders, who mapped Australia 200 years ago, with Matthew Parris. From May 2010.
Read MoreThis poem by Elizabeth Adams is reproduced with permission from the October 2023 issue of Cook’s Log, the journal of the Captain Cook Society (www.captaincooksociety.com)
Captain Flinders Goes Home
If Dampier had lived in time to meet Cook,[1]
Would they have realised they both had stood
At opposite ends of the same landmass?
I like to think so, but doubt that they would.
For it wasn't until twenty years after Cook
That Captain Flinders sailed all the way
Round the vast, seemingly endless coast
And gave it the name we use to this day.
Most 'Brits' never took much notice of Flinders
Until, when digging for the country's new train,
His coffin was found in old burial ground
Where for two hundred years he had quietly lain.
He refused to live a life mediocre,
And now that for his body we no longer search,
He need fear no more to "rest .... unnoticed",
For he'll be taken back to his Lincolnshire church.
Reference [1] William Dampier was the first recorded Englishman to set foot on Australia, some 80 years before Cook.