Beware Lead Thieves
WE HAVE JUST HEARD that all of the lead has been illegally removed from Quy
church, which suggests that we should all be on the look out around the
village, and not just for the churches, in case it is just the first in a
'campaign'in our area.
We have no roof-work planned for of either St Mary's or St Cyriac's and so anyone on the roof of either building should be treated as suspicious. Please be aware and report any suspicious activity.
May I please ask that we all spread the word around the village to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of this threat.
The Cambridge Evening News Reported:
A 100-YEAR-OLD church organ was wrecked after thieves stripped lead from a roof allowing rain to flood in. The organ at St Mary's church, in Stowcum- Quy, was in perfect working order, despite being built more than a century ago, until the lead sheeting was stolen from the roof.
The theft left the church open to the elements, and a week of heavy rain led to extensive water damage to the instrument, which is now unplayable.
Organist Lynn Hatley said: "It is very sad, because the organ had all its original parts and worked perfectly - the only work it had in 100 years was when an electrical blower was installed in 1953. "
The thieves must have used a ladder to get on to the roof, then rolled the lead up and taken it away - you can see where they dragged it over the wall.
"If this had happened a couple of weeks earlier we might have got away without too much damage, but because of all the rain the organ repairers tell us it has been completely wrecked.
"We will need to take it apart and completely restore it, which will cost about £20,000 - we hope the insurance will cover it, otherwise we will have to do a lot of fundraising.
"It is a great shame because the organ was used all the time, and there is a big wedding planned at the church next month which will now have to make other arrangements for music."
The theft happened between Sunday, May 6, and Friday, May 11, when the damaged roof was discovered.
It follows a spate of thefts of metal across the region during the last year. Anyone with information about the incident should contact police on 0845 4564564, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.