The 78 Derngate fundraising event offered an exclusive behind-the-scenes audience opportunity with one of the show’s actors and the series creator, in a bid to raise funds for the Northampton attraction’s extension project.
Heidi and Stephen gave a lively and engaging insight into the events on and off screen of the award-winning series, providing a candid view on the exacting attention to detail required to accurately reflect how society and attitudes are presented in the (to date) nine series, with series ten to hit screens at the end of 2020.
Followed by a guest Q&A session, Heidi and Stephen spent time signing autographs, having photographs taken and chatting to members of the audience, some of whom had travelled several hours to attend.
The 78 Derngate Trust has already raised £150,000 of the £200,000 target to match fund the sum already offered by Northampton Borough Council. The appeal will finance an extension delivering a new, larger mezzanine flexible use space, visitor viewing of the Pantry in number 78, independent disabled access, a new tea room and larger shop amongst other notable benefits.
Co-Founder and Secretary to 78 Derngate Northampton Trust, Les Patterson, was thrilled to see the 400 guests at Friday evening’s event. “Northampton High School proved to be the perfect host for our fundraiser and this collaboration has strengthened our unique ties with the school. The facilities and staff were superb and our feedback indicates that the audience thoroughly enjoyed an entertaining evening; over £4,000 was raised for our extension appeal.”
Friends and supporters of 78 Derngate are asked to donate units of £100 to the fund, for which they will be recognised on engraved glass panelling of the new atrium.
