IN order to reply to recent critic Brian Attree in a constructive manner, I asked Woodbury for a breakdown of what their community contributed towards our recent "Sailing in the Millennium" celebration which was such an overwhelming success.

It's a pity that Mr Attree didn't think more deeply about our community visit to Woodbury before it happened and consider what he might do to help us achieve our aims, which were originally to simply place a wreath on Henry Wood's grave and to present the Quakers and the town of Woodbury with a commemorative stone from Wood's original Brookhouse Farm in Tottington.

As we thought further about the involvement of school children as well as sports teams, it became obvious that we would need the council's know-how. So we invited Bury MBC to join us and to ask Woodbury City Council to share our Millennium celebration in their town. At our first meeting the leader of the council, Councillor Derek Boden, stated clearly that though they wished to be involved with the project, they had no money to put into it.

The money used to buy the boat for the sail to America was raised though the sale of Melvin Magnall's home, while other expenses were met by sponsors.

So what did the project achieve?

Well, I cannot find words to adequately describe our welcome, save to say that the townsfolk of Woodbury were genuine and wholehearted. Friendships have been formed which I am certain will grow ever stronger, deeper and long-lasting, judging by the scenes when we were leaving.

We went out there to "sell" Bury as a tourist attraction, and to promote its commerce and industry, all of which would help create employment.

Educationally, we created a climate in which exchange scholarships could be arranged and to agree and to sign a twinning contract between the towns.

As I said earlier, I cannot find words to describe the great generosity that I am sure we all experienced.

In addition, we generated renewed interest in their own history for they are now having the mouth of Woodbury Creek surveyed, along with the foundations of Henry Wood's first home, with a view to building a living museum with "water bus" stations to encourage tourists from Philadelphia.

Because Mr Attree was interested in the cost of the project, I asked Woodbury for their best estimate of their community's contribution. That appears to be in the region of 75,000 dollars compared with Bury's contribution which was not a brass farthing!

Now Mr Attree may consider that to be a very satisfactory position, but that would make him as short-sighted as the council representatives who could not see the potential benefits being put before them. They could have exploited them at a cost of a few thousand pounds, but they chose not to bother.

By the way when the Rev Hugh Bearn, vicar of St Anne's Church in Tottington asked Woodbury City Council for a donation towards the new stained glass window fund, he didn't have to ask twice. They gave him 5,000 dollars. A generous gesture don't you think, but that's the way they are.

ROY MELLUISH

Melrose Close,

Whitefield.