WELCOME to Woodbury! That's the firm greeting extended by New Jersey city fathers to Bury's Millennium man.

And Melvin Magnall, who is spearheading a £900,000 project to sail to America to retrace the voyage of a Tottington Quaker, has been assured up to 1,000 Bury visitors will get a warm welcome in the USA in the summer of 2000.

The authorities in Woodbury have enthusiastically embraced Melvin's mission and have announced that Bury travellers will be accommodated in Woodbury - free of charge!

Bury's unofficial "ambassador" Melvin recently spent five days in the Woodbury, New Jersey, briefing officials about his ambitious project to breach a lasting Trans-Atlantic link between the two towns.

And his enthusiasm for the massive Millennium project has rubbed off on Woodbury's top brass who have promised to roll out the red carpet.

City administrator, Mr Tom Bowe, praised Melvin's scheme as a "wonderful idea" and has pledged full backing for the project.

In the summer of 2000, Melvin plans to sail from Liverpool to America aboard a 112ft-long replica 1725 ship, "Phoenix", which will be crewed during various legs by up to 40 young people from Bury.

The voyage will recreate the journey made by Tottington Quaker Henry Wood, who fled to America in 1682 to escape religious persecution.

He settled in New Jersey and the town, Woodbury, is named after the Quaker and the town he left behind.

The crew will be joined by hundreds of other representatives from the town, travelling by plane, for a huge procession through the streets of Woodbury in July that year. And the town will also host a programme of sporting and cultural activities before the "Phoenix" embarks on the return journey, with American youngsters making up the crew.

Shuttleworth builder Melvin, who visited Woodbury along with Ocean Youth Club colleague Roy Melluish, were delighted with the response of officials to the project.

Guests from Bury will be accommodated in a nearby university free of charge and will be taken on a programme of sightseeing visits.

In a taped, video interview, Mr Bowe said the celebrations would co-incide with the July 4 Independence Day celebrations.

"Your visit will enhance our celebrations at that time," the city administrator added.

"This is a wonderful idea. I can't emphasise the groundswell which is beginning to arise for this concept."

Commenting on the costs involved, he went on: "I am confident we will be able to raise that kind of money and, at the same time, we want to get involved in sporting and cultural links."

Mr Bowe said the "Phoenix", while berthed in New Jersey, could be used by corporate clients to generate cash towards the overall fund-raising activities.

Pledging Woodbury's full support for the project, he continued: "We are extremely committed to this."

Melvin responded: "This is certainly great news and what Tom Bowe says is an indication of the level of enthusiasm in Woodbury for this project. It's growing in momentum all the time."

The highlight of the procession through Woodbury will be a presentation at city hall when Melvin will hand over stonework from Henry Wood's original home at Brookhouse Farm, Tottington.

Bury Council is strongly backing the mission which could secure vital Millennium Festival funding.

The local authority has just submitted its initial bid for a cash grant and the full application will have to be lodged before August 31.

The council will be told before the end of the year whether its bid has been successful.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.