MEMBERS of a group performing a lost tradition have donated more than £300 to Lymm’s new heritage centre.

The Famous Cyty of Thelwall Mummers handed over the cash collected from performances before Christmas.

And the members came in full Mummers costume at the visit the centre, based on Legh Street, last Saturday, January 27.

David Devereux, dressed in glasses and Arab head-dress, said: “Our pre-Christmas play performances started in the 70s in response to a request from the landlord of the Bells of Peover.

“The play is of our own devising but draws heavily on elements from a far older tradition.

“Everywhere we perform, typically local pubs, we pass round the hat and collect for a nominated local charity.

“This year we all agreed that we wanted to show our support for the new Heritage Centre.

“Like us they are working hard to help maintain local tradition and to ensure that Lymm’s unique identity is not lost.”

The cheque, for just over £325, was accepted on behalf of the Heritage Centre by their chairman Alan Williams.

He said: “It is fantastic to be getting support like this from local groups.

“It is only since we opened that we have really begun to understand quite the extent of the pride in Lymm’s unique heritage.

“Contributions like this are a great help financially but just as important is the involvement and the commitment to the idea of the centre that the donation represents.”

n Lymm Heritage Centre is open to the public from 12pm until 4pm from Thursday to Sunday all through the winter.

The current exhibition Look@Lymm is a journey through Lymm’s history in photographs, starting back in 1861.

The exhibition also includes a rare 3-D stereograph image of the village centre from 1871.

Donations and volunteers welcome.

The ‘Famous Cyty of Thelwall Mummers’ are to be found practising morris dancing on Wednesdays at Thelwall Parish Hall for most of the year.

n Visit thelwallmorris.org.uk.