DENIS Healey, one of the Labour Party's greatest post-war politicians and recently described as the best prime minister we never had, is set to renew an old local link.

Mr Healey and his Coleford-born wife, Edna, are to visit Newnham in August to help raise funds for the restoration of the crumbling church tower.

The local link?

His grandfather was station master at Newnham and as a youngster Mr Healey regularly visited and stayed in the village.

Full details of the visit are still being finalised but Andy Vivian, a member of the Parochial Church Council and chairman of the Tower Restoration Committee, said it would coincide with an arts exhibition and would "be an evening to remember."

"Mr Healey has local connections and was only too pleased to come and help us. We are naturally delighted," said Mr Vivian.

The tower, around 100 years older than the rest of the church, has started to crack and subside.

Mr Vivian says around £80,000 is needed for repairs.

"The urgent task is to strengthen the foundations and to deal with the blocked soak-away drains which have created excess underground water. These need to be replaced by drains linked to the mains sewer. Above ground, the stonework needs restoring and repointing and the walls need strengthening with new tie bars and stitching," he said.

It is hoped a start on the drainage work can begin this Spring - but it all depends on the success of a Gift Day planned for Saturday, February 5.

People are being asked to visit St Peter's and make a pledge towards meeting the bill. There will be an exhibition, refreshments and musical entertainment as well as tours of the tower.

Members of the Restoration Committee include local builder Keith Farr, architect Mike Penny, the founder of Nature in Art, David Trapnell, churchwarden Barbara Griffith, church treasurer Anne Lloyd and the vicar, the Rev John Seaman.