Churchwarden's cat is inspiration for fundraising raffle at Clenchwarton

One-time feral feline Toby, now living the good life as a family pet, is the 'cat'alyst for Clenchwarton Church's latest fundraising idea.

These days Toby is enjoying home comforts with churchwarden Debra McGowan who found him and cared for him when he was injured and has created a cross-stitched pictured of the grey and white cat.

Her framed handiwork will be the prize in a raffle to raise money to be shared between a fund to improve facilities at the St Margaret's Church and Cats Protection.

The raffle is among ongoing fundraising ventures to pay to have a kitchen and toilets installed in the church. The building is doing a valuable job as a warm hub for the community but only has an outside tap and a hired Portaloo.

Debra explained: “We are the warm hub for our village due to a grant of £1,000 from our parish council and another grant of £2,000 from the Norfolk Community Foundation Hot-Spot Fund. We have actually been open every day from 10am-4pm, even during Christmas, to give our community somewhere warm and dry, with a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit to enjoy.

“It may sound like a lot of money but keeping the church heated from November to now has already cost £3000.

“Our church is open every day throughout the year and if we had the facilities we could do so much more to help our community.”

Toby was one of about 20 feral cats living in a barn near Debra's home about 13 years ago.

With the help of Cats Protection and PJ, of Sutton Bridge, they were caught, neutered and released back to the site. Debra found him there one morning with a broken leg. A vet told her to keep him in a cage for six weeks to restrict his movement so that the leg would heal naturally. “After the six weeks Toby never left us,” said Debra. “He is such a character and a great favourite.”

She cross-stitched his portrait from a photo and it will be the prize in a raffle to be drawn at the church on Saturday, September 2 at 2pm.

If you would like a ticket please send a cheque or postal order payable to Clenchwarton PCC, to Mrs Debra McGowan, 16 Black Horse Road, Clenchwarton, King’s Lynn, PE34 4DN. Include a stamped addressed envelope with your address so that the tickets can be forwarded - or buy one at one of the upcoming church events.