Prof swings in with cash

Leading historian Carl Chinn popped into a golf club to dish out wedges of cash to two very worthy causes.

Professor Chinn is chairman of the Birmingham St George’s Day Association, which set up five years ago to celebrate all things English. He enjoyed a slap-up meal with other guests at the Halesowen Golf Club before handing over cheques for £1,250 each to St Marks Church, in Kingstanding, Birmingham, and the Sutton Coldfield branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The group has raised thousands since its formation, through fundraisers including a series of sell-out concerts at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

Carl said the group was made up entirely of volunteers who each year decided upon local charities to receive slices of the money they have raised – groups which would otherwise struggle to keep going.

“We started a few years ago with the aim of celebrating England and everything English,” he said.

“St Mark’s Church in Kingstanding does a wonderful job in an area of the city that is too often overlooked. It’s an area that’s full of hard-working people and the church does a huge amount of good there.”

Carl said the MS Society had been motivated by a personal connection, because his grandfather Perry suffered from the debilitating condition.

“We’re delighted with the support we have from the people of the Black Country. A large number of the people who help us are from the region,” he said.