Phil Gillam: Church masterpiece won me a Blue Peter badge!

Indeed, when I was growing up in the 1960s, watching Blue Peter after school was a rite of passage for our generation – many of us dreaming of being awarded one of the show's iconic badges.

We were easily pleased back then!

The thought of a plastic, mass-produced badge arriving in the post was too thrilling for words.

Now, of course, the days of learning to make toys and games using 'sticky-back plastic' and toilet rolls are just a fond memory.

Anyway, there is a link (honestly, there is) between the show's most popular team (John Noakes, Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves) and Shrewsbury's beautiful St Chad's Church.

And that link – yes, folks, you guessed it – is me!

Because when they ran a painting competition for us kids, I couldn't wait to take part and to be in with a chance of winning one of those famous Blue Peter badges.

(I think I was nine at the time).

The subject of my painting, I decided, would be St Chad's Church.

Even as a youngster who knew nothing about architecture and even less about history, I just loved this building.

So I got out my best Woolworths painting set and found a nice piece of paper and painted what can only be described as a masterpiece – a stunning representation of St Chad's.

I taped it to a piece of card to protect it in the post, sent it off …. and sure enough, a few weeks later I received my Blue Peter badge. Okay it was only a white plastic one and I dare say thousands of other children also received one, but hey!

From that moment on, I have of course continued to love St Chad's.

So I was happy to read last week that the church has been awarded a £207,000 grant to allow important restoration work to be carried out.

The grant means that the church, which is currently on the Historic England At Risk register, will undergo extensive repair work to its roof, stonework and insulation. The cash will also allow for further community, education and tourism projects to be developed.

Additional funds have been secured from The Friends of St Chad's Memorial Fund, The Owen Family Trust and The Listed Places of Work Grant Scheme.

It is hoped that work on the church, built in 1792, will be completed by July.

The building, with its circular shape and high tower, dominates the Shrewsbury skyline and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Father Mark Chadwick, vicar of St Chad's, said he was delighted to receive confirmation of the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as the matched funding through the Friends of St Chad's.

"It is a great relief that repair work can now be carried out on our iconic building. It will help to ensure the external integrity of the building for many years to come. I am also excited that 15 per cent of the total grant money can be spent on extending our work for the community and especially in projects which will involve young people, visitors and the more vulnerable members of our society."

Oh, and if they'd like to commission me to produce a watercolour of the church, I think I might still have that Woolworths painting set up in the loft!