OLYMPIC hero Sir Steve Redgrave is giving tens of thousands of pounds to help build a new home for Guides in Marlow.

Some 10,000 is initially being donated from the Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust to help finance the building of a hut in Quarry Wood Road, Bisham.

It will replace the one that burnt down in a suspected arson attack in June 2001.

Sir Steve, whose trust could give up to 30,000 in total, told the Marlow Free Press: This is the first opportunity we have had to help out a cause locally.

I know the situation with the Guide hut and drive past it most days.

We are delighted to be able to help a local cause.

The trust will give 10,000 towards the cause and match everything raised from now pound for pound.

So if 20,000 is raised from the community, then the trust will donate the final 20,000 for the building that will serve as a centre for guides around Marlow.

Carol Lamb, district commissioner for Guides in Marlow, said: This money is fantastic for us and will be an enormous help in getting the new hut built sooner rather than later.

About 130 Guides were left without a home when fire ravaged their timber hut in 2001 completely destroying it.

Three engines from High Wycombe and one from Stokenchurch tackled the blaze which took hours to put out, with water having to be pumped from the Thames.

Insurance cover for the building left a shortfall of 90,000 of which 40,000 has been raised so far by Guides, Brownies and people in the community.

The Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust has been going for nearly three years and has helped causes throughout the country.

It helps children who might be suffering from health and social deprivation achieve their potential.

It was set up on the back of the Marlow Bottom star's legendary Olympic rowing career during which he won a record five gold medals.



AN AUCTION helped raise 15,000 towards a schools bid for a new status.

Great Marlow School, in Bobmore Lane, held the auction of promises last Thursday which will help towards raising a final figure of 50,000 for a bid to become a specialist technology school.

Geralyn Wilson, headteacher, said: The money raised is incredible and I am completely delighted.

"We only thought we would raise 6,000 but the teachers, pupils and parents have worked so hard.

At the auction the top earner was a chance to go rowing with Sir Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent which fetched 3,000. Sir Steve is a former pupil at the school and lent his support during the night.

Mrs Wilson said she would like to thank businesses in the town who donated prizes such as flying lessons and free maths tuition.

There was also entertainment on the night including magic and some singing by the schools vocal star, 13-year-old David Goosen.

There was also a silent auction where people made undisclosed bids and money was also raised through a bar.