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Heavenly supportNADFAS has sponsored a category at the Historic England Angel Awards – we fi nd out more about the shortlisted projectsFounded by Andrew Lloyd Webber and supported by his Foundation, the Historic England Angel Awards celebrate the efforts of individuals and local groups all over the country who put hours of hard work and enthusiasm into saving derelict or damaged historic landmarks and bringing them back to life. This year NADFAS was proud to sponsor the Best Community Action Project award.Some 20 heritage groups and projects in fi ve categories were chosen to go forward to the fi nals by the eminent panel of judges, consisting of architect and television presenter George Clarke, pottery designer Emma Bridgewater, historians Bettany Hughes and David Olusoga, and the Dean of Westminster, John Hall.The shortlist included a NADFAS Society that restored and catalogued the decaying art collection in their town, a group of young ‘Heritage Hunters’ encouraging their community to celebrate their local heritage, a 13-year-old budding archaeologist, and a church adapted into a wellbeing venue. Groups from all the shortlisted entries were invited to attend the prestigious Historic England Angels Awards ceremony at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End on October 31.The winner of the Best Community Action Project award was Operation Nightingale, a project that used the help of (for the most part) wounded, injured and sick service personnel to excavate archaeological sites. As a result, two sites have been removed from the Heritage at Risk list, many of the soldiers involved have developed a love of archaeology and three have even become professional archaeologists. Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “The Angel Awards celebrate once again the unsung heroes of heritage. I am passionate that our heritage is protected, valued and enjoyed by all.”Fylde DFAS was shortlisted for the Best Research Project category for its excellent work at the Lytham St Annes Art Collection stored at the Fylde Council Town Hall in Lancashire. The Society was determined to save, share and better store the collection, one of the fi nest in the UK. Volunteers learned how to research and catalogue items, and even learned some museum curatorial skills to properly care for the collection. An online and printed catalogue was produced, with images and information, making the collection fully accessible for the fi rst time. Now local people can better understand how important a resource it is and how central it is to the town’s culture and heritage. Florian Schweizer, Chief Executive of NADFAS, commented: “We congratulate Fylde DFAS and all the groups nominated for the Angel Awards.” ■Above: Filming for the Fylde DFAS Angel Awards entry. Geoff Willets from Fylde Council and fi lm producer Darren Andrews (seated) are shown with (from l–r) three members of Fylde DFAS: Jacqueline Love, Margaret Race (also Chair of Friends of Lytham St Annes Art Collection), and Veronica McDonnell, researcherImage courtesy of Gerard Curley.24 NADFAS REVIEW / WINTER 2016 www.nadfas.org.ukANGEL AWARDS