$4M pledge for rebuild of Cathedral reaffirmed

An English businessman with strong connections to Christchurch and New Zealand has reaffirmed the $4 million pledge he made last year following February's catastrophic damage to the cathedral.

Hamish Ogston, who lives in London and has a business based in York, has already given generously to facilitate restoration of stained glass windows in York Minster, and was moved to make his substantial offer after seeing images of the cathedral which he had visited several times, with its steeple in ruins on the pavement.

Michael Norris, who lives in Akaroa, is a former business partner of Mr Ogston, and is involved in the campaign to restore the cathedral. He says 'Hamish, as a former chorister at Salisbury cathedral, has great empathy with buildings such as this, and sees his pledge, made to the Anglican church, and reaffirmed to Prime Minister John Key during a telephone call and subsequent visit to London last year, as being that of an enabler, in other words to kick-start a campaign for others to support.

Mr Ogston's pledge is to be used for the rebuilding of Christchurch cathedral.

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