BURY will mark the Millennium by retracing the remarkable journey of a local pioneer who founded a Quaker colony in America more than 300 years ago.

The ambitious project is expected to cost around £500,000 and will involve dozens of young people from the borough sailing a twin-masted schooner to Woodbury, New Jersey. The journey could take three months, leaving in the spring of the year 2000.

Millennium funding should meet half the cost but the rest would have to be raised locally. A public meeting will be organised soon to canvass support and to recruit volunteer workers.

The man behind the bold bid is Shuttleworth builder Melvin Magnall who promised this week: "It is ambitious - but it will happen! The people of Bury will make it happen."

His idea has been inspired by the story of Quaker Henry Wood who lived at Brookhouse Farm - which still stands today - in Tottington before being imprisoned for his beliefs. After being released from Lancaster gaol in 1682 he sailed for the New World with his family to escape further persecution.

The Woods later founded a settlement near the banks of the Delaware River and named it Woodbury. Contact has already been made with the local council in Woodbury, who are enthusistic about the project, and in the next few weeks Melvin plans to fly out to meet community leaders.

He has the backing of a Millennium team in Bury which includes Bury Council chief executive Dennis Taylor and former Bury North MP Alistair Burt. They will concentrate their efforts on seeking official funding and the huge job of administration.

Melvin, former chairman of the Ocean Youth Club North West, was awarded the MBE last year.

He said: "The story of Henry Wood has fascinated me for years. I was going to charter a yacht with two or three friends and sail over there.

"But then I thought it would be good to get the whole town involved and that's what I'm doing. Schools, business, sporting organisations, the disabled, the unemployed... there is something in this project for everyone."

The chosen crew will sail aboard the "Phoenix", a 112ft-long, replica 1725 warship based at St Austell Bay, Cornwall.

The trip will climax with a street parade in Woodbury, led by a brass band and a delegation from Bury who will fly out for a week of cultural and sporting exchanges.

Chief executive Mr Dennis Taylor this week offered words of encouragement to Melvin.

He said: "We will throw our heart and soul into this. It is a splendid way to mark the Millennium."

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