Lincoln's lost plaque honouring Samaritans pioneer found in garden shed

The plaque was found in a garden shed and handed in on Wednesday

A commemorative plaque honouring the founder of the Samaritans has been found in a garden shed, more than four years after it went missing.

The plaque was lost in 2018 after the former theological college where the Rev Chad Varah studied in Lincoln's historic quarter was turned into flats.

It was handed in at the council offices on Wednesday following an appeal by local historian Paul Hickman, 72.

"This important piece of our heritage is back where it belongs," he said.

Mr Hickman, a retired head teacher from Branston, first learned it was missing when he was putting together a plaque trail celebrating important local figures.

Since then, he said he had repeatedly contacted the local council and the property developer in a bid to trace the missing plaque.

Local historian Paul Hickman said he was delighted the plaque had been found

According to City of Lincoln Council officials, the plaque was found in a garden shed belonging to one of the property developers, and handed in on Wednesday.

It would now be returned to the management company that runs the development to have it reinstalled, they added.

Commenting on its safe return, Mr Hickman said he was delighted that it could now be included in his trail.

"Lincoln's commemorative plaques are an important part of our heritage in helping us to remember important people and local figures," he said.

"The trail is vital as I wanted to ensure these pieces of our heritage are recorded somewhere, because if they are not, what will be lost next?"

Dr Varah started the organisation with one telephone line and took its first call on 2 November 1953

Earlier this month, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in Dr Varah's birthplace.

The plaque at the station in Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire, marks 70 years since he took the charity's first phone call.