AFTER years of determined fundraising, the splendid new Whitchurch Village Hall was officially opened by former West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett and his wife Billie last Saturday. Mr Burnett paid tribute to the outgoing chairman of trustees Dick Spackman and village hall stalwart Kit Thomas who had worked tirelessly to bring about the hall, plus the community which had thrown its weight behind the project. ?They raised a phenomenal amount of money and gave an enormous amount of precious time to ensure we have a new hall. They didn?t do it for themselves, they did it for future generations who will owe them a debt of gratitude for ever,? said Mr Burnett. The £207,000 project was initially started in 1987, under the stewardship of the then chairman of trustees, the Rev Ivor Morshead. It was the subject of four failed bids to the National Lottery ? but a tremendous community effort eventually saw the new building take shape on land bought by the trustees opposite St Andrew?s Church. The bulk of the funds came from the sale of the site of the old hall ? but at Saturday?s ceremony Mr Spackman paid tribute to the determination of local people in seeing their new hall finally open. ?We raised £77,000 from the community, which I think is absolutely fantastic,? he said. ?I think it?s brilliant and everybody can be proud of what they achieved.?
