LAMERTON?S long- awaited new sports and community centre has been officially opened by Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford, during a celebration day in the village. The centre is the culmination of a ten-year dream by the Lamerton Parish Hall Committee which worked tirelessly to pull in more than £450,000 of grant funding along with fundraising for the project too. Locally, more than £70,000 was raised towards the centre which will provide a wide range of educational facilities for young and old, indoor and outdoor amenities for sports including badminton, table tennis, short mat bowls and skittles and a new home for village organisations such as the playgroup, WI and the senior citizens. Lamerton Primary School will be holding its sports classes at the centre and the new facility is also being used by other parishes in the area. As she unveiled a plaque to mark the opening, the Duchess of Bedford told invited guests, she felt privileged to be with them, particularly as the Bedford family had such a long association with the area. She added that she thought the new centre was lovely. Mrs Valerie Hill, chairperson of the parish hall committee, said she hoped the new centre would give the village a focal point. She told guests: ?It?s for everyone to use, to care for and to enjoy for the many years to come.? Speeches came from Cllr Michael Jefferies, Chairman of Lamerton Parish Council, David Incoll, in his capacity as vice-chairman of Devon Renaissance and mayor of West Devon Cllr Dennis Bater. The ceremony also included singing from the children of Lamerton Primary School. Funding for the project came from Lamerton Parish Council, West Devon Borough Council, DEFRA Rural Enterprise Scheme, Devon Renaissance, Devon County Council?s education department, the Community Council of Devon, BIFFA Award and Pennon Environmental Fund administered by SWEET UK and Barclays Bank.
