BERE Ferrers? oldest resident and parish church congregation member performed the official opening of the new extension to the village?s church hall on May 16. Mrs Flo Friend, 94, moved to the village when she was 17 and recalled holding her wedding reception in the hall 73 years ago. The new extension includes a dedicated room for the weekly doctor?s surgery, indoor toilets and a main meeting room ? which has been named ?The Hazel Room? in memory of Mrs Hazel Grinstead, former verger and stalwart of the community. It is hoped future uses will include a toddler group and drop-in centre. The existing outside toilets have been redecorated, with one being retained for unisex use, and work is still needed to decorate the original hall, provide soft furnishing and reinstate the grounds, the work being carried out by a team of volunteers. The opening was well attended, with guests including the Archdeacon the Rev Tony Wilds, the Rt Rev John Ford, Bishop of Plymouth, the chairman of the parish council Cllr Bev Slaughter, former rector the Rev Alan Wakefield and builder Colin Scoble, of Kernow Construction Ltd. The rector, the Rev Nick Law, thanked everyone who had been involved in the project and the various organisations that had provided grants to fund the project, together with local fundraisers. Bere Ferrers Art Group held a two-day exhibition in the church hall to coincide with the opening, with 18 members providing approximately 50 works in various media. Local scenes of Bere Ferrers and Weir Quay were popular choices and land and seascapes sold well, as did floral subjects.