A CELEBRATION event was held to commemorate 25 years since the Buckland Monachorum Centre was opened. The self-catering centre, which sleeps 26 people, incorporating the former Baptist chapel, has provided accommodation for 25,000 young people since it opened. Young people aged from eight to 13 years old came to the centre for a series of events to celebrate the day. Organised by youth minister, Steve Campion, with a team from Mutley Baptist Church in Plymouth, there was a wide range of activities, including face painting, table tennis, a bouncy castle and a tug-of-war on the village playing field. Each participant received a bronze medal ? specially designed for the event by Dave Cox of Buckland and Mike Honey of Ivybridge. The medals were presented by guests, who included the Rev Philip Withers, the founder chairman, accompanied by his wife, Sheila, and the first secretary of the centre, Joan Ellis, now aged 83. Chris Potts of Whitchurch presented the centre with an historic brass memorial plaque to commemorate the five Sunday School scholars who died in the First World War. This was removed for safe keeping 25 years ago. Mr Potts said: ?I am delighted that at long last it will be restored to its rightful place.? Tom Maddock, the centre chairman, added: ?Buckland Monachorum Centre?s history is one of continuous Christian witness from 1850. ?Everyone worked enormously hard to celebrate that fact. We pray that the centre will continue to provide a place for young people to stay and be challenged by the gospel of Christ.?
