THE number is finally up for one of Okehampton's longest standing and beneficial funding groups.

Organistions and individuals bid a sad farewell to the EX20 Lottery, which has been successfully running for the last ten years.

The final draw took place on Tuesday, June 1 at Okehampton Town Council offices, bringing to an end a lottery which has raised almost £120,000.

Co-administrator for the EX20 Lottery Wendy Raymond said: 'The number of members had fallen for various reasons and we had less than 300.

'We got to a point where the prizes we were handing out weren't as good as they used to be.

'We didn't want to get to a position where the numbers had decreased so much that we didn't have the money to give to the good causes.

'The decision was made that we would rather finish when there was money in the pot to hand out to the local groups of Okehampton, rather than run out of money.'

Mrs Raymond expressed special thanks to chairman of Devon County Council Cllr Christine Marsh, who founded the EX20 Lottery: 'Christine Marsh has championed the EX20 from the beginning — it was her baby.

'She has this passion to help people in Okehampton. I don't think people quite realise how much she does — she made it work.

'As a town we should thank her for what the EX20 has done over the last ten years.

'Without her vision and passion, I don't think we would have handed out the amount of money we have.'

Cllr Marsh said the lottery was set-up at the time when a new hospital for Okehampton was in the planning and there were demands from local, diverse organisations such as village halls, scouts, guides and Devon Air Ambulance for new sources of funding.

She told the Times: 'Partly, its closure is down to the economic times and the difficulty in promoting it. However, we wanted it to go out on a high because we just didn't want it to see it dwindle down to nothing.

'Some people have been paying in from week one and to them I am most grateful because without such people then the EX20 Lottery would not have been as successful as it was and given so much to the area.'

The lottery operation saw tickets on sale at £1 a week, although later an alternative subscription of £60 a year with additional draws was introduced.

At its peak it produced almost £100 a week to benefit local organisations, with 500 subscribers — however, that number has now reduced by a half.

Examples of those who have benefitted include village halls such as Whiddon Downs, Sticklepath and Sampford Courtenay with £1,000 grants, while the Battle of the Bands competition in Okehampton has also been supported by lottery proceeds.

Cllr Marsh expressed thanks to all those who backed the EX20, including lottery supervisor, Ian Bowkley, Okehampton Town Council for allowing the free use of its premises for the draw, the Times for publishing the results each week and the many newsagents, such as Ann Sanders in West Bridge, and post offices in the town and villages which sold tickets.

She assured people who had subscribed to the lottery that any monies remaining would be used to benefit local good causes.

She added: 'This is an area of not very high wages and there is no doubt that the lottery's success over the years is down to the good will and generosity of people in Okehampton and hamlets.'

Development activity manager for Okehampton Community Recreational Association (OCRA) Stuart Lord said: 'It's been a fantastic lottery and it is a real shame, but they are going out on a high.

'The EX20 Lottery has helped so many organisations and supported many groups in the local area to help them develop a wide range of activities.

'It has enabled a lot of groups to purchase equipment and it not only helped us with the sports and fitness festival — it actually helped us run the event.'

Treasurer of Okehampton Argyle Football Club Jim Burdus said: 'We've had a couple of contributions from the lottery which have gone towards new goal-nets and goal-posts.

'In the past on occasions when we've needed funds, they've been very helpful and donated to the club.

'It's definitely a shame that it's finished and I'm sure lots of local organisations will miss it.

'The football club is still running their own lottery, the 200 club, so if anyone wants to join, new members are always welcome.'

Geraldine Jury, chairman of Sourton Parish Hall, chairman and organiser of Sourton Open Produce Show, WI and Parish Council member, said: 'As I wear different hats in the parish of Sourton, I would like to say a big thank you to the EX20 team as they have helped the parish hall, the Sourton Produce Show, the Women's Institute and many more projects in the village of Sourton.'