Perranuthnoe Church Room
Grand Opening
Over 90 people turned out last Saturday to celebrate the Grand Opening of the newly refurbished Church Room in Perranuthnoe. The ribbon was cut by the oldest resident, 97- year old Miss Marie Vellenoweth, with help from the youngest, 10 week old baby William David Green. Two years ago the room was very cold, damp and crowded with no design features for small children, the elderly or the disabled. The refurbishment project has created a space that is now welcoming and inclusive, suitable for a wide range of community activities.
Miss Vellenoweth gave a momentous opening speech following something of a family tradition. Her Grandfather, William Vellenoweth, always known as ‘Bobba’, was Churchwarden and was the last person to have been married in the church before it was restored. His Son, William, Marie’s Father, was then the first person to be christened in that newly-restored Church.
Young William David Green is the son of Emma and Jonathan Green and Great-Grandson of Joe and Virginia Laity, another farming family from Perranuthnoe. With her commanding presence and bold voice Marie said ‘Today I find myself wondering what young William David Green will say perhaps some time towards the end of the 21st Century when his turn comes to cut another ribbon.’ Then, with a no-nonsense manner, Marie promptly snipped the ribbon and declared the refurbished Church Room open to all.
Residents filled the building, spilling out onto the lane to share memories, drinks and delicious snacks prepared by Andrea Robinson and her team.
The project group thanked all the members of the community who had freely given so much time, money and experience.
PROJECT FUNDING
This £30k project took two years to plan, fund and build. In February 1999 an interactive consultation event was held and 77 residents gave their detailed suggestions. Some ideas were acted upon immediately (summer furniture to go outside) and the rest sculpted the main refurbishment project. Half the funding came from grants (£10k from the Awards for All Lottery Fund, £5k from the Church and Community fund) and amazingly the other £15k was generated entirely by congregation donations and the Open Gardens fundraising team.
BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS
The £30k specifically paid for damp-proofing and rendering the walls, a new non-slip floor, built in cupboards, extra electrical sockets, a hearing loop, a new toilet suitable for the elderly & disabled, a baby-changing table and toddler toilet seat, an enlarged kitchen complete with a new cooker, an extractor fan, a fold-down serving hatch, a fire-escape stable door to improve ventilation, a new path from the kitchen direct to the outside seating area and redecorating throughout. Noticeboards are being ordered for the inside and the outside of the building. All these things were highlighted as priorities by residents in the original consultation event two years ago. The work was completed by Mike Berris’ local building firm ‘Home Works’.
NEW ACTIVITIES
As well as a thriving stitchers’ group, camera club, coffee mornings and church groups, several new activities are planned in Perranuthnoe.
Tom and Ben from Network Training Cornwall came to give computer advice and have agreed to run a Photoshop course. To join this course, residents should call Martin Holland on 710820 or martin.seawards@btinternet.com
Mira Love is offering yoga classes beginning on Friday 4th Feb with gentle yoga from 9:30-11am and chair-based exercises from 11:30-12:30. For more details, call Mira on 719352 or mira@miralove.co.uk
Pippa Young will soon be running an Art Club. Residents interested in joining this are encouraged to contact Pippa on 710475 or pippa@spydesign.demon.co.uk
Others expressed an interest in games nights, private parties and music practise. Residents with ideas who need help to establish a new group should contact Katie Kirk on 710907 or perranuthnoe@hotmail.co.uk.
The room is now available to all members of the community for £6 per hour / £12.50 per half day. Lettings Secretary John can be contacted on 711487 or perranuthnoechurchroom@hotmail.co.uk
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