Blandford Parish Centre Finally Opens

After decades of hoping, 7 years of planning, 5 years of fundraising and one year of building, Blandford Parish Centre became a reality and opened for business with a Grand Opening, a Parish Party (with fireworks from the Church roof) and a Celebration and Consecration service ... a weekend to remember! Becky video'd the fireworks - Click here to see them on YouTube! Press Reports: Bournemouth Echo - Click here to read about Jazmine, who helped open the Centre. Bournemouth Echo - Click here to read about the Opening. Western Gazette - Click here to read about the Opening. Inspire Magazine - Click here to read about the Opening.

The Preparations ...

A week of preparation involving a lot of prayer (!) and an enormous amount of work by lots of people, including getting the ribbon straight and much, much more!

The Grand Opening ...

At 2.30pm, the Grand Opening took place with the Mayor, Local Councillors, Head Teachers and all the "great and good" of Blandford. The Band of the Royal Signals played while we were waiting, followed by speeches by the Rector (who spoke about the history of the Rooms that stood on the site and the principles behind the project, Gail DelPinto, who, as Chair of the Steering Group, had overseen the planning and building work and Kevin Humphries, who outlined the eco-friendly aspects of the project. Finally it was time to cut the ribbon and with a fanfare from the signal band, 100 year old George Campion, the oldest resident of the town accompanied by 4 year olds Langley Weight (Archbishop Wake Primary School), Jazmine Andrews (Milldown Primary School) and Alfie Dade (Downlands Primary School) declared in a loud voice that the Centre was open ...

The Parish Party ...

At 4.30pm, the Parish Party took over with a sumptuous Bring'n'Share meal, a Quiz and kids activities, with 44 Jazz playing in the background. England v Ireland was on in the background, too, though every time Tim prayed, Ireland seemed to score. A few speeches and some big Thanks to the Hall Steering Group later, and it was time to go and look at the Church roof with a rather wonderful (but brief) firework display ...

Click here to see photos of the inside of the Centre and its construction.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this such a wonderful day!

Thanks to David Crompton and Thelma Green for the pics