It's taken almost 10 years to get to this point. I am very proud of the part I played in the project in the early days, putting a document together and getting planning permission for the new building. That was in the days that I was a trustee of the Memorial Playing Field.
I eventually ran out of energy for that role and pulled back after receiving threats to myself and my family when I spoke out against an all night "music festival" being held on the park. Actually the organisers said it would finish around 11 pm but we had out doubts both about the finish time and the event itself. So it didn't go ahead. But let's leave that and move onto the pavilion.
For many years we have had an old antiquated brick building that hasn't been fit for purpose. I once got into trouble (I seem to get into trouble a lot) for referring to it as "a s---hole." But that's exactly what it is.
Anyone who has used the changing rooms there or had to put 50p in to get a cold shower will know what I mean. The kitchen was small and the whole thing completely unsuitable for a village like Hethersett. In the early days we went to see a number of facilities in much smaller villages like Belton, East Harling and Freethorpe. They had wonderful facilities to be proud of and we had a s---hole.
So something had to be done. For one reason or another it has taken 10 years but now the parish council is driving the project and it's about to become a reality and something the village can be proud of rather than ashamed of. There will be modern sports changing rooms, a fully fitted kitchen and a community room. With our population continually expanding there never seem to be enough facilities for groups and so this will enhance what we do as a village.
Over the years the existing building has suffered many bouts of vandalism and I was involved in a project with Norfolk Police many years ago to stem this. I won't pretend that it doesn't still go on but everyone is hoping that it will stop once we have a brand new building. I think the view in the past was "that building is such a s---hole it doesn't much matter if we rip some guttering off."
I hope that a well used community building will put the vandals off. Of course there will be some pain before we get the gain. The existing building has to be pulled down and a new one put up and connected to all the services which will be no mean achievement. Initially we did look at incorporating the old building into the new but this wasn't practical. It all starts on August 14th when the old building will be fenced off ahead of work starting to demolish it. I will be there regularly with my camera to make a pictorial history of how the new building came about. It will take until next Spring but it will all be worth it. It will even increase the number of car parking places which should take some vehicles off the roads during events.