Ninety year old George Richards, who have lived at his home at Treneere for over 60 years with his wife Nell, also 90, cut the celebration ribbon at the opening of a new community centre at the Penzance estate on Saturday (23 August).
Mrs Richards had lived at this 1930’s major housing development before marriage – and the couple are the oldest residents.“It is a dream come true” he told the many children and parents at the fun-day and barbeque party event at the ‘Col-Coombe Centre’.
He was a leader of the original Neighbourhood Watch group.“We talked about such a centre 25 years ago for the residents.Please use the facilities and take care of it” he remarked.
Well known for his association with his Duchy Cleaners firm in the town from over 60 years ago, Mr Richards played rugby for Penzance as a teenager and then with the Pirates in the immediate post-war years.His cousins were the famed Richards photography brothers and his father was a fish jouster at Newlyn.He has also been a dedicated Jehovah’s Witness for a half century and seen the congregation grow from 26 to over 110 today.
Debbie Sims of the Treneere Together Partnership was presented with a bouquet for her part in making the centre opening a reality and among those in support on Saturday were Caroline White, a Board member of Penwith Housing Association (PHA) and its Chief Executive, Andy Moore.
Debbie said that a survey two years ago showed that a community building was a priority.“The residents association worked tirelessly to get this centre.Although it is only a small building, if it proves successful we can look forward to a larger one” she commented.
Among the activities already taking place there are a ‘weight-management’ shape up Club, an art group, homework club, dance workshop and many social functions.
“We are always interested to hear from residents to see what they would like at the centre and welcome volunteers to come forward to help with the running of the building and to join the residents association” she added.“Today’s open day has predominantly been organised by three young people from the estate, Jason, Courtney and Yolanda.They run ‘Treneere Fun’ on a Wednesday afternoon, which is a toy loaning scheme for the young people of Treneere.They have worked really hard and are a credit to the youth of today”.
She thanked many others, the Treneere Partnership for the funding, Kate and Gill, PHA who had leased the land and the boys from CN4C, the Residents Association in seeing the project through “and to the people of Treneere who support us”.
