Nine-year dream turns into reality

12:50pm Saturday 11th October 2008

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Guides, Brownies and Rainbows, who have been ‘homeless’ for nine years, are finally to move into their new centre.

At the end of the month, the long-awaited Guide centre on the Coate road in Devizes officially opens, turning a nine-year-dream into reality.

It has been an uphill struggle for the Guides, Brownies and Rainbows since 1999 when they were given notice to quit the London Road Centre by Wiltshire County Council.

Since then the groups have been meeting wherever they can in the Devizes area, most recently in the Cadet Centre at the former Le Marchant Barracks.

A massive fundraising effort was launched in 1999 and a search was begun for a building plot for a purpose-built Guiding centre.

The idea was that the new centre would cater for the five groups in the Devizes area.

Landowner Jenny Combe donated a plot of land but a spoke was thrown in the wheel when Kennet District Council turned down a planning application to build the centre.

After an outcry from the local community, Kennet subsequently approved a second application.

Building eventually began last year and the finishing touches to the interior are being made ready for the official opening on Saturday October 25.

Ann Lovelock, chairman of the Devizes Guide Building Fund, said: “It has been a long haul but now we are nearly there. I can’t quite believe it.

“The new centre is beautiful and there is so much room inside.

“All five groups will be using the building so it will be in use most of the week.”

Guides, Brownies and Rainbows have all been involved in fundraising events over the last nine years and and have raised around £200,000, a sum which includes donations from local people and organisations like the Devizes Lions Club.

Mrs Lovelock has raised £12,000 from the sale of her own jams, marmalades and chutneys which she sells from charity stalls at community events.

The official opening on October 25 will be by invitation only but it is followed by an open evening from 5pm to 8pm to which everyone is welcome.

Mrs Lovelock has written to the Gazette to thank all who have contributed to the fund, both monetary donations and gifts in kind.

The shell of the new building was completed last November but it has taken the Guides, Brownies and Rainbows time to raise the additional money to furnish it.

Now it has all mod cons, including a hard-wearing floor covering.

As well as catering for local Guides, it will also host visiting troops.