Suffolk Coastal District Village of the Year 2004 - Winner

Triple Celebration at Wenhaston

Lunchtime on September 18th saw the bunting out at Wenhaston Village Hall to welcome guests and villagers for a triple celebration to include presentation of ‘Village of the Year’ awards. But first, and before sitting down to a beautifully prepared and presented lunch, there was the formal ‘opening’ of brand new disabled toilet facilities at the Village Hall. Jean Wilson, representing wheelchair users, did the honours with the ribbon to a round of applause.

After lunch the Chairman of Wenhaston Parish Council, Graham Holt, spoke of the excellent spirit in the village which has resulted in Wenhaston being judged winner of the Suffolk Coastal District Council section of the 2004 ‘Village of the Year’ competition, and then subsequently placed as runner-up to Wortham in the County competition – by just one mark.

Trevor Hawkins, chair of Suffolk Coastal District Council, made the presentation of certificates and cheques to representatives of Grundisburgh (3rd place) and Wickham Market (2nd place). Graham Holt, on behalf of Wenhaston (1st place), was presented with a certificate, £200 and a silver cup. Wenhaston also won the Suffolk Wildlife Trust Environmental and Conservation Award of £100 plus a certificate. Wenhaston’s Suffolk County Council runner-up prize is a certificate and £350.

The Parish Council are considering ways to spend the prize money so that the maximum number of village people derive benefit from it. One idea is to provide the first of new comfortable chairs for the village hall in order to get this project up and running, but other ideas are welcome. Graham Holt then formally announced the launch of a Chair Appeal Fund. The Environmental and Conservation Award is not part of this scheme and will be used purely for environmental purposes.