Olympic medallist to open clubhouse (From Wiltshire Times)

Olympic medallist to open clubhouse

9:14am Monday 14th May 2007 in News By Wiltshire Times Reporter

AN OLYMPIC bronze medallist will cut the ribbon at the opening of a new clubhouse in Frome next week.

Slalom medallist Helen Reeves will be at Frome Canoe Club on Saturday May 26 to officially open the new building, which represents a 10-year fundraising effort by members including many from west Wiltshire.

Celebrations on the day will start at 10.30am and will include displays of canoeing activities, canoe polo and canoe slalom.

More than £330,000 has been raised to make the new clubhouse dream come true.

This time last year the club was at risk of losing the large grant from Sport England and the British Canoe Union because it was still substantially short of the total amount needed.

It was only when local authorities and other organisations pledged money that the project was rescued.

The new building comprises a community meeting room, disabled facilities, a large boat store and two state-of-the-art changing rooms complete with under-floor heating.

Club members from yesteryear have been invited to the celebration and the club is expecting members from as far back as the club's inception in 1976 to be there.

Contact Pam Dixon on (01373) 473836 for more information.