The rewards of three years of fund-raising by volunteers in Mylor can be fully appreciated now that the newly restored and renovated Tremayne Hall is open for business.Lady Mary Holborow was invited to officially unveil the new community centre and was joined by dozens of people keen to see what is now on offer.

It was in December 2004 that the management committee launched a fund-raising campaign to find the £800,000 needed to restore the hall and create a facility for the whole community. It wasn't too long before the campaign received a massive boost when the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the project £339,000 towards the restoration of the Grade 2 listed building and the creation of the Mylor Archive Centre within it.

Major grants for the new entrance hall and education room were awarded by Cornwall Enterprise via the Rural Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Partnership; money for the construction came through the Rural Renaissance Initiative; the Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities scheme provided cash for educational equipment and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts contributed towards the stage, curtains and backstage facilities.

Other major awards came from Pennon Environmental Trust, Cory Environmental Trust, Garfield West, Viridor Management, Mylor Parish Council, Mylor Yacht Harbour, Biffaward Environmental Trust and Awards for All.

That, added to the money raised by the villagers themselves through various events, enabled the project to be completed.

The opening ceremony was a village party and saw young and old turn out to join in the festivities. Children from the village school sang and played instruments and also handed over a time capsule to Martin Quick, of the builders. The contents of the capsule reflect life in Mylor in 2007 and much of it was collected by the children themselves.

"Such is the standard of restoration work that it could be a hundred years before the hidden box is re-discovered," said trustee, Val Jeans-Jakobsson.

"The architects, Scott and Co, have preserved the character of the hall while adding modern facilities and bringing it into the 21st century. Extra smaller rooms have been added which will make the centre more flexible and financially viable.

"The last pieces of the jigsaw are coming together and apart from some finishing touches, all that remains is for everyone in our large and varied community once again to use and enjoy the building that has played a big part at the centre of Mylor for about 180 years."

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