Playsite opening gets up to speed
Speedway stars, past and present were the guests of honour at the weekend opening of the new Blythburgh playsite. Rohan Tungate, of the Ipswich Sacker Witches and team promoter, speedway legend John “Tiger” Louis, were kept busy letting children – and adults – sit on Rohan’s racing bike.
Australian-born Rohan holds five Australian and eight New South Wales State Titles (long track and dirt track) and came to the UK in 2011 to build a career in speedway, signing for the Witches earlier this year.
John Louis started his speedway career in Ipswich in 1969 leading the Witches through the golden years of the seventies, going on to represent his country.
Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey, County Councillor Rae Leighton and Suffolk Coastal Councillor Michael Gower joined local residents and children to celebrate the opening of the new playsite tucking into a picnic tea with cakes and ice cream provide by Blythburgh Parish Council, which owns the site.
The £16,000 site was financed by a £10,000 award from the BIG Lottery Fund, Suffolk, together with grants from the Blythburgh Latitude Trust, Suffolk Coastal District Council and Councillor Leighton’s locality budget.
David Tytler, chair of Blythburgh with Bulcamp and Hinton Parish Council, said: “Thankfully the rain held off and there was a good turnout of children, their parents and grandparents. We are grateful to the Ipswich Witches who brought a touch of excitement to the afternoon and, of course, to all those who supported the project financially.
“The playsite is already proving popular with children in the village and those who visit us on their holidays. If the opening was any guide, adults are also keen to get on the new equipment. The council is now looking at the possibility of introducing adult equipment.”
Pictures by Alan Mackley show Local MP Therese Coffey with RohanTungate and John Louis and with Blythburgh parents and children at the opening.
Visit the Village Shop to see a collection of pictures from this and other Blythburgh events. Free copies can be sent to you by email by clicking Request Pictures and quoting the picture number(s). It is not possible to provide prints.