ST Giles recently celebrated the official opening of the newly built and refurbished community shop and Post Office, which was extremely well attended.

The cutting of the ribbon was carried out by Geoffrey Cox QC MP who said in his speech: “What a great achievement this has been to provide such a great facility for the community.”

He thanked all who had been involved by making grants available and to all who helped raise funds in many other ways to make this possible.

The event was also attended by James Jarroudi from Torridge District Council.

The shop and Post Office has been run from a cabin but was showing signs of work needed on it in 2016.

The shop committee looked at options of what to do and decided to do a proper job and build around the cabin and make the shop bigger and provide a new storeroom with a concrete block structure.

Plans were drawn up, planning applied for, which was successful, and an estimate of £35,000 was obtained to do the work. This was accepted.

Then the committee had to find the money. Luckily a grant of £25,000 was granted by Torridge Council’s new home bonus fund, which also granted a further £9,000 for fridges, etc. at a later date.

Cllr Peter Watson gave a contribution to the cost as did county councillor Barry Parsons from his councillor’s fund. The St Giles Parish Council gave a grant also and supported the project all through.

The rest of the money was raised by the community. The grants given will be very well used 364 days a year.

The building, will be owned by the community, but the running of the shop and Post Office is leased to Mrs S Fanson who has taken the shop and Post Office forward, which now employs three part-time staff.

With the builders’ expertise J and S Quality Build built around the old cabin, which was mostly demolished, and the shop and Post Office didn’t have to close as it’s so well used.

The shop committee chairman Ken Hamlyn gave thanks to Geoffrey Cox for cutting the tape and attending, all the grant funders, and to all the wonderful people from the community with all their help, both financially and supporting many fundraising events.

He said: “We have all in some way helped to make this project the success it is and I hope you will continue to support the shop and Post Office. If you are passing by, why not stop and have a look at the well stocked shop and Post Office services that are available to you — easy parking and free.”

The event them moved to Coronation Hall where everyone sat down to a well-laden array of food provided by caterer Pauline Hicks.

This ended a great day for St Giles and the community.