County Council Grant
January 4, 2010 by Welwyn Hatfield Times
Filed under Latest News
Cllr. Richard Thake
PLANS for a village sports and community centre have moved a step closer after a cash grant from the county council. Richard Thake has given £1,000 toward the fund to construct the John Clements sports and community centre in Codicote.
The money has been allocated from Cllr Thake’s £10,000 locality budget
Cllr Thake, who represents Knebworth and Codicote, said: “This centre will play an important role in increasing the amount of sport played in the village and encouraging people to become more involved with village life.
“The centre will be named in honour of a local hero, John Clements.
“He was a teacher at Sherrardswood School in Welwyn, who received the George Cross in 1976 after rescuing pupils from a fire in which he died while leading a ski trip in Italy.”
Construction of the £1.7m facility is due to start in spring 2011
Project director Jim Park said: “With steady investment since the early 80s we have seen membership grow from under 100 to more than 500 villagers. Cllr Thake’s contribution will help raise awareness of this project and create funds for a publicity campaign to encourage more donations to the fund.”
Construction of the £1.7m facility is due to start in spring 2011
On 12th April 1976 John Clements was tragically killed while attempting to rescue children trapped in a hotel fire in the skiing resort of Sappada in northern Italy.
