Former Gordonstoun pupil, the Duke of York, will do the honours at Hopeman facility
Royal opening for skateboard park that united a village
Published:
A skateboard park that was accomplished through the joint effort of older and younger residents in a Moray community will have a royal visit at the end of this month when the Duke of York officially opens the facility.
Prince Andrew, a former pupil at Gordonstoun, will visit the Hopeman BMX and skatepark facility on Tuesday, May 27, for the official ceremony, marking the completion of a four-year project.
The fifth and final phase of the scheme was completed in October last year, bringing the total cost of the facility to £130,000.
Local pensioner Terry Brown, 69, was instrumental in getting the scheme up and running after speaking to local youngsters.
Complaints from residents about troublesome behaviour in the area prompted Mr Brown, a member of Hopeman’s Community Association, to speak to young people to find out how to improve the situation for everyone.
A committee was formed and members started fundraising with the help of the local community, businesses and sponsors.
Mr Brown, of Meadow View, Hopeman, said he was delighted that a member of the Royal Family would be visiting the skatepark.
He said: “We are totally over the moon, I was quite surprised really that he’s coming.
“We’ve had little openings for completing each phase, but someone suggested we should have someone to officially open the whole project.
“We’ve got over 500 life members now, some of the older ones have moved on but there’s always the younger ones joining, it’s like a rolling programme.
“The whole project has been great, and it’s brought the older generation and the younger generation together, instead of being separate.
“Everything has been really positive and the kids have been great.”
During his visit to the area, the Duke of York will also attend a business lunch at Glenfiddich Distillery at Dufftown, before travelling to Inverness to visit Eden Court Theatre and the Inverness Sea Cadet Unit.
