WHAT a ‘Black Letter Day’ it was for Tavistock when the shutters were put up at the Old People’s Rest Room. 

They left us not only with a derelict high street frontage but a lot of much lonelier people who could no longer meet friends or family for a catch up, a reasonably priced cuppa but most importantly company. 

Probably the only time that week, possibly month, they had the opportunity to talk to another human being.  On the other hand, as in my case, a carer had a few hours respite from taking care of relatives. 

My husband and I had both our mothers living with us full time.  No matter how much you may love them you need some time to yourself and the Rest Room gave that to many of us. 

I hope for their sake that the owners of the Rest Room don’t have a lonely old age or end up carers 24-hours-a-day.  But I expect as they can afford to leave a property to fall about their ears like the Rest Room is, they can afford to pay for carers, a taxi, day care, residential home etc.   Lucky them, no, perhaps not, as they  haven’t got the heart to understand what the Rest Room means to a community like ours. 

I wish the committee God speed in their efforts. I’m not far away on wanting those same facilities so I hope they succeed even if it ends up in another building, hopefully in the town centre.

Does Tavistock have a generous benefactor out there somewhere?       

Chris Harrap

I WISH Cllr Ewings and the supporters total success in finding premises and personnel to replace the splendid commemoration of the present Queen’s Coronation.

It should be pointed out, however, that it was built on land leased – not owned by – the town council. It came under the control of Huntstrete Estates when the owner of the Congregation Church, now the United Reform Church, sold their magnificent high-spired church for demolition.

Unfortunately the church’s estate department did not offer the town council the freehold of the plot upon which the hall was built. The peppercorn rent previously paid by the council then was paid to the new owner.

The congregation of the church does not appear to have objected to the inclusion of the plot of land in the sale. The council paid the rent until the lease expired.

Then Huntsrete Estates offered renewal on the payment of 50% of commercial rent increasing to 75% after five years. The council could not accept those terms and so the plot of land and the rest room fell to the owner.

The church and property owner displayed and the owner continues to display total disregard of the loyal sentiment that gave rise to the creation of the well appointed social centre that was the rest room.

Would the former tourist information centre at Court Gate be a sufficiently commodious substitute?

G Kirkpatrick

I AM sure I join with the majority of people in Tavistock and area to support the opening of a Rest Room preferably on its original site. 

Let us not forget that this site was gifted to Tavistock by the then Congregational Church, built by public subscription. 

Many I know wonder how it was sold to Hunstrete Estates.  Is there not anyway that they have to maintain the state of the building?   It encouraged the older people to shop locally and after meeting with their friends to catch a bus outside. 

Let us do everything possible to bring this building back to what is was intended, showing the caring community that is Tavistock. 

We are extremely fortunate to have the facilities of The Anchorage Centre, so let us all stand together to see this happen. 

Eileen Hooper