Member Article

Skegness schoolchildren bury keepsakes in celebration of new £1.6million community building

Youngsters from The Viking School, Skegness have buried handpicked items alongside heartfelt letters in a time capsule within the centre of the town, marking the construction of the eagerly awaited new Tower Gardens Community Building.

The time capsule burial was organised by Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson, who are delivering the design and construction of the new community building via the Scape Regional Construction framework, for Skegness Town Council.

The ceremony took place within the grounds of Tower Gardens on Wednesday 30 October, with representatives from G F Tomlinson, Skegness Town Council and the Mayor of Skegness in attendance, as well as key project team members and both pupils and staff from The Viking School.

Letters composed by the pupils detailing why they love Skegness and describing what they believe the future has to offer for their town have been included within the capsule alongside modern-day items they believed represented the proud history and heritage of their coastal hometown.

Two iconic pin badges were also donated by Skegness Town Council; one depicting the well-known Jolly Fisherman, and another being a former mayor’s pin badge featuring the town council’s crest.

The time capsule will now be left untouched for 100 years, before future generations are able to unearth its contents and discover the treasured items preserved for them by the community of Skegness over a century ago.

The time capsule was delivered by G F Tomlinson as a way of celebrating the exciting development currently under construction within Tower Gardens. The £1.6 million project is due for completion in early 2020, and will create a centrally located, mixed-use community building which is fully accessible and safe for local residents of all ages and abilities.

Residents from the local area have been involved throughout the community-focused project, from the design process through to a lucky competition winner’s entry being selected as the new name for the building. The Tower Gardens park is deemed an important and integral location for the local community in Skegness, with a vast heritage spanning 140 years. The new development will pay tribute to the history of the site and former pavilion building, as well as bringing a new lease of life to the park and creating a safe and modern mixed-use space for all to enjoy.

The development of Tower Gardens Community Building is the latest investment as part of the town council’s vision for Skegness as a forward thinking, vibrant town known for its community feel and a positive choice of location to live and raise a family.

The vibrant seaside town first became a holiday hotspot in the early 1900s, and has grown to become a premier resort with year-round tourist attractions, a range of commercial interest, job opportunities and well-rated further education colleges.

Craig Stopper, Framework Construction Manager at G F Tomlinson, said: “Works at Tower Gardens are progressing exceptionally well, and we are drawing closer to the long-waited completion of the building early next year. The park itself has a rich history within the town, and we are proud to play a key part in this and start a new chapter in its story by constructing a building that will further enhance the park and become the go-to centre for local people and visitors alike.

“The time capsule is the perfect way to mark the development and celebrate the construction with local schoolchildren who will benefit from the facilities in the future. We look forward to its completion and seeing the positive impact the new building will have on the area once complete.”

Councillor at Skegness Town Council and Town Mayor, Mark Dannatt, added: “Skegness Town Council would like to thank The Viking School for its support in filling of our time capsule which will be buried to recall this time when our new Community Building was built. With each passing day the building gets closer to completion and as time marches on changing everything around, this time capsule will capture a special moment for us to remember.

“This time capsule will give the opportunity for future generations to remember Skegness, the people living here and the things that are important to our young people. Hopefully, future school pupils will be able to use what it contains for their social history studies.”

Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “We’re proud to be supporting Skegness Town Council to regenerate and revitalise the heart of the local community at Tower Gardens, with this fantastic new multi-use building. By delivering this important project via the Regional Construction framework, Skegness Town Council will receive a high quality building that can engage the local community for generations to come.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Eloise Cantello .