Daphne D’Ark Playpark is opened

Children of Howden were out in force on Saturday August 1 for the grand opening of the Daphne D’Ark Playpark at the Ashes.

The development cost more than £70,000 and its opening is the culmination of more than a year of work from the Ashes Playing Field Trust and Groundwork.

The playpark follows a design chosen by children of the town after visits to the infant and junior schools, as well as Maxi’s Out of School Club.

The park was named after former Ashes Trust committee member Daphne D’Ark, who was nominated as a Howden Town Council representative and spent a decade contributing to the running of the site.

Daphne worked as a copy co-ordinator at the Press Association until her retirement in 2009.

The park was opened by Daphne’s son, Liam Fletcher, after a speech from Ashes Trust chairman Chris Dalton.

As well as members of the Ashes Trust committee, the ceremony was attended by Cllr Hugh Roberts, chair of Howden Town Council and Paul Varney from the Groundwork charity who was thanked for helping secure funding for the facility.

Barbara Abbott, board secretary of the Ashes Trust, said: “Daphne had been on the Ashes Trust committee since June 2005 when she was nominated via Howden Town Council, and was very generous over the years.

“She helped at our regular fundraising events in all weathers, manning the cake and jam stalls or tombolas.

“She worked locally at the Press Association and sometimes would go in to work an evening shift after a day on Ashes matters.

“She was a key member of the committee right up to her death and we felt it a fitting tribute to name the play area after her.”