16024/01GAZETTE & HERALD: AFTER eight years in the pipeline, Derry Hill playground has been finally declared open by the man who raised the first few hundred pounds.

Former villager David Ashe, who now lives in Eastbourne, ran the Boston Marathon in 1996 at the age of 73 to raise money for the playground.

On April 30 he returned to the Lansdowne Hall to officially cut the ribbon to open the new adventure playground.

Richard Aylen, secretary of the village hall association, said: "David Ashe saw the plans for a playground even before the hall was built here, and managed to raise £450 by running the marathon."

The equipment cost £7,000 most of it raised within the last year as this time last year there was still only £1,800 in the bank.

Mr Aylen said: "We've really pushed it in the last year and with various grants, a sponsored walk and table top sale we've got it up to £7,000.

"We are all absolutely delighted with the new playground.

"When we ordered it we just hoped the money would all be here in time. Everything fell into place."

He said Mr Ashe and his wife Doreen were delighted to return to their old home village.

"They were thrilled to be back in Derry Hill," he said.

"David gave a speech on why it's important to have a goal in life. He'd even composed a poem."