WELLINGTON SPORTS CENTRE PLAQUE UNVEILLED

WELLINGTON SPORTS CENTRE PLAQUE UNVEILLED

A plaque marking the role a late councillor played in the building of Wellington Sports Centre more than 30 years ago has been unveiled.
The plaque is dedicated to Maurice Jennings who was a member of both Wellington Town Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council and served as a councillor for more than 40 years.
He was chairman of Wellington Urban District Council’s sports centre committee which to decided to go ahead with the construction of the centre despite opposition and controversy surrounding the project.
The sports centre was officially opened in 1973 by Dr Roger Bannister who was the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes.
The unveiling was performed by Maurice Jennings’ widow Margaret who said she was sure he would have been pleased that his role had been recognised because he fought hard for the centre.
Chairman of the town council, Councillor Dave Mitton, said Councillor Jennings was not only remembered for his hard work for the town but also for his affection.
Councillor Ross Henley, a member of the county, borough and town council, said Councillor Jennings had been an inspiration to him as a young councillor.
Among those also attending the unveiling ceremony were Councillor Jennings’ son Michael and grandchildren Fin and Ruth, local MP Jeremy Browne, Taunton Deane Borough Council leader Councillor John Williams, TDBC leisure portfolio holder, Councillor John Clark, Councillor Nicola Wilson, a member of the borough and town Council and vice chairman of the town council, Councillor Peter Critchard.
Thanks were expressed to Wellington Town Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Tone Leisure for their help in organising the ceremony.
The plaque, which is sited on the wall on the right-hand side of the sports centre entrance hall, reads ‘Dedicated to Maurice C. Jennings a councillor for Wellington from 1961 to 2003, who as chairman of Wellington UDC Sports Centre Committee, was the driving force behind the building of the centre in 1973’.