Tributes have been paid to an East Huntspill fundraiser who was the ‘guiding light’ behind a major sports project in the village.
Roy Stenning, 79, raised thousands of pounds for the project to build a new East Huntspill Sports Pavilion, which is currently being constructed on the village’s playing field.
Roy was Chairman of the Sports Pavilion Committee and sadly passed away on Saturday after a period of illness.
Alan Beechey, a friend of Roy who is the Project Manager of the scheme, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Roy was there from the start and offered himself from day one. He performed the role so well, raising thousands of pounds for the project, some of which came from the sale of his own home-made jams and pickles.”
“He was widely-known locally as a real community-spirited person and will be greatly missed.”
Pictured at the project’s turf-cutting ceremony last August, Roy recently stepped down from the Chairman’s role due to ill health and was made honorary President to mark his strong involvement.
While he won’t be there to see the building completed, he will not be forgotten since its social room is to be called the ‘Stenning Suite’ in his memory.
Another friend, Ian Davey, added: “Roy was a real guiding light behind the project and brought lots of knowledge and experience with him. Everyone is really sad to hear he has passed away – he was a village icon.”
Saturday’s Huntspill Crowns FC game against Swindon Elite XI will be held a charity match to raise money in Roy’s memory. It starts at 11am in New Road.
Pictured: Roy Stenning at the East Huntspill Sports Pavilion’s turf-cutting ceremony last summer
