A TALE of goodwill and kindness has meant that a local primary school has a new space at its heart.

A new learning space full of adventure with a quiet room has been opened at Yeoford Primary School, made possible by people’s generosity in funding and time. 

This is the library that used to be a kitchen, transformed by members of the Parent Teachers Friends Association.

Headteacher Robin Scott said that this had only been made possible due to the incredible support of the local community. 

He added that parents had donated their time and completed everything from painting a mural and the walls, making benches to laying carpet. 

“We are a small school with only 66 children and the library space is only small but perfectly formed,” he commented.  

“Special thanks to the parents and PTA members who volunteered their time to help bring this amazing project together. 

“Our local bookshop, The Bookery, helped us in filling the bookshelves in exciting new texts,” he added.

The library was officially opened by author Philip Reeve and illustrator Sarah McIntyre when they cut the red ribbon across the library doorway at the end of a visit to the school on Thursday, March 23 when they read extracts from their new book published this month - “Adventure Mice Otter Chaos”. 

The book has been described as “superbly silly, highly endearing and rip-roaringly funny”.

Pupils also took part in creating a story, with Sarah adding the illustrations for that.  Both Philip and Sarah are Patrons of The Bookery at Crediton.

A generous donor made it possible for each of the younger children to be given a copy of “Adventure Mice”. 

The mural on one wall of the library was painted by PTFA member Rebecca Belcher.  It includes a creature for each of the school’s three classes - a bumblebee, a fox and an owl. 

With Sarah and Philip was Cathie Holden, co-ordinator of the school team at The Bookery in her volunteer role. 

Helen Ticehurst, co-chairman of the PTFA, said: “The amazing thing was that so many people gave their time for free, it was a real team effort.”