Award-winning artist Grayson Perry was the guest of honour when relaunching a community shop on Saturday.
The acclaimed Turner Prize winner cut the ceremonial ribbon as Wrabness Community Shop held a launch party following three months of renovation work.
The community shop moved from the old site in Station Road to the newly converted bungalow in Black Boy Lane after a £10,000 grant was provided by Tendring District Council’s Big Society Fund and a share scheme was launched earlier this year.
It raised more than £130,000 for the purchase and conversion of the new premises.
Kati Vardon, a member of the shop’s management board, said she was “delighted” the acclaimed artist agreed to be the special guest, adding he delivered a “great speech” about the importance of having a “sense of community”.
Mr Perry has close links with Wrabness having been commissioned by Living Architecture, a not-for-profit holiday home rental company, to build a house overlooking the River Stour close to the community shop.
The shop now boasts a café bar.
“It will be popular with the permanent residents and visitors to the river-side village,” she Mrs Vardon
“The relaunch party on Saturday went really well and we would like to thank Grayson Perry and everyone who attended.”
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