Exmouth Community College officially unveiled its new £13 million building last month – named in honour of long-term college Governor Elizabeth Lee.

The opening of the building was marked by an evening of celebration which was capped off by an exhibition in the college’s new theatre by performing arts students.

The Elizabeth Lee Building’s exterior - The Royal Marine Band Lympstone introduced the evening with a performance from the Drum Corps before speeches were made by headteacher Mr. Davis and by Elizabeth Lee herself. Mr Davis praised Ms. Lee’s commitment to charity as an example that should inspire students to give back to the community. The dedication of the new building to Ms. Lee was seen as a fitting tribute to her quarter-century of devotion to the college.

The guests in attendance were further invited to tour the new facilities that are available to both students and the wider Exmouth community. The facilities were designed with the student experience at the heart of every decision – illustrated by the location of the library at the core of the building, which emphasises the importance placed by the college on literacy and on reading.

The new library - As a further part of the celebration of the building’s opening, Music and Drama students were invited to take part in workshops throughout the day and to perform at the ceremonial opening in the evening. Music students were treated to a discussion with members of The Royal Marine Band, who had recently performed as part of the Coronation celebrations. Drama students took part in a workshop led by the international theatre company La Navet Bete, learning about character development and comic timing.

Over 200 members of the community took part in the official opening of the new building, which was a testament to the dedication of Elizabeth Lee and of the college community. The college looks forward to welcoming parents and carers into the Elizabeth Lee building over the next few months.