Some 200 guests celebrate the opening of the new station with music by Brotherhood of Man

Midweek Herald: Lyn Shears, Bruce Warnes and Jenny Nunn cut the cake. Picture: CONTRIBUTEDLyn Shears, Bruce Warnes and Jenny Nunn cut the cake. Picture: CONTRIBUTED (Image: Archant)

Seaton Tramway pushed the boat out to celebrate the opening of its new £3 million station.

The project, completed in June, was 10 years in the making and launched a new era for the East Devon Attraction.

To mark the achievement more than 200 guests were invited to a party in the new building.

They included local councillors, businesses, staff, project contractors and tramway friends.

Midweek Herald: Seaton Youth Drama Group who performed a scene from Bugsy Malone. Picture: CONTRIBUTEDSeaton Youth Drama Group who performed a scene from Bugsy Malone. Picture: CONTRIBUTED (Image: Archant)

Chief Executive, Jenny Nunn told the gathering: “After several years on the drawing board, I am proud to be stood here tonight to celebrate with you the safe delivery of a new station and the birth of a new era in Seaton Tramway’s long history in Seaton.”

Bruce Warnes, chairman of the board described the terminus as “an incredible space which is so much more than a building, so much more even than a tram station.

“There are many people, too numerous to thank each by name, but who I would like to extend my sincere thanks to for making this happen.”

The evening of music and entertainment ended with a guest appearance by all four original members of Brotherhood of Man – the Eurovision Song Contest winners of 1976 who delighted guests with their best loved hits.

Jessicakes provided a celebration cake, decorated with trams and scenery and topped with a re-creation of the new station in sugar icing.

The cake was cut by Lyn Shears, with help from Bruce Warnes and Jenny Nunn. Lyn and her late husband Trevor had a longstanding involvement with the tramway stretching back to 1977. Lyn pledged a very generous donation which helped solidify the new Seaton Station project.

As part of its Heritage Lottery Project ‘Travels through Heritage and the Axe Valley’ Seaton Tramway is working with local community groups and invited the new Youth Drama group for children aged eight to 15 years to perform a medley from their first show, Bugsy Malone.

Soloist Mason Castree delivered a set of wonderfully received Sinatra classics.

A spokesman added: “The night demonstrated perfectly just what the new station is capable of, from tram station by day and event space by night.”