Room named after community stalwart in Swaffham

A long-serving community-minded man has been recognised with a room being named after him at a community centre.

The Iceni Partnership has dedicated its recently refurbished room to chairman Dennis Tallon, with board member John Ludlow on hand for the ceremony.

Mr Tallon joined the Iceni Partnership in 2003 as liaison manager, before becoming chairman in 2012.

The Tallon Room is set to be used three-days-a-week by Age UK for a befriending and hospital buddies service.

Iceni deputy manager Jonathan Reed said: “Dennis is very community-minded and has always instilled our need to be a sustainable charity.

“We are not reliant on grants like a lot of other charities are. Dennis has instigated business units behind Tesco in Swaffham which house local firms, and Swaffham and Litcham Home Hospice.

“That has brought in regular income as a financially sustainable charity and Dennis’ background as the former managing director of a large engineering firm has helped with that.”

On the recognition, Mr Tallon said: “ I see it with surprise and an honour. I joined the team that had received a grant to build a new community centre and to refurbish the Assembly Rooms.

“They needed someone with business experience to help oversea the projects. The Iceni is thriving despite the pandemic, of the original six partnerships formed at the time, only the Iceni Partnership and Keystone in Thetford remain.”

Mr Tallon and his wife Pam have also spent a good hour every day of the week, re-distributing food from Waitrose for the community fridge. He has been active with the Swaffham Lions community group in the town over the years.