4:28pm Friday 17th August 2012
By Kate Banks
A FLIXTON community centre is celebrating 50 years of history at a luncheon event for its members at the centre on Sunday, August 19.
Shawe Hall Community Centre first opened its doors in 1962 and its secretary and lease holder, Sue Staniforth, actually became a member of the youth club that year as a 17-year-old.
“For the people in the community it’s just a home from home,” said Sue.
“It’s a local community centre that hasn’t lost its community spirit. Everyone comes and goes and everyone knows everybody.”
The hall is constantly in use, with yoga, dance, Zumba, scrabble, soft furnishing and many more clubs meeting there every week. In fact 600 people come through its doors weekly.
While the Zumba club has only been running at the centre for a couple of months, the panto group began in 1967 and Esther Froggat (pictured) was a founding member.
To celebrate, Sue has put together a history of the centre, complete with photos, records and old show programmes, which will be available to view on the day.
Though very little has changed to the building’s exterior in 50 years, the centre underwent a major revamp at the beginning of the 2012, and now has a new kitchen and complete disabled access.
“There’s going to be 115 people here on Sunday and we just wanted to do it for the members really because they love it,” said Sue.
The members’ luncheon begins at 12.30pm and will end at approximately 6pm.
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