04
Jun
Open day celebrates 45 years of Dene Park community centre
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In the summer of 1980, Harrogate Borough Council opened a community centre for residents on the new Dene Park estate a mile-and-a-half north of Harrogate.
Back then, Margaret Thatcher was in her first term as Prime Minister, West Ham were the FA Cup holders and Abba were riding high in the charts.
Much has changed since then, but the Dene Park Community Centre is still going strong, providing social activities ranging from bingo and tea dances to tabletop sales and trips to places such as Scarborough.
It provides a welcoming space where people from one of the more deprived areas of Harrogate can mingle, have fun and make friends.
This weekend, Harrogate mayor Councillor Chris Aldred will visit for an open day celebrating the centre’s 45th birthday.
The Stray Ferret went along to Dene Park this week to talk to centre users, who include two women who have been attending since the start back in 1980.
Ann Skinner, 85, recalls:
It was built for members of the estate. The council gave it to the people of Bilton to use as a community centre. Before then, the community had to use the hall at Woodfield school. People would bring a packed lunch and play dominoes and darts or have a whist drive. I come twice a week now and enjoy the company.
Pat Baxter (left) and Ann Skinner, who have been members for 45 years.
Activities are more structured now. The centre is used for keep fit on Mondays, bingo on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a St John’s church coffee morning on Wednesdays. Tabletop sales and other fundraising events are often held on Saturdays and a gospel church uses it on Sundays.
Organisers stage other events such as a pie and pies night and day trips, and the centre can be hired out.
The activities may have changed, but the centre remains the centre of Dene Park life for many residents, particularly older ones.
Pat Baxter, 91, used to attend with her mum when it opened in 1980 and has been coming since. She says:
I have loved coming here. I enjoy what we do. I don’t think a lot of people appreciate how important centres like this are.
The community centre
The centre now has about 75 members, who pay £1 to visit, which includes tea, coffee and biscuits. It costs £6 to play bingo and this is reinvested in the centre by committee members to maintain the upkeep of the building and organise trips. The committee also recently secured a grant from Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club.
Chair Jen Perkins said:
We’ve had new tables and chairs, a new boiler but there’s so much more we want to do — we’d like to get new flooring and a new kitchen. We are starting to get some younger members, one is just 19. Everyone is welcome.
Vice-chair Gerry McKenna adds:
The centre means a lot to the community. New people on the estate hear about it through word of mouth and come down and get to meet people.
Members pictured this week.
The open day takes place from 11am to 5pm on Saturday (June 7). Harrogate Fire Station, Saint Michael’s Hospice, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Harrogate Homeless Project and St John’s Church are expected to attend.
The value of the centre, and its warm welcome, is obvious from the moment you walk in. What will members do to celebrate in five years when the centre is 50 years old? "We'll go to Benidorm," jokes Jen.
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