A COMMUNITY centre will be celebrating four decades of being open later this year with a family fun day.

The 40th anniversary of the Rucstall Community Centre in Black Dam, will be marked on September 2, with a fun day which organisers are appealing for as many people as possible who have used the community centre over the years to come and celebrate with them.

Generations of local residents have used the facilities that are available at the site, including playgroups, dance classes, fitness groups, and the members club.

The present committee at the centre wants to trace as many of its past members and users of the centre as they can for a reunion.

Although, those who live in the area and have not had a chance to visit the site yet, are still welcome to join in the celebrations.

The event is being organised by former manager of the centre between 1999-2003, Kym Frederick and her daughter Chloe. Kym said: “We’ve been delighted with the response from local people so far and thrilled to have made contact with a good number of former members of the centre who have moved away from Basingstoke.

“It will be a special occasion and a chance for a new generation of young people to enjoy the facilities provided by their own community centre. I hope they will get as much joy from the Rucstall Centre as I have over the years.”

The country-themed fun day is partially a tribute to the centre’s long term chairman, Barry Lewendon who died in January this year. He was an enthusiastic lover of country and western music.

The family fun day will begin at 3pm with cowboyinspired team games and a barbecue. Chloe Frederick is a contemporary country singer and she will be performing with her mum Kym the DJ, who will be travelling from where she now lives in Wales to provide music for the whole day and evening which will continue inside the club until late.

The organisers have also planned some surprises for the day as well as some outdoor activities, including a treasure hunt and a water pistol shootout.

For more information, search for Rucstall Community Centre on Facebook, or e-mail Kym at kymfrederick@gmail.com.