THOUSANDS of Oakridge residents celebrated the 20th anniversary of their community centre in style with a big event.
Oakridge Hall For All was opened in 2002 after it replaced a smaller building.
On Saturday, September 3, the community gathered in and around the hall to celebrate the anniversary with pop-up gazebos, raffle, bouncy castles for kids and many other attractions.
Maria Miller MP, Basingstoke and Deane Mayor Cllr Paul Miller and mayoress Sandra Miller were among the guests.
Cllr Laura James, who was one of the main organisers of the celebration and the chair of the hall, said it was absolutely amazing to see people gathered together to mark the anniversary.
“This is a celebration of the hall. Oakridge is a great place to live and we are here to celebrate what it means to us. It is really a happy time,” she said.
Cllr Paul Harvey said it was wonderful to celebrate the anniversary of the beginning of the Oakridge regeneration.
He said: “When we built the community centre 20 years ago, it was the first part of the whole regeneration of Oakridge. I can’t believe it's 20 years – where has it gone?
“The whole community enjoyed the day. It was school holidays and hence lots of people came over and had a good time. This is Oakridge and this what we really are.”
Among the shops, organisations and people part of the celebrations were Elaine Perkis and Maureen Della-Savina, who have been holding coffee mornings at the centre on Fridays; Helen Jeffrey and Eleanor Jeffrey who have a craft store; Timbers Nursery; fruit shop by Shirley Bishop and Jannette King; pop-up charity shop by Debbie Isley; restaurant by Jenny; Basils Farm; Helen from RCS Ltd; RMD Adventure Learning; Musicality Station; face painting by Caroline; Henna & Rangoli by Jini Cherian; Debbie Reavell representing Basingstoke Heritage Society; and Southern Bars owned by Pete Francis and run by Colin and Martha, among many others.
Among the other attractions was a free bouncy castle donated by Gavin Taylorson, a balloon workshop by Becky, representatives of British Legion Riders’ branch, Basingstoke Sixth Scouts group and a raffle.
Cllr Miller picked the winners of the raffle.
To see more pictures from the event, click the top image.
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