MEMBERS of Basingstoke Hockey Club and their families celebrated the club’s return to its former home with a family fun day, barbecue – and plenty of hockey.

Burgers and baps were served up at a social afternoon on the upper floor of Maidenwell Pavilion, Down Grange Sports Complex, Pack Lane, Basingstoke, where the hockey club has moved back in after six years of sharing facilities with Basingstoke and North Hants Cricket Club.

The tireless work of 60 volunteers, players and non-players over the past four months – including painting, cleaning, laying a new floor and sorting light fittings – brought the pavilion back up to scratch in time for the club to hold a family fun day. Existing members also welcomed anyone who wanted to have a go at playing hockey on the pitch.

Club chairman Miranda Smith, whose husband Mark managed the refurbishment, said: “Everyone has been fantastic because everything here has been done by volunteers.

“It was absolutely disgusting to start with and it had been broken into. We have managed to get as many materials donated as possible, and we’ve had a lot of help from Basingstoke businesses. Anvil Arts donated most of our furniture, tables and chairs and an old sound system.”

The club, which has about 180 members, held a thank-you supper and drinks for volunteers and organisations who helped to bring about the pavilion’s refurbishment. The hockey club originally left Maidenwell Pavilion because the rent and other costs became too expensive.

The site had been sitting empty until the club managed to negotiate a new rent with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Mrs Smith, who plays in the ladies second team, said: “The council have been great and they are really happy to see us back in here. Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletic Club members will come up and use the pavilion for meetings, and we are also encouraging other people to use it.”

She added that the hockey club aims to become more of a family club, and members have created a children’s area in the pavilion.

Selina Payne, 26, a ladies first-team player, said: “I grew up with the club, playing until I was about 15, and I came back four years ago.

“It’s great to move back to the pavilion. It brings back memories and makes us a closer-knit club. We want to get more new players and develop a community feel.”

The hockey club has one Astroturf and trains on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with matches on Saturdays and Sundays. More information can be found at basingstoke-hockey.com.