WHEN thousands of homes sprung up in south Yate in the 1970s, there was nowhere for their new owners to go. Neighbours had no place to meet and there was no hall to for this new community to start laying down its roots. Amid concerns that husbands would end up down the pub and wives would go their separate ways, Shire Way Community Association was formed and the campaign for a centre where families could enjoy time together was launched. Ali Dent looks back on 25 years of family nights out and social club fun.

AS the divorce rate rose dramatically in Yate during the 1970s, new communities did not sit on their laurels.

Determined to help save marriages and build a tight-knit community everyone could be proud of, a few conservative residents in the sprawling housing estates off Shire Way put plans in motion that would shape the future of their neighbourhood.

Derrick Marsden, inaugural chairman of Shire Way Community Association when it formed in 1980, said: "Yate had a reputation for a lot of marriage break-ups and wife swapping.

"The reason being that husbands and wives went out separately most of the time.

"So our aim was to make a facility available for couples and their children to go out together. It was to avoid the need for one to go out without the other and I think it was a good thing."

Developer Heron Homesteads built much of south Yate, turning it into the largest private housing estate in all of Europe at the time.

Local residents fought tooth and nail with the company to save land at Rodford, adjacent to Westerleigh Road, for a community facility. But they lost their appeal and instead Heron donated a 13-acre site on Shire Way to the public.

The community association convinced Northavon District Council to run the site, and after months of fundraising, Shire Way Community Centre opened in May 1984.

It was officially unveiled by then chairman of the district council, Cllr Turvey, during a ceremony attended by hundreds of members of the public.

Manager of the centre, Jo Rees, said: "When it opened Shire Way was probably about a third of the size it is now.

"We have extended various parts over the years and a major refurbishment was carried out several years ago.

"We run a very popular social club and have a whole host of groups which are based here, with everything from kickboxing to cross stitch and parent and toddler groups to pensioners’ lunches.

"We can also cater for weddings and are booking an increasing number of business meetings and conferences."

The centre boasts a large hall with a stage, social club and outdoor play area, function room for lunches, two activity rooms and a double skittle alley.

Mr Marsden, 70, who lives in Hardwick, said he would remain on the volunteer committee until land stretching to the nearby railway line is transformed into sports pitches and training facilities.

"We have been saying it will happen for 24 years," said Mr Marsden, who is now secretary to the committee and whose wife Ann provides catering for functions at the centre.

"We have had lots of frustrations over the years but I am hoping 25 years is a milestone for things to come right.

"We have worked so hard for it and now I want to stay until it is completed."

He added: "The community centre has survived 25 years serving a proven need so we have every intention of keeping it going for another 25."

A day of celebrations to mark the anniversary takes place this Sunday, June 7 with a car boot sale (9am-2pm) followed by an afternoon of family fun (2-6pm). There will be a barbecue, skittle competition, line dancing, salsa and kickboxing demonstrations, a bouncy castle and football, and stalls selling children’s clothes, books and cakes.

An evening of live music (6-11pm) will follow, with live bands Blue Storm and Dead Dodgy singing out 25 years of family entertainment.