Hawkesbury Community Centre Official Opening Programme"

Hawkesbury Community Centre, Mill Lane, Buckley

10 July 1982

COVER TEXT

Hawkesbury Community Centre

Official Opening Programme

At 3.00pm on Saturday, 10 July, 1982

Welcome Address by Mr Charles Duckworth Chairman BYPA

Opening Ceremony by Mr J.E. Messham, BA, St. Asaph

Vote of Thanks from Mr Andrew Forshaw Youth Club Leader

Seconded by Councillor Mrs E. Jones, Mayor of Buckley

Mucis by Royal Buckley Town Band

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PROGRAMME TEXT

LIST OF GROUPS BELONGING TO BUCKLEY YOUNG PEOPLE'S

CULTURAL ASSOCIATION

BUCKLEY CAMERA CLUB

BUCKLEY CHESS CLUB

BUCKLEY FOOTBALL CLUB

BUCKLEY SOCIETY

BUCKLEY THEATRE CLUB

HAWKESBURY BOWLING CLUB

HAWKESBURY LADIES GUILD

HAWKESBURY PRE-SCHOOL PLAY GROUP

HAWKESBURY VILLA FOOTBALL CLUB

HAWKESBURY YOUTH CLUB

TOC 'H' SOCIETY

The Story of the Hawkesbury Community Centre

The Headquarters of the Buckley Young People's Cultural Association

On May 24th 1944 a meeting was held at the Buckley Board School - pioneered by the Buckley Amateur Pantomime Company, and was attended by representatives of most of the local organisations in the town. The object was twofold - to set up an organisation to promote Cultural and Sporting activities, and secondly to raise funds to build or buy, a building as a Centre for the use of the many member groups, so that they may be sure of premises to pursue their many and varied, indoor and outdoor, activities. Its first officials elected that night were

the late Mr. Dennis Griffiths (Chairman), Mr. J.E. Messham. BA (Secretary) and Mrs. Lillian Wilcock (Treasurer) and they were backed by an enthusiastic committee, which was presented with a cheque for £500 from the Pantomime Company.

A BYPCA meeting held on October 10th 1944 was given a very pleasant surprise, which was reported by the Chairman, in which he told how he and eight members of the Committee had met privately and decided to buy Hawkesbury House - paying £3200 for same with the result that the meeting enthusiastically decided to take same over.

The Official Opening was performed on Saturday, July 7th 1945 by Lady Wyn Wheldon and this was followed by an address by Dr. Thomas Jones, CHLID. This event attracted a huge crowd of people, and was followed by a very large upsurge of activities of a cultural and sporting nature.

Two years later negotiations were started with the Salvation Army for the purchase of "hut", which they had used at Sealand Aerodrome during the War for Service Personnel stationed at the base. It was taken down, and re-erected on the Hawkesbury Grounds, and became known as the "Hawkesbury Hall" or "Little Theatre", and was officially opened on September 13th 1948, since which date it has been used by the Hawkesbury Groups, and all kinds of organisations ever since.

In 1967 - July - negotiations were completed for the sale of the Hawkesbury property to the County Council, the reasons for this being the fact that with a big drop in income and increase in expenditure this step had to be taken, the result being that groups continued to use the Centre as before.

The final chapter in the story started in 1972 when the Association felt that its premises had become inadequate,and that with the growing demand for facilities for cultural, and other activities it decided to approach Clwyd County Council to see if they could assist in the building of a new Centre. For ten years the Chairman, Treasurer and other officials took part in negotiations with the Authorities, during which time various schemes were worked out, but were never realised. In 1980 the New Centre was started, and completed in 1982 costing £60.000 which was contributed as follows: Alyn & Deeside District Council - £20,000 and BYPCA - £20,000 making £40,000 which sum was matched by the Department of Education and Science making a total cost of £80,000. A new Management Committee was set up

in accordance with the instructions of the Charity Commission and consisted of representatives of the three Local Government Authorities of the area, and representatives of BYPCA plus four Public Representatives. The New Centre opening date is July 10th, and the Opening Ceremony will be performed by Mr. J.E. Messham. BA.

Finally, a word about Hawkesbury House - this was the home of the Catherall Family who before, and after 1799/1800, when Hawkesbury House was built contributed much to Buckley - being local industrialists, education pioneers and religious dissenters - they had a great tradition, which in many ways "BYPCA" endeavoured and succeeded in continuing and maintaining in various ways.

Author: Hawkesbury Community Centre

Hawkesbury Community Centre Official Opening Programme"

Hawkesbury Community Centre, Mill Lane, Buckley

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