A VILLAGE community centre near Crumlin which has been enjoyed by generations kicked off celebrations for its 50th anniversary yesterday.

Swffryd Community Centre, on Walters Avenue, Crumlin, was first opened in 1965 after residents in the mountain-top community, which then only had a church and a school, wanted a place to socialise in the village.

Since opening, the dedicated committee and volunteers have given a total of 130 hours each week to manage the project with all funds being raised themselves.

From the Saturday Morning Club, to the bingo sessions and a lantern procession, the centre has continued serving the community and now its volunteers want to celebrate the past 50 years with a year-long series of events.

Yesterday, from 1pm to 3pm, friends of the community centre old and new visited the centre and enjoyed music, refreshments and a golden egg hunt. 400 golden balloons, for each young person, were also released.

Den Hughes, who sits on the committee, said: “The centre is so grateful to the many individuals who have supported them over the years.

“We are appealing to all former members of the centre and the community who have made a contribution in any way to join in the celebrations over the next year.”

Mr Hughes and the committee are also hoping people will share special memories or photographs of events at the centre.

The community centre will be holding a celebratory event every month until the end of the year, with May seeing a community family party held complete with a fancy dress competition, disco and games and prizes.

On Saturday, June 27 “Swffryd’s Big Day” will be held, including a mammoth line up, including a bucking bronco, bouncy castle, martial arts display, ice rink, Olly Murs tribute, fun fair rides and face painting.

The community centre, whose volunteers manage all repairs and day-to-day administration itself, won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – or the “MBE for community groups” - in 2004, just two years after the award had been launched.

During the 1990s the centre began receiving funding from other sources, including the National Lottery, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Communities First, and the Heads of the Valley Fund.

Now the centre has a fixed weekly programme of sessions from toddlers to the elderly, including the junior club, day centre for senior members, indoor bowls club, dance classes and bingo sessions.

Mr Hughes said: “Over the years the centre has provided a real focus where it is accessible to all age groups in the community from pre-school to senior citizen, who can meet in a friendly and comfortable and quality environment.”