The stream of visitors, members of youth groups keen to get back into the centre, younger siblings, representatives of Marlborough College and many other donors like the Rotary, Lions and Strakers, Tesco, Santa Claus, the local police, supporters – lots of supporters, parents, town council staff and councillors – they came for the official unwrapping of the sparkling new Marlborough Community and Youth Centre.
They joined in the chorus for the evening: “Doesn’t it look wonderful”, “Haven’t they done a good job”…and so on…a unanimous chorus.
There was hot food and cold food, drinks for adults and drinks for younger thirsts. There was a disco on the shiniest badminton court floor you have ever seen.
During a brief pause in the disco music, the Town Mayor, Councillor Mervyn Hall, thanked everyone for their hard work and generosity.
And he urged the young people there to make good use of this revived facility – something the town needs so much.
Much of the event’s organisation was down to Deputy Mayor Lisa Farrell, who has led efforts to keep the youth clubs alive after Wiltshire Council closed the building and fought hard for the new Marlborough Community and Youth centre. She has been supported and assisted by several other councillors, friends and youth club members. As one councillor told her: “This is your legacy.”
This opening was a truly cross generational event – there were people there who had, much earlier in their lives, come to the youth club, there were present youth club users, there were former councillors and mayors, and there were the very young who will grow up with somewhere to go and have fun.
The Centre opens for youth club sessions and for the hiring out of rooms for meetings etc, at the start of the New Year. For details about hiring the Centre or parts of it or contributing towards equipment still needed for it, contact Sue Fry, Office Manager at 5, High Street, Marlborough, SN8 1AA or at suefry@marlborough-tc.gov.uk or 01672 512487.