New building, new era for Overton ...

Plans to replace the current centre look likely to go ahead later this year.

And chairman of the Overton Community Association, Annette Rushford, hopes that it will inspire more people to use the centre.

Annette, who volunteers with secretary Catherine Walker and treasurer Karen Rushford, along with 14 committee members, says the hall is well used day and night.

“We have Scottish Slimmers, line dancing, a ladies section, disco dancing for kids, tiger cubs, judo, keep fit and lots more including a coffee morning once a month.

“We also run a bingo on the last Friday of every month and all the money goes to a local charity or cause , no-one makes any money out of it.

“It’s a fun night and we give around £300 out every three to four months. Our latest donation is going to Second Chance Kennels.

“It’s quite a lot of money and that’s only with around 16 taking part so we could really do with a few more coming along because the more we raise, the more we’d be able to do.

“We were still dead during the day until about two years ago when Link Up The Gallatown came in and they’ve made a big difference.”

It will be 10 years in October since the Association began, and back then the centre was in danger of closing.

Annette remembers: “The older members then had been running it for about 40 years! “There was no-one taking it over. I didn’t want to do it at first but then I thought I’d give it a bash.

“In the beginning there wasn’t a lot of money in the coffers to do anything but it didn’t take us too long to raise some through holding dances and things like that. It got busier and all the money was ploughed back into the hall.”

Now with the promise of a new centre, Annette is hopeful that some younger faces will join the committee.

“We could do with some fresh blood. We’ve really enjoyed what we’re doing but we’re not young and we could train them up.

“The hall is going great and I’d love to see it continue like that.”