LAST weekend saw the public 'unveiling' of the new Abergavenny Community Centre which saw an open event on St David's Day attracting more than 250 people keen to find out what activities and facilities might be available.

The Mayor of Abergavenny, Martin Hickman officially opened the centre on Saturday evening, arriving just three hours after the organisers had finished painting the porch!

Before cutting the ceremonial ribbon he gave the audience a potted history of the decade-long campaign to create the new centre within the former Park Street school building.

Marion Pearse, a founding member and director of Abergavenny Community Trust told the Chronicle, "We had a last minute rush on tickets and the show was a complete sell-out with 120 children and adults coming to watch award-winning puppeteers PuppetSoup perform 'Land of the Dragon/Gwlad y Ddraig'. The puppetry was spellbinding, a brilliant performance on the theme of the Welsh red dragon in myth and legend."

PuppetSoup plan to base themselves at the community centre and will be running workshops there to show adults and children how to make and work with puppets, as well as putting on their own shows.

"Our open day on Sunday was a chance for people to get a taste of the kind of activities and events that will be offered and what can take place at the centre," said Marion.

"We were absolutely delighted with the turnout - it was fantastic. There was a continuous flow of people throughout the day all taking part in cooking, dance, craft activities, and just generally milling around talking to each other over a cuppa.

"The oldest person there was over 90 years, and the youngest, just a few weeks old.

"It is the intergenerational connections and opportunities which make this centre different and unique.

"The Creative Rooms were a real hit with people, and the 'origami ladies' - as they've affectionately been named - were busy all day helping people create beautiful origami items and take home some lasting memories. It was fantastic to watch the concentration of hand and mind and to hear children utter greetings in Japanese."

The open day was designed to highlight existing skills within the community, and to let everyone get a sense of the type of people-centred organisation that is behind the centre.

"We also used the occasion to capture what people are telling us they need and they want. The activities, the space and the events that will happen in and around Abergavenny will be a response to what people have told us, and in fact have been telling us for the past decade," said Marion.

"On Sunday people told us, among other things, that they want more cookery, meditation and therapy space, wifi, room hire and now...they'd like an origami club! We will talk to the ladies about that!

"Activities, clubs and room hire will all begin in earnest from the end of March, and anyone looking to participate and get involved can stay connected to us via social media, phone and also the website which will show the timetable for activities, and how to book etc.

"You can also drop into the centre when the shutter is up and /or the carpark off Merthyr Rd is open - currently around 11am. We're looking forward to lots of exciting developments here."

Director Paul Downs added, "The centre is supported entirely by local volunteers, and the doors are being kept open by funding and effort at a very local level.

"The organisation is currently seeking innovative people to join our team of trustees, and at the strategic level we've begun the long process of applying to the Big Lottery for funding to underpin the organisation's business plan, enabling us to develop our combined assets, and go from strength to strength.

" We'd like to thank everyone who supported the open weekend and we'd like to express our thanks to PuppetSoup who gifted their performance to support the opening of the community centre.

"In particular we'd like to mention all our generous friends, working alongside us to bring the building and grounds back to good order. It was a mammoth effort and with your help we opened on schedule. Many thanks to those local businesses who are supporting our painting and decorating appeal, and to the Mayor who came to open the centre. Work continues each day, and we welcome all help and support."

To find out more about the role of a trustee, or to get involved, please call Marion on 07751 666481 or drop into the centre.