A community celebration event was held on Saturday 30 September at New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre in Halewood, marking the diamond anniversary of the site.
Originally home to New Hutte school, the building has been part of the local community for the past 60 years.
The community fun day was supported by Knowsley Council and funding from Ford Halewood, who are also celebrating 60 years in the community having commenced operations in Halewood in 1963.
The fun day included live entertainment, creative workshops, stalls and more and was popular with people of all ages, including many former pupils of the school.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council; Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods and Cllr Eddie Connor, Mayor of Knowsley were in attendance to support the event. Debbie Chennels, Ford Fund Manager for Ford Europe and Lee Meyers, Plant Manager at Ford Halewood represented Ford at the community fun day.
Gary See is the Chief Operating Officer at Torrington Drive Community Association, the charitable organisation based at the New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre which organised the community fun day. He said: “The building has been an integral part of the community for 60 years. The fun day was fantastic, with people able to enjoy a bouncy castle, sand art, street entertainment and so much more. Past teachers and pupils were able to look back at some old photos and share memories and someone was even kind enough to bring along a vintage Ford Anglia – the first model to come off the production line at Ford in 1963. I’d like to thank Knowsley Council and Ford for making it all possible.”
Rooted at the heart of the community the New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre offers resident focused activities, events and training and is home to a number of organisations, including Torrington Drive Community Association – a charity which supports those most in need in the community.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, said: “The fun day was an opportunity to celebrate the positive impact this facility has had on the local community, whether as a school or the neighbourhood centre it is today. Here’s to the next 60 years for New Hutte supporting the local community in Halewood.”
Cllr Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “New Hutte is a thriving asset that has benefited the community for 60 years and meant so much to so many different people in that time. It was fantastic to see so many people of all ages enjoying the community fun day, many of whom will benefit from the New Hutte community offer for years to come.”
To find out more about Torrington Drive Community Association and the support available, visit tdcaonline.co.uk.