An unexpected reunion almost 80 years in the making helped to make the official reopening of a city suburb's revamped community hub a memorable occasion.
The Lady Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, was in attendance to unveil a plaque for the reopening of Hellesdon Community Centre on Thursday, where "drastic action" had been needed to repair a leaky roof.
Shelagh Gurney, Conservative county councillor and parish council chairwoman for Hellesdon, said the total cost will be close to £1m when the revamp is completed.
Hellesdon Community Centre (Image: Shelagh Gurney)
During the ceremony, Mrs Gurney said: "What started as the roof turned into a major renovation project.
"The Covid pandemic did not help matters with builders having to overcome challenges and a shortage of building materials which further delayed the project.
Hellesdon Parish Council chairwoman Shelagh Gurney and Lady Dannatt during the opening ceremony (Image: Ben Hardy)
"We now have a building which is modern and safe to use which will serve the residents of Hellesdon well."
The new community centre includes a cafe and a warm room which has a TV, sofas and reading materials.
Bill Johnson, vice-chairman of Hellesdon Parish Council in the new warm room at the community centre (Image: Ben Hardy)
Lady Dannatt said: "What a wonderful renovation this is. I really am gobsmacked. It is so different to how I remember it."
The event enabled two women to take an unexpected trip down memory lane.
Sylvia Bacon, 93, who lives in Hellesdon, has been involved with short mat bowls, the community choir and the Women's Institute at the community centre over the years.
She said: "I very much missed the centre when it was closed.
"I would come down to complain to the officer that they were letting the people of Hellesdon down.
"I am very impressed. I remember when it was a very old building."
Rita Powell and Syliva Bacon (Image: Ben Hardy)
Mrs Bacon met Rita Powell, 92, who lives in Thorpe St Andrew, for the first time since they went to school in Stiffkey as teenagers during the ceremony.
She added: "We recognised each other straight away. We were just talking about a boy in our class!"
Inside the revamped Hellesdon Community Centre (Image: Ben Hardy)
Joyce Hubbard, 91, and her husband Russell, 89, used to run a Friendship Club at the centre in which people would travel together on holiday.
She said: "We used to take 50-odd people on holiday. The centre would be nowhere without Shelagh."
Joyce and Russell Hubbard (Image: Ben Hardy)
Freda Lane, 87, added: "It's a real bonus to have it back. It's so lovely."
A display board for the new community centre (Image: Ben Hardy)
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