FRIDAY was the end of a long road for people who have wanted to see Cowdenbeath with a new community centre.

But the thing is that amid the delight at the official opening of the Maxwell Centre, the role that Broad Street Centre played in providing a community facility in the town could not be forgotten.

It was way back in the 1970s that then Community Worker Kenny Aitken felt that a town of 10,000 people could not be left without a proper base for activities.

The demolition of the former Mining School, in Broad Street, saw a chance created for something to fill the void and the former gym area and offices was turned into something Kenny hoped would be a stop gap for a few years.

Through his hard work, and that of a host of excellent volunteers under longtime chair of the Broad Street Centre management committee, Danny Kinloch, it filled the gap for forty years!

The official opening ceremony of the Maxwell Centre would have been something Kenny would have savoured but alas his recent death made that impossible.

However, the day was a huge success with piper John McCurley, a senior youth worker, welcoming the visitors.

It was a day which saw guests given a tour of the Maxwell Centre's extensive facilities.

During that they were able to see a cooking demonstration by young people from the 16 + Activity Agreement.

The kitchen is superbly laid out and is used by users of the facility from all age groups.

The Youth Room was also available for a display of youth activities that go on weekly at the centre and also an information item.

Meanwhile in the Community Hall and Community Kitchen they were able to see the Happy Days Group have their weekly meeting.

It is a singing and social activity group which sees between 40 and 80 people enjoy an excellent social afternoon.

This was one of the groups which grew to become a feature of the programme at Broad Street.

Also in the Learning Suite there was the opportunity to 'taste what is on offer weekly at the Maxwell Centre'.

The Centre has a full band of local community organisations using the facilities which are designed on a multi purpose theme with the Community Hall able to be used for all sorts of events.