Preston Road Community Centre has its 50th anniversary this month.

The building is owned by the Vale of White Horse District Council but leased and run for the community by a charity. The original building (including a large main hall, kitchen and bar, storage rooms, lavatories, and an office) was completed in May 1975.

Since 1975, the entrance has changed, and moveable partitions have been added, allowing the large hall to be reconfigured into a medium hall, small hall, and lounge.

Many community groups have used the centre over the years, but bingo has been a constant – originally run by Abingdon Boys Football Club and now run by volunteers from the centre.  This evening, bingo players played an extra free game to celebrate the anniversary. It had a prize of £50.

Most of the players were still very young in 1975. Some were not even born.

Someone remembered when Doug Lee was the chairman at Preston Road Community Centre and how the Abingdon pub darts final was played there when there was a bar. The old bar space is used now for storage by the South Abingdon Food Bank.