A Celebration of Community Spirit: New Park Centre Marks 50 Years with Nostalgic Evening
Published 01:00 on 30 Aug 2025
Chichesters New Park Centre welcomed an eclectic crowd on Wednesday evening as residents, former pupils, and community members gathered to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a special talk and exhibition, Step Back in Time. The evening traced the extraordinary story of the building, from its beginnings as the Central Junior Boys School in 1812, through a period of threatened demolition, to its remarkable transformation into the thriving community hub it is today.
When rational people said that it isnt possible, the community came together and showed them that it was, reflected George Appleby, founder and current New Park Community & Arts Association (NPCAA) Trustee, recalling the campaign to save the centre from closure.
Attendees were first welcomed by current NPCAA Chairman Bob Long, before hearing from local historian Alan Green, who shared the early history of the building with personal anecdotes from his own school days there. His talk was brought to life further by contributions from other former pupils in the audience.
The evening also featured powerful reflections from George Appleby on how the community rallied to safeguard the building, as well as from members of the Chichester Ronin Judo Club, which was one of the original groups to take root at the centre. Peter Barnett, the current coach and former Sports Development Officer at the Centre, and Karen French, the club secretary and coach who first joined as a 10-year-old, shared stories about the centres legacy. They spoke of how New Park Centre has championed Judo throughout West Sussex, shaping lives across generations. Many original members now bring their children and grandchildren to the club, reflecting the enduring sense of community and continuity fostered by the centre.
The Power of People
For many, the event was a moving reminder of the determination and people power that saved New Park Centre. One attendee commented:
I knew a little bit about the history, but it has been so wonderful discovering its rich community story and realising what an important facility it has always been for Chichester.
Another added:
The talk has given me more respect and reverence for New Park Centre, knowing about its fight for survival and the three attempts to demolish it. Its inspiring to think of the people who stood up and fought to keep the building.
Alan Green described New Park Centre as a quiet but significant presence in the life of Chichester for generations. Its survival and transformation is a powerful story of community spirit.
That spirit was echoed by Chairman NPCAA Bob Long:
It was a wonderful evening honouring the people power that saved this space and celebrating the generations who have made it thrive. As we mark our 50th year, Step Back in Time is a powerful reminder of how vital New Park Centre is to the heart of Chichester: a place shaped by the community, for the community. Looking ahead, we hope local people will continue to support their charity-run community centre so it can flourish for the next 50 years and beyond.
A Living Legacy The sense of pride and belonging was felt throughout the evening. From fundraising efforts such as newspaper collections across Chichester, to dramatic sit-ins on the roof to prevent demolition, the campaign to save New Park Centre was remembered as a defining moment of unity.
Coming here gave me a huge sense of community Karen French recalled. If we were given a paintbrush, you painted a wall. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and did their part. That ethos still lives on today.
As the Centre looks ahead to the next 50 years, its role as a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive space for the people of Chichester remains as strong as ever.