THE local community in Bellahouston gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of local hub Glasgow Club Bellahouston.

Built in 1967, the venue – then known as Bellahouston Leisure Centre – was the first of its kind in Scotland.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the centre opening, yesterday a jam-packed schedule of activities took place throughout the day.

Councillor David McDonald, Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of Glasgow Life, said: “A lot has changed since this facility first opened in 1967.

“For example, the venue no longer has a caretaker’s flat on the first floor.

“A £10million refurbishment of the venue in 2001 saw the addition of a fitness suite, gymnastics centre, café and swimming centre with two pools and a flume.”

The purpose-built indoor leisure centre cost £216,000 to build, which would be around £3 million today.

Now, the popular centre sees more than 11,000 attendances at the gym facilities each week and 13,000 attendances at its fitness classes.

Mr McDonald added: “Over time, what hasn’t changed is how important this facility is to the local community.

“Around 1000 local children attend our Learn to Swim lessons, ensuring our city’s young people are taught the valuable life skill of swimming from an early age.

“The venue’s sports hall has housed many celebrations over the years, from marching band competitions to indoor rowing championships, and boxing tournaments to regular record fayres.”

Children attending the October Week holiday programme took part in a special Gladiator party in the morning.

And a special Tea Dance was scheduled for the afternoon, which saw more than 200 attendees and a performance from live band Swing Sensations.

Participants gathered to dance and reminisce over their fond memories of the centre, while old images and the original building blueprints were on display for members of the public to view.

Local resident Moira Graham, 77, can remembering Glasgow Club Bellahouston from its early days.

She said: “I remember the opening of the leisure centre - I’ve lived in Bellahouston all my life.

“It’s such a big part of the local community.

“When the refurbishment took place in 2001 I started using the pool regularly.

“Now I attend twice a week for gym sessions and fitness classes which I really enjoy and help me keep active.”

Also at yesterday’s tea dance was John Gilmore, from the Gorbals, who learned about the birth of his daughter while in the centre.

The 75-year-old said: “I started attending Bellahouston Leisure Centre in 1974 when I joined the gym.

“I was a member of the Bellahouston Weight Lifting Club and, between us, we won a massive number of awards - although we did have the advantage as our Leisure Centre was the best in the country.

“When I progressed from weight lifting, I started playing five-a-side football with my friends in the sports hall where the Tea Dance took place today.

“Nowadays I use the gym four times a week and swim three times a week.

“The Leisure Centre really is a big part of my life… in fact I was lifting weights in here when my first daughter Nadine was born.

“Luckily she was in the Southern General Hospital so it wasn’t too far to run when I got the news.”

In the evening, local children were thrilled to attend a free inflatable pool disco, ensuring the day of celebrations ended on a high.

Mr McDonald said: “I have no doubt the next 50 years in Glasgow Club Bellahouston’s future will be just as successful as the last 50 have been - and none of it would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of all Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life staff involved.”