HORWICH Heritage will celebrate 10 years since the opening of the current centre with a special event on Saturday March 11.

The open day will run from 10am to 1pm to mark the anniversary.

Although June 2015 saw the 30th anniversary of Horwich Heritage it was 10 years ago they moved into their new premises.

The new centre opened in what was, originally, the rifle range of the old territorial barracks (now the Horwich Community Centre).

Although, strictly speaking 11 years since the centre opened organisers decided to hold the celebrations this year because of commitments in 2016.

“Between January and March 2006, thanks to the sterling efforts of our trusted band of volunteers led by the much-missed Geoff Pollitt, we were able to transform a bare room into a magical multi-functional Heritage Centre filled with six themed displays portraying the Loco Works and local transport, a Victorian kitchen, a Horwich shop, a pub, sport and social history and and Lord Leverhulme’s gardens,” explains society chairman Stuart Whittle.

There is also a shop and other attractions and all completed within three months.

After all that effort the opening ceremony was quite an emotional affair conducted by the Mayors of Horwich & Bolton, explains Stuart.

A further 10 years on and the society is still going strong with a “faithful band of volunteers and some excellent designers, exhibition, book and film producers,” explains Stuart.

Since the modest beginnings there have been 50 separate exhibitions attracting more than 25,000 visitors (including thousands of local school children).

“We have produced more than 20 films and 20 publications — quite a record and one we should be proud of,” he adds.

For more on Horwich Heritage see next week.