A party for each decade as Burnham Library celebrates 50 years

Burnham Library is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the whole of October, starting on Tuesday, October 3, with a 1970s-themed coffee morning.

Food inspired by the era, such as Black Forest gateau, pineapple upside down cake and cheese and pineapple hedgehogs will be served and staff will be dressed as characters from the 70s classic film, Grease.

Singing for the Memory, a twice-monthly singing therapy group based at the Library, will feature popular songs from the 1970s.

On Saturday October 7 the 1970s party continues with a visit from ‘Band in a Van’ at 11am.

Band in a Van is an interactive musical activity where people can join in and play percussion alongside musicians from the Alina Orchestra.

In the afternoon a showing of the movie, Grease will take place.

The ‘through the decades’ theme continues the following week, commencing October 9, as library goers go on a journey through the 1980s with popular films such as ET and Footloose being shown with a trip through the ‘90s the following week and ‘The Noughties’ the week after that.

As the Library travels through each decade there will be craft activities themed to each era available for children to enjoy.

On Tuesday, October 24, there will be a talk on ‘ The History of Burnham Library’ by Andrew Strathdee, chair of Friends of Burnham Library, and on Saturday, October 28, a newly revamped Children’s Area will be opened.

A special time capsule full of ‘ Memories of Burnham Library’ will also be buried to mark the occasion.

Finally, a celebratory coffee morning will take place taking visitors through the highlights of the last fifty years.

Clive Harriss, cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:

“We are delighted to help Burnham Community Library mark its milestone 50th anniversary.

“This popular library has always been at the very heart of the local community.

“I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers, past and present, for their hard work over the years. I would also like to say thank you to all the loyal customers. Many will have joined the library as children all those years ago and now visit as adults with their own children and grandchildren.

“The month-long programme of events being put on by the library will give everyone a chance to pop along to enjoy the different themed celebrations, so please come along and join in the fun.”