Chalfont St.Peter Community Association 1957 – 2026

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The Beginning

After the First World War, the village wished to have a Memorial Hall to honour those who had lost their lives. A wooden army building in Denham was purchased and re-erected on a site at the corner of Market Place and Church Lane. This served the community well for many years until the major population increase in the 1950’s following the end of building restrictions on new homes.

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By 1957 the old building was becoming uneconomic to maintain, nor could it be enlarged. A Committee was set up to find a site and negotiate with the County Council for a new community centre. The old building and site were sold and later replaced by shops and living accommodation.

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The Building

Bucks County Council constructed a new Community Centre between1961 and 1962  on a site at Mill Meadow owned by Amersham Rural District Council. The original building included the main Hall and Stage, Players room, Mary Smithells room, Foyer, office and toilet facilities.

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A wooden plaque commemorates the formal opening on 15th.March 1962 by Lord Curzon of Bucks C.C. The full title, as required by the Charity Commissioners, was “Chalfont St. Peter Memorial Garden and Community Association”, maintaining the link to the former Memorial Hall. The Book of Remembrance, displayed in the Members room, contains the names of all village residents killed in the 1914-18 and 1939-45 World Wars.

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After the opening ceremony, St. Peter Players gave a theatrical presentation. They have the longest links of any affiliated group with the Centre.

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Links with Statutory Authorities​​

The Centre was originally built by Buckinghamshire County Council, who provided a paid part-time Warden as manager. Chiltern District Council took over the arrangement but halved the grant in 2001. The District Council and Chalfont St. Peter Parish Council both made generous grants towards the £50,000 cost of the 1992 extension. The Parish Council were our tenants from 1992 to 2006 and have made grants to various improvement projects over the years. Both the District Council and Parish Council appoint representatives to the Executive Committee.

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The community centre is currently negotiating a 100 year lease with Buckinghamshire Council.

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The People

Mrs Mary Smithells became Chairman of the Executive Committee. Other committee members in the early years included three local tradespeople, Bill Stringer (builder and subsequently President), Doug Robertson (butcher) and Ken Claydon (greengrocer) . From industry came Frank Brooks MBE (Chairman of the Parish Council in 1966-67) who gave 25 years  service as Treasurer. Dr.John Tappin from Medical Science served as Chairman, and as President until his death.  The Centre’s officers and trustees have always served as unpaid volunteers.

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Centre Enlargement

Over the years, the Centre has grown to meet the changing needs of the local community. A number of additions and improvements have been made, including the creation of the Members Room and bar (now the Misbourne Room), the boiler house, enhanced facilities, accessible toilets, the Chiltern Room, and the Tony Graham Room—added as part of the 1992 extension and named in memory of the late Vice Chairman. The Parish Council occupied part of the extension, which is now occupied by Apex Physiotherapy until 2006

The Centre also provides storage facilities for local groups including the Garden Club and St Peter Players.

 

Maintenance

Most of the building is nearly 70 years old, and maintenance is an increasing problem with wooden construction and flat roofs. Despite the challenges of ageing construction, significant improvements have been made in recent years, including:

• Replacement flooring across multiple rooms

• Upgraded kitchen and toilet facilities

• Installation of energy-efficient LED lighting

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Future Plans

As the building continues to age and the demands on the Centre grow, the trustees have been reviewing options to secure its long-term future. The original Passivhaus scheme, designed by Archetype in 2018, is no longer financially viable, with projected costs now significantly beyond reach.

To move plans forward, a feasibility sub-committee was established to explore more practical alternatives. Following visits to a number of local community projects, it was agreed that a phased redevelopment offers a more realistic and affordable approach.

We are now in the early stages of working with local architects to develop proposals that can be delivered over the next five years. This phased approach will allow the Centre to be improved and modernised while remaining operational, ensuring minimal disruption to our hirers and the wider community.

In the meantime, we remain committed to maintaining and improving the existing building, ensuring it continues to provide a welcoming and valuable space for the community

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