The Calton Heritage and Learning Centre has marked its 10th birthday week with a party to celebrate its important place in the community

The Centre on London Road was the product of years of campaigning – supported by Thenue Housing - to deliver a much-needed community hub.

It opened its doors on November 1 2013, has been a stunning success ever since and become a focal point for a host of neighbourhood activities.

The 10th anniversary celebrations held on November 3 featured a sensational performance from the drama outfit ‘Whitserface’ jointly founded by hugely popular River City star Maureen Carr who has been acting on tv, theatre, film and radio for over 40 years.

Witsherface was launched in 2015 – primarily to encourage women to write and perform comedy and since then has created and developed several projects in the east end of Glasgow including Calton bringing performance and drama to local communities.

Riotously funny, the music and comedy sketches in front of an audience of over 80 was specially written for the occasion and had many local references to the surrounding area and local characters.

At the event, Thenue chief executive Gary Naylor and Thenue chair Pauline Casey cut a 10th birthday cake.

In his address, Gary praised the community effort a decade ago which resulted in the CHLC.

Gary said: “The effort by the community to create the Calton Heritage and Learning Centre cannot be understated. It was people power which made this place a reality and we owe every one of them a huge debt of gratitude.

“It now plays a vital role in the vibrant life of Calton and in the east end in general. Long may it continue to serve this great community.”

The Centre is run by Thenue Communities – a subsidiary of Thenue Housing and Rosie Robertson is the Centre’s long-serving original manager.

Rosie said: “It hardly seems like 10 years since we first opened our doors. We cannot now imagine Calton without the CHLC and over the years it has brought people together in so many ways.”

Rosie is supported in her management role by colleagues Marta Fiorentino and Ross Campbell.

As the name suggests, heritage plays an important part in the life of the Centre and there is a strong connection – albeit a tragic one - to the past.

Easily one of Glasgow’s best-known districts, Calton played an essential role in the industrial growth of Glasgow – notably in the weaving industry.

But tragedy struck in 1889 during construction of a new extension to Templeton & Co’s nearby carpet factory when unusually high winds caused a section of the facade to collapse onto an adjoining weaving shed.

Unfortunately, there were workers (mainly women) in the shed at the time of the incident and 29 women tragically lost their lives that day.

The names of those who died – some were young teenage girls – are inscribed on the paving outside the CHLC along with a commemorative plaque which says the following

‘Green buds for the hopes of tomorrow
Fair flowers, for the joy of today
Sweet memory, the fragrance they leave us
As time gently flows on its way’

The date of the opening of the Centre in 2013 was chosen especially as it marked the 124th anniversary of the tragedy.