A POPULAR community centre chairwoman who successfully secured millions of pounds for the Castleland centre is set to retire.

Eileen Moore will be leaving Castleland Community Centre within the next two months, having spent 10 years as its chairwoman.

During her tenure the 61-year-old has been credited with overseeing several major successes in securing funding, with about £2m being received through applications, including just under £500k from the Big Lottery Fund to modernise its centre and £108k for an IT suite and new roof in 2012.

She said: "We have achieved a lot but it's been a team effort.

"People sometimes ask 'why do you help so many people?' and I think that I've always helped people since I was about 14 - I can't explain it.

"I could not have done what I have without the support and help from the volunteers and the community.

"But I now feel the time is right for me to leave."

Mrs Moore, who has two sons, arranged her last big community event before she retires on Saturday, September 24, where a concert took place at Belvedere Park.

"Last year my twin sister Renee passed away and I decided I wanted to do something in her memory and raise money for charity and so we did," said Mrs Moore.

"It was so wonderful that we decided to hold another event this year and it was equally good."

The concert in Belvedere Park was opened by the Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan, Councillor Stuart Egan and included performances from Barry Sing With Us choir, Tenovus Choir, Vale People First Singers and South Wales Police.

Jane Hutt AM, who attended the Castleland concert, praised Mrs Moore's work at the centre.

She said: "She [Eileen] leaves the Castleland Community Centre with great prospects having secured a £45k grant from the Waterloo Foundation to employ a Community Centre Manager after undertaking that role voluntarily for so long. She will be greatly missed and we thank her for all she has done in the community in Wales."

Mrs Moore plans to spend her retirement in Liverpool.

She added: "I'd like to thank everyone for making the concert a success.

"I have loved every second that I've spent in Barry and will definitely return as often as I can."