A STREET party has celebrated the 100th anniversary of a Barry Island youth club which holds the honour of being the oldest independent youth club in Wales.

The Barry Island Young People's Organisation (YPO) marked the occasion in the Barry Island Community Centre, on Saturday, August 17.

Barry Island Historical Group chairman, Mike Heffernan said: “It was founded in 1919 by the Reverend John Rennie of the Forward Movement Church and he called it the Barry Island Young People's Association (YPA). It was re-constituted as the Barry Island Young People's Organisation (YPO) in 1976 after the old YPA hall at the top of Other Road (now called Earl Crescent) was demolished to make way for OAP flats. The YPO then moved to the newly built Barry Island Community Centre where it has been ever since.”

Visitors were encouraged to take part in a variety of different games of skill and luck for a chance to win one of the many donated prizes.

Candy floss, popcorn and slush puppies were on sale in the main hall and all the stalls reported brisk business.

The side room was temporarily converted into a tea-room where visitors could enjoy a free afternoon tea consisting of sandwiches, homemade cakes and pastries.

Mr Heffernan said: “Needless to say, the side room was a very popular location and quite a few old members and leaders were in attendance to share their memories of days gone by. The side room was also the venue of a photographic exhibition put on by the Barry Island Historical Group featuring photographs from their archives relating to the leaders, members and activities of the YPA and YPO since 1919.

“The current youth leaders of the Barry Island YPO would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who donated the fabulous prizes for the raffle.

“They would also like to thank all the additional volunteers who made all the sandwiches, cakes and pastries; helped decorate the hall and who ran the various stalls on the day. A special thanks goes to Rhys Jones and to the Vale of Glamorgan Council for their help and support.

“They would also like to thank everybody who came along on the day to make it such a memorable event.”