IT’S an end of an era for Burley Scout & Guide Group.

The scouts and guides are about to move their meetings to a brand new headquarters in Peel Place. Their present meeting place, built in 1968, is about to be demolished.

To celebrate all the good times many generations have had in the old hut there will be a Farewell Afternoon Tea on Saturday, April 27 from 2pm - 4pm. All are invited to come to the hut for a last time to exchange fond memories over tea and cake.

Sue Vint, Guide Leader said: “We know many families in Burley have enjoyed all the Scouting and Guiding activities in the hut so we thought an afternoon tea would be a fun thing so people can have one last chance to visit a place with so many memories before it is demolished. We hope to see as many villagers as possible to say farewell to the hut. It’s an end on an era!”

The 50 year old hut was beyond repair and as the population of Burley has hugely increased in the last 50 years it made sense to knock it down and build a better meeting place. Fundraising began in earnest in 2014.

Sue said: “We have raised £440,000 through a lot of hard work and support from local businesses, organisations and private individuals. We still have about £60,000 to raise to complete the grounds - knocking down of the old hut and providing a turning circle at the bottom of Peel Place.

“We have had support from Burley Community Trust, Parish Council, Ilkley Rotary & Round Table, Ilkley Carnival, the Co-op, National Lottery, Burley Educational Trust, Ripon Classic Car Group, local schools and many more. Local community groups have run evenings of song and plays and donated money to us.”

A fundraising group also held lots of events and businesses have also been very generous.

Demolition of the old building will start at the beginning of May and the whole project will be completed by the end of July.

Sue added: “Our new headquarters look amazing and we can’t wait to start using it.”