A BAND which played its first ever gig at Florence Park Community Centre in 1966 will return for a special homecoming gig on Saturday, August 24.

It will be the first time that The Legendary Pete Fryer Band, originally from Florence Park, has gigged at the Cornwallis Road venue since their debut performance.

The event also marks the start of a new era for the centre, which is putting on monthly gig nights and opening a new community café in September.

Pete Fryer, 64, the band’s vocalist of Charles Street, Oxford, said: “It’s going to be a nostalgic event for us.

“We played our first gig there for the Florence Park Wives Club and although the community centre then was a typical, dingy men’s club, it also had elements of being forward-thinking at the time.

“The men used to babysit the kids while the wives held their club once a week.”

Mick Conmy, of the community centre committee, said: “We are trying to reinvigorate the centre as there are lots of families in the area and it has been associated with male-orientated events such as darts.

“It’s fantastic to have the Pete Fryer Band. They’re local legends and we hope to bring in a big crowd.”

The band, who plays covers including songs by the Rolling Stones, started playing gigs outside Oxford and touring the UK after their formation in 1965.

Over the past 48 years the band has played as far afield as Devon and France and close to home in places like the Wheatsheaf pub in the High Street, Oxford.

Phil Fryer, 62, guitarist and Pete’s younger brother, of Peel Place, said: “It’s amazing to know that we will play the venue where it all started.

“There wasn’t much of a music scene in Oxford in those days, but now it’s vibrant. It’s brilliant that the community centre is trying to liven things up.”

The Fryer brothers’ mum, Margaret, 86, of Maidcroft Road, hopes to attend.

She said: “I was at their first gig as a member of the Florence Park Wives Club. It’s great the centre is getting its buzz back.” Support on the night comes from Mick Conmy’s son, Arthur, 12, a guitarist who does Oasis and Tom Petty covers.

Doors open at 8pm. Tickets on the door.