AN ACE opening will take place at Dunfermline Tennis and Bridge Club on Saturday with a local celebrity served with the honour.

The clubhouse off Bothwell Street has been refurbished at a cost of £150,000 and JJ Chalmers will be on hand to unveil a new ‘Thank You'' board.

Club president Ken Patrick will address those in attendance before JJ, the Strictly Come Dancing star and war veteran who survived a bomb blast while serving in Afghanistan in 2011, carries out the official opening.

Pat Reid, the club’s secretary, told the Press that work was completed early last year but, due to the pandemic, the clubhouse has been closed ever since.

She said: “It's now fit for purpose for members and local people to play bridge and for tennis players to socialise. The clubhouse is now accessible to all.

“Plans include holding social events and activities such as quizzes, fund raising events, ceilidhs, barbecues, music evenings, etc.

"It will also be used by local community groups, training courses, for example for Young Tennis leaders, first aiders and some coaches’ courses.

She added: “The present clubhouse was built in 1978 after a fire destroyed the previous building.

"Apart from some work in 1990 relocating the fire escape to outside, no major improvements have been made until now.

“This work consisted of re-modelling the downstairs areas, making use of the space taken up by large changing rooms, to make a lower clubroom for members and provide new changing areas and accessible facilities.

"Upstairs the former bar area was altered, the large hall spruced up and a viewing balcony formed above the new equipment store.”

“Member Andrew Carnegie was the project manager and ably oversaw all the works.

"Andrew Allan Architecture designed the plans and BNR Developments carried out the building work.”

The club said it was “very grateful” for the support it received from the trust, funding bodies, sponsors and members who contributed to the costs.

Grants came from Fife Environment Trust, Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, Levenseat Trust, West Fife Common Good Fund, National Lottery Awards for All, Edinburgh Airport Community Fund, Dunfermline & West Fife Sports Council, and Tesco Bags of Help.

A loan was also received from the Lawn Tennis Association, and sponsors included CR Smith, Gannon Sports and Inglis Veterinary Centres.

Bridge sessions are currently being held online and it is hoped that they will return to the club soon.

Tennis has been played, sometimes in restricted forms, during most of the pandemic but the refurbished clubhouse will enable players to socialise inside and organise events and activities for members and the local community once again.

Once all restrictions are lifted, the club will be able to look forward to having full use of the whole building and to welcome the Bridge Club back.