More than 80 years ago sons of the wealthy at Canford School did their bit for the poor of Poole by setting up and funding a youth club in the town.

The Canford Boys Club may have started out as a philanthropic gesture but many years later it is still going strong and is about to renew its links with its benefactor.

It has passed through many homes and quite a few names and its latest incarnation, the recently refurbished Limelights Youth Centre at Learoyd Road, Canford Heath is also celebrating its 20th anniversary.

“Each house at Canford School would bring in a donation every term or year to the boys club. They took it very seriously,” said youth leader Colin Phillimore, who is researching the history of the club.

Tracking down photos and past members, he has a vast archive of material to be handed over to the school in June, which is again raising money for the club with a mufti day.

“The Canford Boys would come down to the club and the Poole boys would go up to the school to use the facilities,” he said.

Set up in 1929, for its first few years the club ran at St James Church Hall as Canford Poole Boys Club, three evenings a week. Then in 1931 it moved into the old library building, now Poole Museum.

Eighty years ago the town was honoured by a two-day visit from the Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Phené Neal, who not only laid the foundation stone of the new municipal buildings (Civic Centre) he also officially opened the boys club – the anniversary of which is being celebrated.

According to a report in The Poole and East Dorset Herald of May 21 1931, Canford headmaster the Rev B.C. Canning expressed the hope that it would do a great deal of good to the school and Poole.

“Years and years ago the knights of Canford were wont to come down to assist Poole, and it now looked as if Canford, with all its history, was to be absorbed into the borough,” said the report.

Market Street, Planefield House at Creekmoor (now Tesco at Fleetsbridge), Oakdale Boys Club have all served as homes to the club, whose members have taken part in a huge variety of activities over the years.

In the 1980s more than £300,000 was raised for a new building at Learoyd Road, which was officially opened by boxer Henry Cooper in 1991. Now it caters for 170 youngsters aged 12 to 19 and the building hosts many community groups.

Among many highlights, the club in the late 1970s produced not just national but European volleyball champions and Greg Lake, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is a former member.

“What’s nice is through this and going to the archivist, we have re-started the relationship with the school,” said Colin.

“This will be ongoing with various projects.”

Celebratory events include an Oakdale Boys Club/Limelights reunion on April 9 (tickets £5 from the centre), a lunch in June and the Canford Ball in August. There could also be a museum exhibition and a book of reminiscences.

• Pictures are being put on the club’s Facebook pages and any old boys and girls with memories and photos to share from 1931 to 1980 can contact Limelights on 01202 672318 or 262281 or limelights@btconnect.com.