He's helped hundreds of people get fit, has seen thousands of children use the facilities and even held his own wedding reception there.

But after 27 years at the helm Dave Hall is moving on from his role as supervisor at Beccles Sports Centre and Sir John Leman High School.

A familiar face to many in the town, Mr Hall, now 51, is handing the baton to Liz Hadridge who is being seconded from her role at the school to become the new sports and lettings manager.

Mr Hall said: 'I just saw the ad back in 1990, I applied and I got it. I've had a great run but it's time for a change, I'm a dinosaur and it needs a new fossil. Things like social media are alien to me and that's what it needs. It needs someone running it who is familiar with that aspect. We haven't got the budget and funds to keep going the traditional way.'

He said some of his best memories included boxing shows and line dancing shows, which would attract more than 500 people and in February 1996 he used the venue to celebrate his own marriage.

Over the years he has been instrumental in doing everything from sourcing and laying a new squash floor and fixing equipment to providing gym or squash coaching to people who need support pre or post operation.

Mr Hall is going to be a house husband for the next year before he intends to retrain as an osteopath.

Sir John Leman High School owns and operates the sports facility in Ringsfield Road, which is used by pupils during the day and is open to the public in the evening.

Last year it was renamed The Venue and Mrs Hadridge aims to reintroduce more evening classes to the community and is keen to hear from anyone who would like to deliver or attend a class.

She said: 'I'm going to get evening classes up and running again and get the community to use the facility. There are lots of things going on in the town but parking isn't always accessible and it is here. It's a fantastic facility and it deserves to be used. I want people to have a voice and suggest how it should be used so that we can get the best out of it.'

Mrs Hadridge said she was looking to hire out as many of the rooms on the site as possible to groups and organisations. Cookery classes, a wine tasting course, sign language, Spanish and dress making courses are also in the pipeline, as well as exercise classes.

Many clubs already use The Venue and there is a fully equipped gym, which can be used on a pay as you go basis.

A new indoor car boot sale is being held on the last Sunday of every month from 2pm to 5pm in the school hall and bookings for pitches are now being taken. The first event takes place on Sunday, January 29.

For more details call Mrs Hadridge on 07759986551, 01502 712039 or email xlah@sirjohnleman.co.uk