Monthly Archives: July 2023
News about the Abbotts Ann War Memorial Hall
Just wanted to share some news about the Abbotts Ann War Memorial Hall. As you might know, the recent musical evening with Daisy Chute and Lucy May Walker was a great success and we’re planning more exciting events at the moment so please watch this space. We will be reviving the village tradition of holding Apple Day in the autumn where we all bring apples to the hall, pop them in the press that’s in the hall garden, drink freshly pressed apple juice and play games. If anyone would like to join a small group organising the event, please just give me a shout.
The War Memorial Hall is a tremendous resource at the heart of the village, as you can see from the virtual tour that’s now on the website [add website link]. But the Hall is facing some tough financial challenges. We have a leaky roof and there’s quite a long list of other things that need maintaining. Thanks to Mark, Karen and Simon for ensuring that there’s a good quality temporary repair to the roof which means that we can continue to use the Hall during wet weather. The problem is that unfortunately the funds that we’ve got set aside for such eventualities isn’t sufficient to cover everything. We are therefore setting up an appeal to raise funds for the roof repairs so that we can keep this great facility at the heart of the village now and for generations to come.
As the War Memorial Hall Committee, our request to you as villagers is that you use the hall for your functions and events and also help us by donating to the roof appeal. Our target is raising £10k. We know that times are tough economically and inflation is a real worry, but even donating small amounts makes a massive difference.
We will of course keep you posted
Live Music Performance in the Village Hall
It was marvellous to see so many people in our War Memorial Hall on Friday 30th June enjoying the live music performance by Daisy Chute and Lucy May Walker. The tickets actually sold out what with the few last minute people who rocked up and paid at the door on the – the bar was busy and everyone clearly thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
The event was relatively easy to put together, but the Hall Committee did require some support. Mike Doherty was a life saver with his technical knowledge of the PA system and kept the musicians happy at their pre-performance sound check; in fact they praised the venue no end for the fabulous sound quality and acoustics of the hall as a venue. Andrew & Debbie Scarborough kindly put the two performers up for the night as a B&B and even cooked them a pizza to take to the secret after show party…
Not forgetting of course Louise Carroll kindly loaning the hall about 300m of colourful bunting which Louise Mason helped put up, Giles Patterson who helped with the stocking of the bar and of course Ali Palmer who ran around doing all the jobs that Neil said he would get done! Thank you also too Mark Stevens who’s last minute lending of an iZettle machine so we didn’t have to juggle cash only at the paying bar. Truly a village team effort.
We have heard though that some people were disappointed to have not know the event was happening which is a shame. Please make sure you are on the village email mailing list and recommend to friends and neighbours to do the same – The War Memorial Hall will be running more events of all shapes and sizes over the coming months and we want all of our community to enjoy them. Friday’s live music generated a surplus of nearly £500 which will go toward maintaining our valuable village asset.
Thank you for all your support and we look forward to seeing different people at different events over the months ahead.
The War Memorial Hall committee
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