Belstone Village Hall Annual Report 2023-24

Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

My report this year includes hall improvements , departures of old friends and a request for new ones!

The big news is the replacement in the last couple of months of the entrance doors and fire exit in the main hall that make the room much warmer and improve the look. All the toilets now have windows that close. The total cost was £17,700. £15,000 was grant funded. I use this as an example of the terrific skills of Jane Taylor in obtaining grant funding. Thanks also to Robin and Edwina for this project carried out by Okehampton Glass.

The last year has seen the usual busy round of weekly activities; yoga, Pilates and community cafe. The most bizarre event was the mouse racing fundraiser for the Mid Devon Hunt!

None of this would be possible without the hard work of everyone on the village hall committee whose unglamorous and largely unseen work makes it all happen. I make no apology for highlighting the work of our office holders. Firstly, Sharon Cooper the treasurer who also organises the village fair and is usually first in line when there is catering to be done.

Secondly our Secretary Sally Fullwood who facilitates the smooth running of the committee with accurate minute taking, agenda preparation, perceptive comments and an eye for detail that most people don’t have. But you on the Parish Council already know this!

This year we are losing two long serving members; Sue Norrish rep. of the Parish Council for many years and Mel Pike, stepping down after 13 years. Mel was secretary for a long time and was part of the gang that ran the village fair.

In addition Jane Taylor is leaving us after a relatively short spell – but what an impact she’s made – her fund-raising expertise has raised thousands of pounds for the hall and radically improved the Halls accessibility!

The Hall is very lucky to have Eddie as manager; from my house I can see the number of times in a day she leaves Andrews Corner to come up here – it’s a lot!! Thanks as well to Eva our brilliant cleaner.

In conclusion I want to say something about volunteering. All village halls, and Belstone is no exception, need new younger people to step forward and get involved/ put their shoulder to the wheel! Thursday’s Community Cafe is a case in point – we need more people to run it.

Chris Townshend
Chairman – Belstone Village Hall Committee
April 2024