Warmington Village Hall

Chairman's Report for the 2002 AGM

WARMIGTON VILLAGE HALL

The 28th Annual General Meeting will be held in the Hall on Monday 11th November, at 7.45pm. The Chairwoman's Report and Hall Accounts are enclosed This will enable Parishioners to bring to the meeting any questions they may wish to raise.

Your new look Hall has been up and running now for just over 18 months and I hope you will agree that all the upheaval of the refurbishment was worth it. We have had very good feedback on the improved facilities' especially the toilets and the increased bookings reflect this. This year we have spent £3,300.on tidying up the outside of the Hall. The area to the left of the Hall has been cleared, gravelled, fencing work completed and trees trimmed in the Car Park. Also a new water boiler was purchased.

The booking diary is certainly full with our regular users of the Hall, which of course gives us our main income throughout the year, and we thank them for their continued support. We also have several new users, a Pilates and Body Conditioning Class, Taoist Tai Chi Class, The Village Design Group and the newly formed Youth Group to whom we wish every success, plus the local groups that use it for their fundraising. We have unfortunately, lost one regular booking the W.L.H.B. Ladies that had met at the Hall for over 20 years.

The Toddler Group received a Millennium Awards For All grant which they have put to very good use, with the help of Chris Ellard by installing shelving in the storeroom and purchasing new equipment.

There are many people that give up their time to help in many ways maintaining the Hall, helping with publicity, posters and photocopying, often at their own expense and we thank them very much for this. There is one person in particular I must mention, Stephen Turner who's always being badgered "can you just do this, can you just do that". His help was much appreciated when the Hall pipes froze and were in danger of bursting in the severe cold spell last winter. Also thanks to Derrick Weatherington whose services we have lost after many years of keeping the Hall grounds mowed and tidy, and we wish him a speedy recovery after his recent illness. I must not forget our Caretaker Ray Rootham who turns out in all weathers and all hours to unlock and lock the Hall and keeps it clean and tidy.

You will see that a Lavender Hedge is in the process of being planted to give a border to the front door. This has very kindly been donated by the Warmington Horticultural Society as their contribution to the Hall..

The accounts still seem to maintain a healthy balance in these days of ever increasing costs. This we hope will allow us to keep the Hall in the condition it is now and also, deal with any unforeseen problems that may arise.

Many new residents approach myself and other Committee members saying, "Isn't it a lovely Parish Church Hall". They are somewhat surprised to be told it is a Village Hall and is self-financing7 we do not get any help from any local authorities. The Village Hall Committee runs the Hall and looks after it for the Village purely on the income from the rents and fundraising.

FUTURE EVENTS - Our 28th Christmas Draw and Bingo takes place in the Hall on Thursday 5th December, at 8pm and we look forward to seeing you there for an entertaining evening. Draw tickets are on sale now and donations and prizes are always welcome, as we need to find 60 prizes for that evening.

I must finish my report by once again thanking the Officers and Committee for their support and hard work this year.

I look forward to your continued support and seeing you at the A.G.M.

Hazel Turner