Heath End Village Hall celebrates 20 years

8:20am Sunday 16th November 2008

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TWENTY years after a community pulled together to build a new village hall, residents have gathered to celebrate the “feather” in the village’s cap.

Heath End Village Hall, in Heath End Road, Baughurst, rose from the ground after dedicated residents spent three years raising about £70,000, which was approximately half the cost of its construction. The remainder was supplied by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The Duchess of Wellington – who officially declared the hall open on October 29, 1988 – returned to join a wine and cheese party to mark the building’s special birthday.

Terry Hoyles, of Brimpton Road, Baughurst, led the fundraising more than 20 years ago as chairman of the village hall committee.

He explained residents decided to build a new hall after the old one needed structural repairs.

Mr Hoyles, 64, said: “It was before the lottery and large grants, but we tried any sort of thing you could imagine to raise money, from simple things like jumble sales to three-day events. We had a very good time.”

He added: “The hall is a great advertisement for what a village can do. It’s a feather in Baughurst’s cap.”

Residents who originally “bought a brick” for the hall had their family names engraved on brass plaques that are displayed in the new building, which is now used regularly for activities including ballet classes, square dancing and “tea and a chat” with the Tuesday Club.

The present committee has recently refurbished the building, updating the kitchen and toilets and installing new flooring and curtains.