AN INCREDIBLE woman who has been volunteer at a village hall since it opened is celebrating 50 years in her role.

Lyn Hardy, 78, has been volunteering as part of the Dummer Village Hall committee since 1973 and has been raising money to fund the cost of running the hall ever since. 

The mother of two, has been booking clerk for the 22 years and has helped to organise many fundraising  events, seeing many changes of the past 50 years

The annual general meeting in 1973 took place in the old wooden Reading Rooms which was pulled down in the following January and the present hall opened in September 1974.

At the most recent meeting Lyn was presenting with a plant to celebrate 50 years of volunteering.

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She spoke to the Gazette and shared some of her favourite memories including interviewing British author Santa Montefiore around five years ago during a fundraising event for the hall.

"It was a lovely event that raised a lot money for the hall, I remember she even brought along some signed copies of her book," Lyn said.

"Over the years people have been very good and generous raising money to keep the hall going."

Another favourite event for Lyn is the Harvest Supper, where Lyn organises different acts and musicians to come on stage at the hall. She said she hopes to organise another one again this to celebrate 50 years of the village hall.

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Lyn told the Gazette that she also loves organising the coffee mornings, where elderly people are able to come together for a chat, donating small amounts of money for some tea and cake.

She added: "I can't believe 50 years have gone by but I am very grateful and lucky to be doing it."

She said that having a community hall in Dummer is "important for the community" because it brings people together.

Prior to volunteering Lyn used to work at The Queen Inn, in Down Street, Dummer.