Harmans Cross Hall News
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2010 - August 30th
Harmans Cross Field Day Raffle Prizewinning Ticket Numbers
Congratulations to all the lucky winners and grateful thanks to our helpers for all their hard work today! Once again, many thanks to the numerous prize donors who made this raffle so successful!
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2010 - August 30th
Harmans Cross Field Day Flower and Vegetable Show
The Rules and Schedule for the Flower and Vegetable Show are now available to download on-line. Please print the entry form and submit it with your entry fees, by August 26th, to one of the addresses on page 2.
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2010 - June
HARMANS CROSS CINEMA? - VOLUNTEERS PLEASE!
When the new village hall opens shortly in Harmans Cross we will have high quality equipment available to show films. The Village Hall Management Committee would like to start a Cinema Club in the autumn to show films on a regular basis and is seeking volunteers to get involved in setting it up and running it.
It is likely that this will mean attending one or two planning meetings initially as well as being trained to use the equipment. We believe that the popularity of films shown in the old hall in recent years as part of the Purbeck Film Festival highlights a demand for this facility in the area. The community certainly deserves it, but if we do not have enough volunteers this venture may not be able to go ahead as we envisage.
So, if you live within the hall’s catchment area – one mile from the crossroads at Harmans Cross - have an interest in films, are reasonably practical, like getting involved and have a little time to spare, please come forward to express your interest as soon as possible.
Nigel Edmonds, Village Hall Committee
2010 - June
NEW HALL UPDATE
Since our last report considerable progress has been achieved – despite the inevitable gremlins that wriggle their way into the system !
All external building work and the Ground Source Heating has now been completed and internal doors, architraves and skirtings fitted and internal walls painted. Mechanical and electrical work is also well advanced.
External work that is well under way includes the car park as well as landscaping and regrading of the surrounding terrain.
We now await the delivery and fitting of the kitchen equipment which should be completed in time for the Village Hall Team to start the final fitting out at the end of June. This should be in time for some mid July events and the first church service on the 25th July at 6pm.
As you will read in another report, we are planning a User Group meeting in August so that all our existing customers can have a preview of the new facilities.
Alan Stephenson/June/’10
2010 - March
NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT
In the notice-board outside the village hall car park, and on The Dubber’s website, are two colour representations of what the new play equipment will look like in the field adjacent to the new hall.
Work is due to start at the end of March or early April when the existing swings and slide will be taken away. We are sorry for any inconvenience this will cause. However, it is necessary as the ground beneath has to be filled and then time allowed for it to settle before the installation work begins in mid-May. The suppliers, Lappset, aim to complete the work by the end of May.
The equipment will comprise a zip wire, a complex climbing frame with slide, a large bird’s nest swing, two other swings, and two items of outdoor gym equipment that can be used by older children and adults. This is all thanks to a £50,000 grant we have obtained via Dorset Community Action. As the equipment to be installed reflects the wishes of young people, parents and others over an 18-month consultation period, we are confident that you will like the end result.
Nigel Edmonds for the Village Hall Management Committee
2010 - February
Goodbye Old Hall – Thanks For The Memories !
On February 14th we held the last service in the Old Village Hall and said goodbye to this lovely, yet ageing establishment, that has served the community so well for 57 years.
As our photos on The Dubber website show, many enjoyable events were held here and more recently the pace has intensified – driven by the need to raise funds for a new hall. Now with the building work encroaching on the area and with the need to divert services – particularly electricity, the old hall has been cleared – ready for demolition!
Those closely involved with the history of the old building remember only too well some of its finest moments. Glen and Betty Bower conjure up memories of ‘the active youth club which met every Thursday in the ‘50’s and won the Dorset County Shield in 1957, ’58 and ’59 for Handicrafts’ This successful group was run largely by Nora Mitchell, and assisted with the juniors by Joan Hollister. They would have celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2002. ‘The hall in those days was in use every day’ confirms Betty.
Another lovely character who was very involved with the origins of the Old Hall, is Joyce Waters. Her recollections of ‘cleaning cement off old bricks to commence the building process’ illustrates just how much effort was dedicated to providing a community facility.‘We had wonderful times’ remembers Joyce, ‘the early Field Day for instance, held at ‘Tinamara’ in July 1952, and opened by Princess Mairie Troubetskoy, was one such occasion.’
Joan Hollister another stalwart supporter, emphasises the strength of community spirit at that time. ‘Working with Nora Mitchell and the senior, junior and junors in the Youth Club was very rewarding’ says Joan. ‘The flower shows at Field Day were particularly special and I participated in every one until just recently. Oh! and the pantomimes were out of this world !’
No doubt these examples are a challenge to our present community, if we are to attract a younger element to our future events !
Anyone wishing to learn more about this characterful building, its early supporters and successes, could do well to read Roger Free’s book on HXVH 1949-2009 which was published recently. Here’s to the next chapter for The New Hall.
Alan Stephenson/Feb/’10
2010 - February
Harmans Cross User Group Meeting
In spite of a chilly late January evening, 40 plus interested existing and potential customers supported our informative event and provided useful ‘input’ on their requirements in the New Village Hall. Visitors from other village halls in Worth and Corfe Castle also participated and were most welcome.
Following complementary drinks and a welcome and introduction by Chairman Richard Bullock, the Agenda covered an overview of the New Hall build progress, advanced sound systems, stage lighting and hearing loop – Martin Howell and Brian Engel.
The new Website – which was demonstrated by Lerida Arnold – sparked off a number of questions regarding booking information and the facility which will be available to check on all the dates for a year ahead. Also a new contact no is now available for future bookings – 07766 980972.
Plans for the Open Day Event for the New Hall were also outlined – this important date has now been set for Saturday 21st August – with the New Playground Equipment being available on the same day.
Finally the importance of our communications with the community was emphasised as, without the support of all those involved, we would not be in the fortunate position as outlined above.
Following a lively question and answer session, the meeting participants were treated to a superb buffet provided by Judy Robson and Carole Ayling and an open bar manned by Martin and Liz Howell
Watch this space for more updates !
Alan Stephenson/Feb/’10
2010 - January 28
Hall Closure Draws Near !
Sunday the 14th February, will mark the end of an interesting era for our Village Hall and will undoubtedly evoke many happy memories.
The official closure and clearing of the hall takes place on the above date to make way for the New Hall build and landscaping, and our volunteer teams will be busy most of that weekend.
Glen Bower who was instumental in building the hall, remembers the trip to Blandford over 50 years ago, to dismantle the, then, existing Army hut and commence the build at Harmans Cross.
‘It was quite a job which we combined with our normal work’ said Glen. ‘ This entailed working evenings and weekends plus the scrounging of extra materials from local sources. Bill Mitchell was a force to be reckoned with in those days ! But he certainly got things moving !’
At the time of writing the completion date for the new build is still ‘hanging in the balance’ due to the recent adverse weather conditions. But more news soon.
Alan Stephenson/Jan/’10
2010 - January 19
RDPE Press Release
£134,000 boost for Harmans Cross New Village Hall - download full text below
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