The week commencing 13^th January 2014 saw an historic moment commemorated in the history of the village hall.

Initially built as the result of a sum of money bequeathed from the Beech family in 1913 as a Reading Room the halls first meeting took place this week in 1914.

That first meeting saw Lt Col Beech elected as President whilst other posts were also filled and a decision made to have the official opening of the hall on 31^st January 1914.

The opening of the hall was to be performed by Miss Beech with refreshments provided after, along with an evening ‘social’. In addition a silver presentation key to perform the opening was to be purchased.

This week saw the hall’s current committee members meeting to commemorate the anniversary of that first ever meeting.

Said Chair Martyn Hordern ‘ we are fortunate to have that first meeting recorded in the original meeting book and wanted to celebrate a hundred years of an active committee meeting and  running the hall’

He added ‘we will be commemorating the hall’s centenary of use over the year and looking forward to the hall’s continued use’

As now there was an active involvement in the halls affairs by St Werburgh’s Church with the Rev Mayne one of the original trustees.

2014 will also see the village commemorating the start of the 1914-18 war. Two of the original trustees Lt Col Beech and William Aubrey Bowers died whilst on war service or as the result of wounds received. Both are commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

The hall is available to hire throughout the year for all manner of events and already holds a twice weekly mobile Post Office, weekly Guides group, a Mothers and Toddlers group, plus Yoga and Slimming World sessions.

Anyone interested in hiring the hall at very competitive rates are asked to contact the committee via this website.

In addition the committee is always looking out for new members with time to give to assist in the running of the hall, no matter how small. If interested please email the secretary on sue@kingsleyvillagehall.org.uk

Pictured are some of the present day  committee in the hall commemorating that first ever committee meeting.

Friday 22nd November saw the hall’s first ever Christmas Tree light ceremony and also the launch of the villages first ever Community Calendar.

The lights event started at 7pm when the Christmas tree lights were switched on.

The event was opened by Reverend Carole Richardson  from St Werburgh’s church and there was carol singing by the local Guides.

There was then refreshments  and gifts for sale  in the hall.

At the same event the community calendar will be launched.

This is a joint project between the hall and St Werburgh’s Church.

Priced at £5 they are a great stocking filler and will provide much needed funds for both organisations.

May saw a family celebration held at the hall following a couple’s renewal of their vows at St. Werburgh’s church.

The weather was fantastic and the hall was set out extremely well.

A pictures showing how the hall looked is shown here and is a good representation of how the hall can be made to look for any event.