At Village Hall

Wednesday 24^th August 2011 at 8.00

APPROVED MINUTES

Attendees: Rob Summers, Paul Galloway, Ted Townsend, Liz Gosling, Neville Cheeseman, Sue Gush, Paul Forster, Eleanor Wood

Apologies: Kimmo Evans, Peter Rugg, Jan Coman

Minutes:

• Draft minutes of the meeting on 6^th July 2011 were approved – released to website
• Outstanding amendment to AGM minutes is still outstanding

Matters Arising:

None

Correspondence:

None

Secretary:

• Hall bookings are now accessible by trustees via a shared calendar on Google +

This allows trustees to see if the hall is free.

• If approached for a booking or wishing to make one, a booking request can be entered by any trustee into the calendar. But the booking is not firm until Rosemary (or her nominated substitute) has completed the financial arrangements and associated booking documentation.

• Viewing access to the bookings calendar has also been given to Jo Dartnell, the new cleaner, so she can see when bookings might clash with her visits. She can be contacted at Jojodartnell@gmail.com

Sub-Committee reports:

• Treasurer

Income since the last meeting is Axe Valley Runners £141.25 and other £35.00

There were no outgoings

• Hall Building Project

• There has been no progress with the last few outstanding tasks.

• It was agreed that the draft plans for further extension of the hall will be put to the AGM next January, together with an operating budget and funding plan, to indicate the realities of spending further money (the outline cost if a further £25,000).

• In the meantime we will complete outstanding tasks and at the AGM action the repayment of the rest of the bonds. Stage 1 will then be complete, and paid for before any action to pursue a possible stage 2.

• In the meantime, Paul Forster will submit plans for planning permission

Action Paul Forster

• Jan Coman and Kimmo Evans will research grant funding possibilities

Action Jan Coman, Kimmo Evans

New Hall Management and Maintenance

• Cleaning – Jo Dartnell appointed and has started work
• Maintenance – we need to paint the outside of the hall before Christmas – 17^th / 18^th September selected for a working party
• Storage – see above (Hall Building Project)

Entertainment and Fundraising:

• The Cider Festival was pronounced a success by those that could remember it and a definite success by those that couldn’t
• Duck Dash is the next event, on Sunday 4^th September
• Harvest Supper will be on 22^nd October
• Eleanor suggested a hall event for New Years Eve
  • theme Around the World.

  • disco to be provided by Rob ‘Hot Knobs’ Summers.

  • Fireworks were also proposed, (it will not be a children’s event)

Any Other Business:

None

Next Meeting:

Tuesday 18^th October at 7.30 at Eleanor’s

Saturday  19th March  7.30pm – Theme Night in the Hall – the first one in the new hall and the theme is P for Party – come dressed as something beginning with P – Pilot, Person (!), Pirate, Painter etc.

Wednesday 13th April 2-4.30pm Police Cross Country (Nationals) Beer & Branscombe -

15 marshals needed again and the sum of £500 could be ours for the hall funds.

Saturday 14th May 7.30pm Race Night at the Hall – bet on your dead certs!

Saturday 11th June 6.00pm – Umborne Ug run / walk followed by Barbecue at the hall

Please note change of date and time. Marshals needed please.

Saturday 2nd July  2.00pm – Steam-up Miniature steam train rides and cream teas and much more at the Goslings estate – Penventon in Shute.

Wednesday 4th September 3.00pm  Duck Dash & Raft Races This year for the first time, these duck races and the amazing home made miniature raft races will be held on the stream by the new hall. BBQ and lots of fun.

Autumn Supper Saturday October 22nd 7.30pm Tickets cost £8 for adults and £5 for the under 12′s – raffle, table quiz and a real banquet!

Children’s Christmas Party Saturday December 3rd at 3.00pm – free festive party for all the children in the valley – by invite only.

New Year’s Eve Party Saturday 31st December 8.00pm This is the first time we have tried this event in the hall – bring your own food, drink and dishes etc. – disco / fun / party/ fireworks – theme (fancy dress) “Around the world”

Saturday 8th January at 7.30pm.

This is a bring and share supper – please bring a plate of finger food – either sweet or savoury.

There is a bar and a raffle so please come loaded with money!

We also have a table quiz for groups of up to 4 people on the events of the year 2010. Liz also produces her picture quiz on people, places and flora and fauna – plus we will have a few other fun events for all.

At the time of writing (Boxing Day 10am) 93 of the 105 places have been booked so please email us ( rickandeleanor@tiscali.co.uk) or phone 01404 831521 if you would like to attend. There will be a reserve list of people in case anyone drops out nearer the time.

Rob Summers, the Chairman of the Trustees, starts off the proceedings with his speech of welcome and thanks to all who helped in so many different ways, not just over the last 7 months, but over the last 15 years.

The Rev. Alistair McCollum blesses the new hall:

Mrs Dolly Blackmore and Mrs Lillian Bird cut the ribbon to declare the hall officially open:

The Press call for a photo shoot on the front decking:

The “Thank you” board for all who helped with the construction:

“Now, where did those girls go?” “They’re behind you Liz”

One person was wearing his interview suit:

Then we move indoors for a cream tea and a drink of tea or something a little stronger from the free bar:

Will this story go on for ever?

At least he’s now talking to someone else – look at the effect he’s had:

What a happy family:

Eighteen sandwiches and still going strong:

Rob is presented with a bottle of the single malt as thanks from the Trustees for all his hard work over the last few months:

We all enjoyed the occasion, even the very young:

All the comments about the hall were so very positive :

Finally, it is time to go home after a most successful day and the locals take home their empties!

Well done to everyone who has in the past, and will in the future, support this fantastic project. We now have a facility we should all be extremely proud of.

Residents of the Umborne Valley, near Axminster, will this weekend be gathering to mark the culmination of remarkable community commitment and dedication, as they officially open their new village hall. Mrs Dorothy Blackmore and Mrs Lillian Bird, two long-term residents of the valley will cut the ribbon to open the new hall. Mrs Blackmore has connections to members of the Women’s Institute who originally put the hall here in 1948. A celebratory afternoon starting with cream teas and an official Opening Ceremony, will continue long into the evening with a community ‘Bring and Share’ Supper.

Taking over a decade to reach fruition, the new hall project represents the true force of a community that put its mind to achieving something good for its future. The community may be small in number but the journey to get there has been a tale of big ambition, perseverance and stoic patience.

It began about fifteen years ago, when the then Chairman, Vincent Bowles, suggested the idea of replacing the old hall, a rather damp and unstable Second World War Quonset/Nissen hut, with something a bit more suitable, and versatile, to be at the heart of this geographically spread-out, rural community. Several small grants were secured from the Garfield Weston Foundation, Lloyds TSB Foundation and the Amory Charitable Trust. Money was also raised fastidiously and imaginatively through regular theme nights, harvest suppers, summer BBQs and lots of raffles and donated prizes, to a point where, in September 2009, £41,000 was in the bank.

‘Several significant legacies have been generously gifted over this time, whilst many other people gave their time and money over the years,’ said Rob Summers, Chairman of the Trustees. ‘Whether serving as a Trustee, organising and running events, cooking hundreds of meals, baking thousands of cakes, planning quizzes, running raffles, marshalling at running races or washing and tidying up events; everyone has done their bit for the new hall. It truly has been built on community effort.’

A major boost came in September 2009 when an application to the Community Council of Devon granted the project £27,000, making the prospect of building work suddenly within reach. This success was followed quickly by further funding awards, including over £12,000 from the East Devon AONB Sustainable Development Fund and, more recently, £8,000 from the Awards for All fund.

At the beginning of 2010, the Trustees were tantalisingly close to having enough funds to start the work. However, being a little short, they called upon the community to give one last push. The “Umborne Bond” scheme – repayable loans from the community that will benefit from an annual prize fund – was launched and has raised over £13,000! People again came together and donated what they could, even in this credit-crunched time, and enough was secured to begin the build.

On 26th February 2010 the last event was held in the old hall and days later the diggers moved in.

Through a sentimental attachment to the old hall, as well as recognition of its historical worth, the Trustees were delighted when a team of enthusiasts from South West Airfields Heritage Trust, based in Dunkeswell came forward and offered to dismantle it. It is hoped they will be able to put it back up at the Aerodrome, where it came from in 1948, to serve as a museum for East Devon’s wartime heritage.

Work began clearing the site, with the wonderful donation of a digger and driver from a local businessman. Work soon picked up a pace and parties of local residents were organised to help move blocks, level concrete and provide drinks, cakes and ice creams for the builders from Whimple-based Harris Timber Products. Residents stopped off on the way home from work or for an hour or two at weekends, to paint the hall inside and out. Mrs Lillian Bird kindly donated a piece of land to build a bigger car park. The result of this seven months of whirlwind activity and industry is that, after 12 years wait, the community of Umborne at last has a modern facility that will bring together their community for a long time to come.

”After all these years of sitting in a cold hut planning and dreaming of what might be, we eventually got there!” said Rob Summers. “Thank you to everyone who has contributed, in whatever way they could, over the years. I personally have many good memories of times in the old hall, and am looking forward to making many, many more in our new hall…they certainly will be warmer and drier! ”

”We are now ready to open our wonderful new hall, a beautiful wooden building nestling in the Umborne valley in the heart of East Devon’s outstanding countryside. Well nearly – there’s always one or two bits left to do – but after so many years we would be at a loss if it was all finished!” exclaimed Sue Gush, Trustee. ‘It really is the centrepiece of our community that we – and all those that put so much effort into this over the years – were hoping for.”

For further information on the hall and the Umborne community visit: www.umborne.org

Find out about the original hall opening 1948 http://umborne.org/2010/07/umborne-hall-1948/.

For more information on the Opening Ceremony contact:

Rob Summers 01297 553762 – Chairman

Eleanor Wood 01404 831521 – Fundraising

Notes to Editors and photographers

The celebrations will begin at 4pm on Saturday 16th October, with the official Opening Ceremony will take place at 4.30pm presided over by Mrs Dorothy Blackmore and Mrs Lillian Bird. Complimentary cream teas will be served until 6pm.

• Sir John Carew-Pole originally gifted the land on which the hall stands.
• The Community Council of Devon grant comprises funds from Devon County Council and East Devon District Council. www.devonrcc.org.uk
• The East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Sustainable Development Fund is a grant from Natural England delivered locally by the East Devon AONB Partnership. www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk

Additional images available (contact Kimmo Evans 07908 579727 kimmoevans@googlemail.com)

Stride Timber, the contractors who built the hall have made a fantastic time-lapse video of the hall construction. You can see it from their web site here.

This party event was started about 10 years ago by Sheila, Gill and Angela and in the early days there were about 20 children having fun and games in the hall. As numbers of young families with children has increased in the valley, so have numbers of children at the party, reaching well into the forties now. Mrs Sprague kindly made a grand Christmas cake and last year, 2009,  Debbie Brown took over this role and produced a delicious cake. A  very special guest in a red  and white costume makes a most welcome appearance in his grotto giving out presents to the children. Games are played and much scrumptious food is eaten. Ann and Jan have now taken over this event which is by invitation only. Invitations are sent out in November. If you do not receive one, and live in the Umborne / Shute area, please contact Ann Shepherd  (ann@edella.com) .

PS The opening of the Hall is getting closer, thats all I know !!