VILLAGE HALL NEWS SHEET September 2011  

After months of planning and hard work by many people in the village we are almost there. By the time you read this we will be just a few weeks away from the opening of the new village hall – with a whole host of facilities and activities available by the New Year.

THE BUILDING
The exterior shell is virtually complete and work is progressing on the interior, as well as on the solar panels and ground source heating system. Chairs, desks and other furniture are being sourced and will be arriving soon. There have been some setbacks due to the recent heavy rain but the building work is due to be completed by early December.

CINEMA SUCCESS
Last month’s screening of ‘The King’s Speech’ in the Methodist Hall was a sell-out success.
The event showed what good value a rural cinema can be and we are looking to screen another movie in October.
What would you like to see?
Call or email us with your ideas.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Aerobics is the latest in the line-up of activities to be offered in the hall. Sessions for all ages will be held twice a week with a top instructor, starting in January. Watch out for more details of demonstration evenings. The aerobics is in addition to the Mobile Gym sessions – also booked to start in January.
We are also working on providing IT training classes and setting up a local branch of U3A – the University of the Third Age.

EVERYONE IS ‘CHIPPING-IN’
There has been a tremendous response to requests for help. Scores of people turned out in late August to spread wood chips on the play area (see the pictures on the ‘Hickling Recreation Hall’ facebook site) and many of you came along in September to help with fencing and more wood chips.
The next event is on the morning of Saturday October 29 – to plant hedging and possibly some trees.
Please come and help if you can.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?
What do you think the new hall should be called? A number of suggestions have been put forward including Jubilee Hall (to mark the Queen’s coronation anniversary next year), Hickling Barn Hall, Hickling Mill Hall, Broad Hall, Bittern Hall, The Old Mill Hall, Millview Hall, Ouse Hall, and Olympic Hall. If you like any of these, or if you have any other suggestions let us know. Just pop your preferred name in the box at the Chapel, or email Shirley at the address below.

KEEP THE CHEQUES COMING!
There is great news on fund-raising for the hall.
The cinema project has received a £3,000 grant from the Norfolk Community Foundation to buy equipment.
The Foot-ball Foundation is giving a grant of more than £20,000 towards the changing rooms. Last month’s event at
The Greyhound raised a total of £2,300 for the play area.
The Pleasure Boat Inn is starting weekly fund-raising raffles and generous Hickling residents have followed Parish Council chairman Sandra Clarke’s kind donation to the hall’s funds, raising hundreds of pounds.
You can contribute as well – no amount is too small!
Send cheques payable to the Hickling Playing Field or Recreation Charity c/o Secretary Shirley Sainsbury (address below)
.
GOOD NEIGHBOURS
We are determined make the hall a ‘good neighbour’ to nearby residents. Our terms and conditions will impose strict requirements on people hiring the hall in respect of music and noise levels.

TRUSTEES
There will be changes to the governance of the Charity, with nominations and selections for some trustees in October.
We will publish details of these elections once they have been approved by Norfolk Rural Community Council.
We will also make sure that anyone who wants to stand for election as a trustee gets as much help and support as possible. More information will be put on the notice boards at the Chapel in the next few days.

Your current charity trustees are:
David Beales
Nick Baker
Richard Cook
Harvey Gibbons
David Pugh
Harry Purnell
Shirley Sainsbury
Viv Tallowin
Lorraine West

CONTACT US
The charity can be contacted via its secretary,
Shirley Sainsbury Tel: 598882
Briarley Lodge
Stubb Road
Hickling
NR12 0BN

email: charity@briarleylodge.co.uk

On facebook – Hickling Recreation Hall

New website – Still under construction, but up and running in October