CRICKHOWELL’S CL ARENCE HALL NEWSLETTER & WHAT’S ON
Crickhowell Walking Festival
This year’s Crickhowell Walking Festival takes place between 4-12 March in the magical surrounds of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.
The exciting programme offers 82 guided walks from 3 to 16 miles, from valley strolls to demanding all-day routes on the high tops. There will be old favourites, new challenges, themed walks and the complete fourday Usk Valley Walk. Add to that an entertaining and informative programme of evening events and excellent hospitality and you have nine days of the very best our wonderful National Park has to offer!
The Clarence Hall is delighted to host one of the evening events. Join us on Festival Eve, Saturday, 3 March, for a Music Night in aid of Ukraine - further details on page 3.
Supporters Splashboard!
We’ve just updated our Supporters Splashboard (shown below) for the Foyer of the Clarence Hall and on our website. Huge thanks to everyone who has supported us so far in our Fundraising Appeal. Your contributions will help us to deliver the improvements our Community Survey told us were needed. If you’d like to join the ranks, visit our Justgiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/ campaign/clarencehall. You can also sign up for our Clarence Hall 500 monthly lottery - details on page 4.
An evening to remember!
Congratulations to Ryland Wallace, John Webb, Dame Shân Legge-Bourke and the Clarence Hall team for a tremendous event last month - Crickhowell, c.1952-1970:
The recollections of two lifelong
inhabitants. We were expecting the evening of memories to be insightful and humorous and it didn’t disappoint. Well done to everyone involved and for all those who gave so generously to our Refurbishment Fund!
An exciting time for the Clarence Hall!
2023 will be an exciting time for the Clarence Hall, as work to refurbish this wonderful venue has now commenced! The priorities for the refurbishment were determined through a Community Survey undertaken in 2020 to ensure that we are able to host a full range of activities for individuals and groups of all ages.
These include: a new and upgraded kitchen; new toilet facilities; new disability access toilets; a baby change area; a small bar in the current foyer; and a new extension on the side of the hall to create a fully accessible entrance and multi-function room. We’re delighted to share with you some mock-ups of the vision!
An essential part of this project is to make the building more accessible. We’re aware that the current lack of access and outdated facilities are impacting on the ability of a wide number of people to use this important community venue and this is something we wanted to address.
Building work on the new extension commenced in December and we are hoping that the refurbishment will be completed by the Summer. We are endeavouring to ensure that the Hall continues to function as normally as possible while the works are undertaken.
Our intention is to fundraise over the next year so that the specification for the refurbishment is as good as it can be and will deliver all the benefits we anticipate. Information on our fundraising events is available on the What’s On section of our website and our social media pages. A link to our JustGiving fundraising page is at: https://www.justgiving.com/ campaign/clarencehall
Regular bookings
Some of the regular users of the Clarence Hall include:
U3A
Crickhowell’s U3A is one of the largest and most successful in the country, with 400 members. Details of its monthly meeting at the Clarence Hall and the various special interest groups (now numbering 29) are on its website, https:// www.crickhowellu3a.org
Whose coat’s that jacket?
The talented cast of Theatre Adhoc are coming to the Clarence Hall on Wednesday, 1 February at 7pm with their performance of “Whose Coat’s that Jacket?”, a new comedy by Abertillery playwright Julia Lewis. Tickets £10 from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ theatreadhoc
Black Mountains Comedy Festival
The Black Mountains Comedy Festival returns to the Clarence Hall on Friday, 3 & Saturday, 4 February, bringing light, laughter and warmth to the black mountains in the darkest of winter. Tickets from https://blackmountainsfestivals.com/ tickets/
Family Fun with Circo Rum Ba Ba
Dance Beats
Dance Beats holds weekly dance classes for children in the Clarence Hall on Tuesdays. More information on its Facebook page, https:// www.facebook.com/
As part of the Black Mountains Comedy Festival, join Circo Rum Ba Ba for a circus workshop and hilarious interactive theatre show, L’Hotel, on Saturday, 4 February. Circus workshop at 10.30am; interactive theatre show at 2.00pm. All children need to be accompanied by an adult. Tickets as above.
Music Night
Our fabulous Music Night is back on Friday, 3 March! Doors open 6pm till late. Some superb bands have signed up already, including 99% Chimp, Calling Card and Mike Morgan, with more to follow. This year the event will support both Ukrainian Refugees in Wales and the Clarence Hall Refurbishment Project. Tickets available from Treebeards Bar in Crickhowell High Street – £12 in advance; £15 on the door.
Eyes Down!
Monthly Bingo returns to the Clarence Hall at 7pm on Thursday, 16 February to raise funds for our refurbishment project. Admission £10 which includes a bingo book of six games, a pen and your first drink. More information at: https:// www.clarencehallcrickhowell .org.uk/monthly-bingo-10/
