Community DPS:Layout 1
4/20/17
MENDIP TIMES
1:11 PM
Page 71
Village hall gets a new lease of life CAMERTON Community Hall looks to have a secure future following the election of new officers. There was anxiety that it might close at an extraordinary general meeting, called following the resignations of committee members. Now the hall has a new chairman, vice chair, treasurer, secretary, booking secretary and committee members. Cyril James, the chairman when the hall was built back in the 70s, gave a brief history of the hall and how the site was given over to the Recreational Hall Committee by the National Coal Board Welfare Service providing the committee could achieve charity status. This was to be a lengthy process, as was the struggle for funding, with the committee left to raise £21,000 itself. The meeting heard that had it not been for people like Cyril, Bete Ashman, Jim Hawkins, Brian Emery and a whole list of people who helped to raise the money the hall would never have been built. The Camerton Recreation Hall was opened by the architect of the hall Peter Kirkland who provided his services free as he lived in the parish. Also there on the day was Ken Biggs Contractors who it is believed generously worked on a “no profit” basis. Clive Turner, the new chairman, has outlined the challenges
COMMUNITY
ahead and the need to get the hall used by the parishioners and to increase the hire periods used with the help of a reconstructed website and banners on the side of the hall. Dances, bingo, coffee mornings, keep fit, talks, youth activities, film shows, and concerts are among the many events suggested. The first event, the Easter Fun Day, was a big hit. The chairman thanked Julieann Biggs, the organiser, who dressed up in a bunny costume and had her face painted, and the many helpers, committee members and friends of the hall who had been on the field all day setting up, selling raffle tickets and serving food and drink, also the villagers who turned up in their droves to support this important first hall event. Now they are planning a summer fete in July and hoping for another fantastic day.
Transport charity celebrates
Fun bus
MENDIP Community Transport has celebrated its 15th anniversary with a reception at Glastonbury Town Hall, at which Somerset’s Lord Lieutenant, Annie Maw, named its latest bus. The charity operates more than 20 buses for community groups, the disabled, elderly, frail, visually or mobility impaired and other disadvantaged groups and individuals, living in the Mendip and Sedgemoor areas.
THE Big Blue Community Bus proved to be one of the highlights of the Easter holidays for the children of Pensford, with youngsters enjoying every minute of its visit to the village. The bus, which was upgraded in 2016, visits several villages in the B&NES area weekly and also runs holiday play schemes.
MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 71