LADBROKE VILLAGE HALL

Ladbroke Village Hall is located on the Old Banbury Road opposite The Bell pub. Built in the 1930's as a hall to accommodate ex service men, it has served us well for over 70 years as an important community centre. Though lovingly cared for by many committees, sadly, it is reaching the end of its life, and we are looking to replace it with a brand new hall in the near future. Until such time though, it is business as usual and the Village Hall is still much used; when decorated in all its finery, the resulting atmosphere is friendly and very welcoming.

Our Village Hall provides us with an essential facility to host a range of activities including regular meetings of the Table Tennis Club, Women’s Institute, Whist Drive, Aerobics/Yoga and Parish Council. Many a village party has also been held in Village Hall, whether it be to celebrate birthdays young and old, or to fund raise for local organisations or special events such as the Tsunami Relief Fund in 2004. We have hosted Safari Suppers, Quiz Nights, Bonfire/Halloween Parties, Themed Evenings and two Summer Fete BBQs with a Jazz Band. Our local band The Blooze Kings regularly play, and even recorded their live CD, in our Hall.

We can accommodate 90 people at seated events, 120 standing. Our comfortable padded chairs, and tables both small and large, mean seating arrangements can be flexible. Our large tables are perfect for laying out food, buffet style, or items for sale/display; we also hire them out. We have a modern kitchen with new cooker, fridge and microwave and crockery and cutlery which enables hot food to be served through the hatch into the main hall.

Regular Events

Table Tennis – Mon evenings 7.30pm. Contact David Halsall 811838

Women’s Institute – 4th Thursday 7.30pm Shirley Huxley 07810 127279

Parish Council – 3rd Wednesday 7.30pm Contact Derek Batty 817278

Village Hall AGM - usually in October or November

Parish Council Village Meetings - usually in April

Millennium Green AGM - usually in October

Committee

The Village Hall is a charitable organisation managed on a volunteer basis by the following committee;

Chair  Margaret Bosworth 817312

Treasurer Debra Neil  812668

Secretary Christine Baker 811606

Trustees

Moira Brierley 814458

Debra Neal 812668

Alan Lochhead 810886

Alan Lord 815153

Mark Teverson 814814

Hiring

Hall hire is £10/hour

Booking contact: Nicky Lewis – tel: 815196

Village Hall History

The Village Hall is a single storey wooden building alongside the main road, diagonally opposite the Bell pub. It was first mentioned in a Trust Deed of 29th September 1925, but in recent times had fallen into disuse, partly due to the availability of the village school building for meetings etc. A committee was reformed with the object of improving the facilities at the hall and reopening it for use by villagers. In 1987 it was recognised as a charity by the Charity Commission who advised on the details of a new constitution.

The opening took place in May 1980 after much hard work, including the installation of toilets and a kitchen allowing the hall to come into regular use. Finance to meet electricity, rates and insurance was generated from hiring fees. Supplementary income to ensure liquidity and fiunds for further improvements and repairs was sought from fund raising events, donations and grants. Under the new constitution the committee are subject to bi annual election by the village and are responsible for the day to day organisation and maintenance.

By 1989 it was found that the wooden floor was rotten and required replacing. The hall was closed and the work was completed in a short time with tremendous efforts of villagers. However, soon after, the dreaded EEC Health Regulations came into force. It was clear that drastic alterations were needed if the hall was to remain open for business. Fortunately, with the aid of Grants and local financial support, over £10,000 was raised. Local builder Cyril Wright took on the mammoth task and in 1993 a new cloakroom and toilet block was built in the old storage/committee room and the kitchen was gutted and refitted. The old toilets were demolished leaving an increased floor space inside the main hall.

There is still more fundraising needed because there was no storage area, the roof required sealing and improved heating was much needed. Whilst the alterations were in course, the committee took advantage of gas arriving in Ladbroke and had it connected with a view to using it for heating when finances permit.