There were few hall-users at Fernhurst Village Hall's annual meeting, but committee members said they believed this was a positive sign, showing there were no complaints.
Chairman Peter Taylor, reported that since the renovations were finally finished, there had been a marked increase in the hall's use.
Kiddy Kickers, a pantomime run by Haslemere Performing Arts, had been helped by new front-of-house lighting, Fe
rnhurst Films were pleased with the blackout blinds in all the windows and it had even been possible to film part of BBC programme Dragon's Den there.
More children's birthday parties were being held in the hall and there were bookings for wedding receptions now the hall was looking so much better, it was reported.
Two of the trustees are leaving after a combination of 30 years' work.
John Brett has represented the Good Companions for seven years and Marjory Heaton has been on the committee for 23 years.
Peter said Marjory had made a wonderful contribution to the hall, always being there when needed and over the last 18 years raising hundreds of pounds with her coffee mornings, which started in the village hall, but which she has continued in her own home.
Also leaving is treasurer Colin Langridge, who agreed the finances were in good shape but said the hall 'cannot afford to be philanthropic!'
The increase in usage had resulted in an increase of more than £4,000 (35 per cent) in income from hire fees.
But, the meeting heard, this year's rent increases were above inflation because of an above-inflation increase in fuel costs.
In addition, insurance on the 100-year-old hall had gone up by 21 per cent.
The trustees now are chairman Peter Taylor; John Bounds representing table tennis; Shirley Arnold, Good Companions; Peter Curry; John Denning, Horticultural Society; Christine Maynard, Fernhurst Society and the Archive; Glenys Parkhouse; Penny and John Self who, as he is a parish councillor liaises with the parish council; John Smith, St Margaret's Parochial Church Council, and Matt and Mavis Welland.
The new treasurer is Melvyn Beynon, who volunteered hs services and was appointed after the meeting, while Marion Colgate and Mary Odi continue as minutes secretary and secretary.
The hall celebrates its 100th birthday next year and there are plans to invite all the groups who use the hall to join in with this on the weekend of April 25/26, 2009, the nearest weekend to the actual original opening day.
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The full article contains 444 words and appears in OS-Midhurst Observer newspaper.
