Potters throw hall celebration at Graffham

STARS of television's '˜Great British Pottery Throw Down' will be joining Graffham villagers to celebrate the recently completed £60,000 refurbishment of the Empire Hall on Saturday (March 19).

The celebrations will take place during Graffham’s Easter Market in the hall which starts at 10.30am

At 2pm Joanna Morris, Graffham’s very own star of the show will lead the celebration ceremony.

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“Twelve months ago, a BBC film crew was filming at the Graffham Easter Market as background for Joanna Morris,” said chairman of the trustees Jim Kirke.

“This year she and other members of the cast will be showing their work.”

The market gives villagers their first chance to celebrate the major refurbishment which has taken 18 months and resulted in major improvements and a big increase in users.

“In addition to the less glamorous elements of drain repairs and removing an asbestos shed, the project has upgraded heating, improved insulation, installed new lights for both the rooms and the stage, re done the wooden floor, redecorated the inside and the outside of the hall and installed a commercial cooking range,” said Jim.

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The hall has been at the centre of life in Graffham since it opened in 1907 and is used every week by a wide range of groups.

It is also home to the part time Post Office, visiting chiropodist and osteopath.

The Veolia Environmental Trust, which awards grants through the Landfill Communities Fund, The Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All, Chichester District Council and the Grange Community Association in Midhurst have provided the main source of the funds. In addition private donations have been made and funds raised from various fundraising activities.

“The Easter Market will be an excellent way to celebrate the revamp,” said Jim. “It is the focus for a wide range of community events and these improvements have ensured it will be for many years to come.”

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