The Village Hall in Wartime

The village or parish hall really came into its own during World War Two, being put to many uses. Some of the most entertaining contemporary reports in local newspapers focus on the fundraising drives that were held to raise money for a wide range of wartime causes, from hospital funds to Spitfire purchasing.

In May 1940, Saighton Village Hall in Cheshire put on a concert in order to raise funds for the local hospital. I would dearly love to nip back in time to witness the following delightful programme:

Joan White reprised her famous role as a child evacuee, including a monologue entitled “Mrs Wilkinson-Henn”

Jack Reid, the Chester ventriloquist, brought along his two dolls, Tony and Little Sir Echo

Donald Davies gave a xylophone recital, while Helen Noble played the accordion and H Brown the banjo-lele

Finally, Mr and Mrs Tooth and their friend Mr Prendergast acted out two short sketches

Sometimes I think that despite our modern claims to sophistication, we just don’t know how to put on a good concert anymore.

Google Street View image of Saighton Village Hall - a delightful venue for a fun concert

A show of ingenuity was displayed by Brockhampton WI in March 1942, when they put on a parade of disguised members. Presumably villagers had to guess who was behind various wigs and clever make up. It sounds simple, but probably a good laugh was had by all and it’s just not the sort of thing that can be done anymore, as modern villagers probably barely know each other to begin with.

The village of Naunton had a pig club that met at their village hall, with the idea of providing food locally. In 1942 they celebrated rearing 45 pigs between them.

Finally, I had to smile at this ‘Dad’s Army-esque’ report from the Thanet Advertiser in 1940. Members of Minster Council arrived at the parish hall for their meeting, only to find that it had not been blacked out.

“A hurried conference was held on the pavement and it was decided to adjourn to the ARP post in the White Horse Inn.”

What a delightfully convenient location to hold a dreary old meeting in. The whole thing was spoiled though by a query as to the ownership of the pens that council members were using. Did they belong to the council, or did they belong to the ARP?

Sadly, they belonged to the ARP.

I've got plenty of WW2 themed stories in my Amazon bookshop - take a look at one of my best-sellers set in a London cinema in 1944 - click here

And click here to buy the book of the blog

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The Curious Case of the Whitminster Village Hall Thief

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Woods Ware China at the Serving Hatch - The Book!

I have now put together a book to accompany this blog, featuring all the best bits and much more besides, about the development and use of village halls over the past century. It costs £1.29 for a Kindle download and £3.99 for a printed version. Here's the blurb: "Enter any village hall and look at the noticeboard. The range of activities taking place these days is enough to keep anyone entertained. Cinema evenings, keep fit classes, scouts, Women’s Institute, St John’s Ambulance, lunch clubs, support groups - all keeping the physical and spiritual on the straight and narrow. Where would we be without the village hall? What a marvellous innovation, and one that seems to grow in importance as we realise that we have lost sight of community somewhat, and need to nurse it back to life. You might, if you were in a particularly philosophical mood while hanging around the vestibule, wonder where and how it all began." English village halls have been a fixture of our lands...

The Story of a Harvest Tea, 1945

Extract from “The Countryman” journal, Spring 1946 At the end of the casual workers’ season last year we had as usual our harvest tea. The “boughten” cakes must have been fairly good; and the bread and butter was helped down by some home-made preserves and potted meat. Although it was a poor spread, things being as they are in the food line, our guests seemed to understand and enjoyed it…for decorations there were flags, and the words on a rather faded portrait flag stood out, “God bless Queen Victoria.” After the tea Harriet recited “The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck” and “Dare to be a Daniel”, and sang “The Bells of Aberdovey” and “Don’t Hang My Harry; You’ll Break His Poor Mother’s Heart.” During the applause the board placed on apple boxes for a seat collapsed. There was a bit of a mix-up and it was agreed that Polly, who weighs 15 stone, should have a box to herself. Up to this time young Tommy had had 10 cups of tea and 15 cakes, and Jim had dropped...

Woods Ware China at the Serving Hatch

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