They Put the Fun into Fundraising!

As a charity worker myself, it is interesting to read about the many and varied ways that villagers clubbed together to fundraise for a village hall.

In 1955, the headmaster of Itchingfield School in Sussex divided the pupils into four houses, pitting them all against each other in a salvage collection contest. From that point on, youngsters were to be found around the Barns Green area collecting waste paper, rags and milk bottle tops. They piled up a staggering two tons worth, raising a not inconsiderable (for those days) £10 towards a new village hall. Other activities planned included a square dance (you don’t hear of those anymore) and a series of Harvest Home suppers.

Barns Green Village Hall, built from salvage!

The citizens of Hornby in Lancashire dragged Vera Lynn over from Blackpool to open a June fete and sign cookery books to raise money for their village hall extension fund. They had the foresight to set up a savings club for the fete, which resulted in a “brisk sale at the stalls”. These spending attractions included an ice cream stall run by Young Conservatives and a white elephant run by the choral society.

But top marks for initiative must go to Hawkinge, Acrise and Paddlesworth Women’s Institute who “grew a village hall from a sack of potatoes.” Each WI member took two spuds home and planted them in her garden. The resulting crop was sold to start the fund off. What an inventive fundraising ‘a-peel’!

Interested in fundraising history? click here to download my pamphlet exploring the fundraising methods of Lilian Baylis

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The Curious Case of the Whitminster Village Hall Thief

This article is copied from The Illustrated Police News, 14 February 1935: Judge Thanked "Thank you very much, sir, I've got off very light." Remarked John Moore, 76, when sentenced by Mr Justice Hawke at Gloucester Assizes to six months imprisonment on charges of breaking into Whitminster Village Hall and stealing articles valued at 4 shillings and 6 pence. There was a term of 344 days remaining of a previous sentence, and Moore was told that he would have to serve that time. P.S. (Police Sergeant) Howkins revealed that since 1904 Moore had been continually in and out of prison. Since that time he had been sentenced seven times to penal servitude, involving in all 23 years. In addition, he was in 1927 sentenced to four years imprisonment and had served further sentences most of them in respect of house breaking. Moore's last sentence was three year's penal servitude. Moore handed in a statement to the judge, beginning "I most respectfully wish t...

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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