Things I Have Found in Village Halls

Things I Have Found in Village Halls - A Book Exchange Shelf

My photograph of the Book Exchange Shelf at a Derbyshire Community Hall is somewhat obscured by a folded trestle table, which I was not about to move to get the perfect shot. I know trestle tables, they bite. Those fold out legs are the cause of many a finger blister.

But you get the idea. Anyone is free to take a book from the shelf and do what they want with it. And you can leave your unwanted ones too. Ideal if you’ve just finished a novel that you weren’t that fussed about while you waited for the interminable length of time that it takes Brownies to finish.

What a great scheme – everywhere should have one. A free book encourages you to broaden your horizons. Where you might not pay £1 or £2 for a book from a charity shop in case you don’t like it, a free shelf encourages you to give it a try and possibly open a whole new world. Maybe you never thought you’d like Catherine Cookson – but then you pick up a free copy of one of her books and love it – and bingo you’ve got years of happy reading ahead of you.

If you look closely on these shelves, “War and Peace” is there. Maybe you might be able to get through it after all…you don’t know until you try.

My books aren't quite free (unless you do Kindle Unlimited) but they are as cheap as they come - click here

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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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