Village Hall Secretary on Trial

Village Hall room hire payments have often been a contentious issue, and rows have been recorded throughout the 20th Century. In February 1923, one such row erupted at Liphook Village Hall and the West Sussex Gazette recorded the subsequent Petersfield Petty Sessions trial.

Mr W, a hairdresser by trade and also Secretary of Liphook Village Hall, was in the dock. He was accused of assaulting a Mr P, who ran a variety company. It all began when Mr W charged Mr P 16s 6d for use of the hall, when Mr P thought that he should have been charged 12s 6d. Quite a difference. Mr P marched on the Village Hall Committee in "an excited and offensive manner" and complained bitterly about the way he had been treated. Mr W defended himself by saying that Mr P had neglected to pay anything at all on a previous occasion.

Personal insults were exchanged, and then Mr W finally fulfilled a promise to land Mr P one on the jaw. The Village Hall Chairman defended his Secretary's action by saying that Mr P had "treated the committee as if they were rag-a-muffins instead of men".

Mr W was fined 5s, but costs were not awarded. A lesson to us all to be clear on room hire charges.

Fisticuffs at the Odeon - find out more here

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