ON SATURDAY 17TH JULY ST MARTIN'S HALL WAS FORMALLY RE-OPENED UNDER ITS NEW OWNERSHIP, THE ST MARTIN'S HALL COMMUNITY TRUST.
WE WERE DELIGHTED TO HAVE CAROLE COCKBURN, MAYOR OF WAVERLY AND LOCAL COUNCILLOR, AND PETER GOOCH OF RURAL ACCESS TO SERVICES, TO DO THE HONOURS, UNVEILING THE HALL'S NEW NAMEPLATE.
WE NOW MOVE FORWARD INTO OUR SECOND PHASE - THE REFURBISHMENT OF THE HALL TO BRING IT UP TO MODERN STANDARDS.
FURTHER FUNDRAISING IS NOW NEEDED TO REFIT THE TOILETS, WITH DISABLED ACCESS, TO IMPROVE THE HALL'S KITCHEN FACILITIES, AND TO COMPLETE MUCH NEEDED CARE, MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION OF THE BUILDING.
DURING THE SUMMER BREAK THE COMMITTEE ARE CAREFULLY CLEANING THE HALL, DOING URGENT REPAIRS, PAINTING INTERNALLY AND CUTTING BACK SOME OF THE OVERGROWN VEGETATION.
VOLUNTEERS TO HELP IN ANY ASPECT OF THIS WORK. PLEASE EMAIL US OR CONTACT ONE OF THE COMMITTEE.
Photos of the opening ceremony to be found in the photo album.
INITIAL TARGET ACHIEVED! PURCHASE ACHIEVED, FUNDS STILL NEEDED FOR MODERNISATION.
SUPPORT FROM THE 'FARNHAM HERALD' AND THE BOURNE TENNIS CLUB SECURE THE HALL!
PLEASE DONATE NOW TO SUPPORT REQUIRED REPAIR AND REFURBISHMENT.
For details see 'NEWS' (left)
We are very close to the final completion of the Hall. As soon as this occurs there will be a booking page added to the website. This will give full details about the hiring of the Hall, complete with telephone number and e-mail link to our booking's secretary.
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St Martin's Hall Community Trust - Registered Charity No 1130666 - has been formed to save and maintain this village hall facility for the residents of Lower Bourne, Farnham, Surrey. The Hall is widely used by a nursery, Brownies, Guides, Yoga and for many other social activities. Our successful bid of £80,000 would not have been possible without the generous grants of £20,000 from RASP and £2000 from Farnham Town Council, donations received from the community and the continued support of The Farnham Herald, our local newspaper. Our aims are to refurbish the building and extend its community use. This is a much loved local Hall which has served several generations of Bourne residents and which is still used by old and young alike.
St Martin's Hall History
St Martin's Hall is essentially a 1950s-style building, originally erected on land behind the small church of St Martin-by-the-Green. The plot was donated for the purpose by their widows in memory of two gentlemen named Urmson Willan and Graham Barker. We understand that the Hall was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop F.F. Johnson on October 1, 1960. Several local residents contributed enormous time and effort into digging and preparing the foundations for the Hall and in helping with its subsequent assembly, decoration and maintenance. A number of them are with us still today. St Martin's Hall has therefore provided our Bourne community with almost half a century of multi-purpose service, not only for church goers but also for the wider community. The Hall is generally in good condition considering its 50-years age, and with adequate investment managed by sympathetic and attentive ownership it can continue to provide Lower Bourne with a useful and versatile meeting place for many years to come. The photograph below captures a typical recent event - the 2009 Hallowe'en Fun Day which raised nearly £800 for the St Martin's Hall Community Trust's purchase appeal fund.
