Report from Bishampton, Abberton & Throckmorton Villages Hall Trust

Carol and I will not be able to attend your meeting and I would be pleased if you would accept our apologies.

In response to a letter received from your the Clerk to the Parish Council, I give below a resume of what has been achieved by the Village Hall Trust during the past 12 months.

Trustees for the year are:- Mesdames A.Bufton, L.Cameron (Brownie rep.), S.Griffith, C.Ockenden, L.Smith, and Messrs A.Aitkin, J.Bentley (Gardening club rep.), L.Cameron (Barnstormer's rep.), E.Carter (Church rep.), P.Charlesworth, M.Holden, E.Morris (Secretary), R.Ockenden (Chairman), R. Wood (Treasurer).

This year the three clubs, mentioned last year, continue to flourish. They are.:- table tennis club (Chairman Mr Peter Averis) which meets during winter months on every other Monday evening; Bridge Club (Chairman Mr Roger Wood) meeting once a month on Thursday evenings and Gardening Club (Chairman Mr Jerry Bentley) whose meetings are approximately once a month dependent upon speakers and/or visits all of which are advertised in the Newssheet and by posters. Other groups that continue to give support are The Brownies, Toddlers and Barnstormers.

We were extremely fortunate in receiving grants from your council, Wychavon D.C., National Lottery and Severn Waste for the purchase and installation of a half pipe skate ramp. Youths from the village helped prepare the foundations. The ramp was opened to the delight of many but the umbrage of some Broad Lane residents. All Broad Lane residents were invited to a meeting that was also attended by the local police and the chairman of the Parish Council. It was called in order grievances could be aired and the hope that some compromises could be found. The ramp was immediately taken out of service. However, the Trustees were threatened with legal injunctions which they felt unable to financially underwrite. The ramp was removed to store after only approximately two month's use. An alternative site was immediately sought that would satisfy both residents and our insurers. This has not been successful to date. Grantors have been approached to see if they will accept the re-siting of the ramp in a neighbouring parish. Obviously the recipients will be expected to repay the grant made by the Bishampton P.C. and come to some arrangement with Wychavon D.C. Other grantors have stated that provided the apparatus is moved within five miles, they have no objection to the concept. Therefore, the alternative of selling the apparatus, on these terms, to an adjoining parish is being pursued.

Other work carried out at the hall during the last twelve months include:-

• Gardens around the junior play area and around the hall itself continue to be maintained and improved.
• It was reported last year that it was hoped that an agreement could be reached with insurers for the replacement of the main hall floor. Eventually achieved, the work was completed during the month of August 2002. The old floor was completely ripped out as far as the sub-base, a new D.P.M. laid which was covered with a concrete screed, 3mm thick underlay and topped with new linoleum, a specification required for sports hall flooring.
• A new island kitchen unit has been fabricated using surplus and redundant kitchen unit materials donated by villagers. This unit, fitted with a new top which matches other furniture in the kitchen, is larger and more hygienic than it's predecessor.
• Following the plastering and floor relaying, work has commenced for installing new skirting, architrave etc.
• The regime for cleaning set up last year appears to be satisfactory viz; mops, buckets and cloths having the following attributes:- Red for toilet cleaning, Blue for kitchen and bar cleaning and yellow elsewhere. The purpose of this regime is to avoid cross contamination.
• The Trustees thank Mr A.Weaver and the Millennium Committee for their financial donations that have allowed orders to be placed for the manufacture of sliding doors between the entrance foyer and the main hall. These will be erected as soon as possible and will improve the thermal and visual properties of the hall.

During fine weather, the practice wall and junior play area continue to be well used on a daily basis.

Petty vandalism continues around the hall. This increased immediately after the skate ramp had to be removed.

The practice of making monthly reports in the 'Newssheet' has continued and the trustees appreciate the support given by the editors etc.

Lettings for the hall continue to increase.

Construction of the rear corridor is still outstanding which will complete the original approved design for the hall refurbishment. Finance is being sought.

Fundraising events which have taken place during the last twelve months included:-

• Soup Kitchen;
• Open Gardens and barbecue;
• Oktoberfeste, Jazz and Pig roast;
• Christmas Fayre;
• Christmas Dinner Dance;
• Safari Supper and a Victorian evening with slides.

I trust the above will enable you to make your annual report but should any further information be required please let me know.

R.H.Ockenden
Chairman B.A.T.V.H.T.

Hon Sec E.Morris Esq. 'Housemartins' Babylon Lane BISHAMPTON Pershore Worcs. WR10 2NN Tel. 013 8646 2075 edmorris@globalinternet.co.uk	Hon Treas R.B.S.Wood Esq. 'The Granary' 2 Manor Farm ABBERTON Pershore Worcs. Tel. 013 8646 2133	Chairman R.H.Ockenden Esq. 'Moat House' BISHAMPTON Pershore Worcs. WR10 2NH Tel. 013 8646 2643 ocky@ukf.net