Winchmore Hill Memorial Hall

2025 was again a very successful year, with some substantial improvements to the Hall, and to its facilities.   I would thank every member of the Hall Committee for the significant contributions that they have all made to this year.

The most important individual event was, of course, the new toilets, and I would single out Laurence particularly, for his huge professional handling of this project. Without Laurence’s knowledge and energy we simply would not have achieved this.   Thank you.

This project was immensely complex due to regulations governing major development projects having to be applied to a modest Memorial Hall wanting to update their loos!  I must also thank our regular lets for their tolerance whilst the work was done, and Patsy for managing to, somehow, dovetail the builder and the bookings without ever actually having to close the Hall.   A brilliant piece of organisation.

The regular maintenance of the Hall has been under John’s wing, and we have seen, amongst many other things, repairs to the roof and guttering, new extractor in the kitchen, and repairs to the power supply. 

We have installed LED lighting throughout, for which we would thank Peter for his professional help.   Equally Adam has brought his hospitality skills to the team, which helped to generate a very, very helpful surplus at the Rock and Roll night.

We have had excellent results from our contribution to Open Gardens, and to the Village show.  It is sad that the Residents Association has been forced to cancel Open Gardens, but without the volunteers to show their gardens, the RA had no option.    However, we are working with the RA to organise different events, both for the benefit of the village, and hopefully generate a surplus for Hall Funds.

I hope that it goes without saying that the Committee is immensely grateful to Richard for being our Treasurer for nearly 4 years, and in his own quiet, inimitable way, keeping us all on the financial straight and narrow.  Richard has asked if he might step down as soon as a replacement can be found.   

Richard’s treasurers Report to our AGM, and the accounts submitted to the Charities Commission, contain one very clear message, that the Committee keeps in the forefront of their minds.   We are keeping our costs under tight control and maximising our revenue from lettings.  This is allowing our overheads to be covered, a small amount of the maintenance backlog to be funded whilst still generating a small surplus.  It is events that allow us to make progress and create facilities for the Village and for the future.   

We have spent a lot of money in the last couple of years, but that money has NOT been taken from our modest reserves, but has come from events, donations and other fund raising.   As a qualifying Registered Charity, we can now claim Gift Aid on much of our revenue raising.  For example, the revenue we raise during the Village Show does qualify for Gift Aid, and all goes to the future of the Hall.

The time taken to get all the necessary approvals for the toilet project did inevitably delay other tasks we wanted to do.   We can now move forward again, and you will have seen that the Hall has been fully redecorated, with new curtains just hung (again thanks to Patsy), the outside areas cleared and pressure washed, amongst many other improvements.

We have just ordered new seating for the Hall, for which everyone who uses the Hall will, no doubt, be very grateful.

So a good, constructive year, with much progress, and, inevitably with a 104 year old building, much yet to do.

I must again thank every member of the Hall Committee for it is they who make things happen.

The hall is now ready for new bookings as well as making a welcoming space for existing regular users such as Toddles on Wednesday morning and children's dance classes on Monday evening and Saturday morning.

If you are interested in booking the hall for a one-off event such as a party please go to the website winchmorehill.community where you can book and pay and see Conditions of Hire, or email and ask for a viewing. Residents get a discounted rate of £18 per hour for single events. If you are interested in starting a new regular event such as keep fit, please send an email to bookings@winchmorehill.community or telephone Patsy on 07596 752072. Regular users from the village get a discounted rate of £12 per hour.

 Fred Jenns and Patsy Gilbert