You will all be aware that the hall now has a new kitchen, new roof and new windows, is packed with insulation, re-lined and plastered, with an insulated floor ready for the final boards to be laid. Before that, however, we need to paint the room. There’s always a catch, isn’t there?

The plaster should be thoroughly dry by Thursday 26th April, and we are looking for volunteers to paint on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – and Sunday if it isn’t finished by then. There is also some preparation work, so if you have any time at all Monday through Saturday, please let Tim Haldon know on 381278. He will be delighted to hear from you and your help will be most welcome. Just turn up if you don’t remember to ring. If you can only give an hour, it will make a huge difference. Some work could be done in the evening if it suits you. We need things to be cleaned and sanded down, and woodwork to be primed and painted, plus some general cleaning. There will also be some general “tidying up” to do. Nothing requires great skill. All materials provided.

Once this work has been done, the floor will be fitted in the week commencing 30th April – and phase one will be pretty well complete.

Phase two, which includes an extension at the back of the hall, has already started and will provide us with much-needed second entrance and storage space.

Please come and help out if you can – this is the time for everyone to do their bit, and the results will be amazing.

It has taken a long time but we are nearly there – soon we can celebrate with “a bit of a do.”

The Village Hall Committee

See the attachments to learn more about Garri-Gnomes, with prizes sponsored by Haldon’s Sweet Shop, and this year’s challenging Competition Categories.

The Children’s Fancy Dress theme this year is SUPERSTARS, and as usual prizes are sponsored by the Wilkin family in memory of Ethel Wilkin. Please gather by the Tree Seat on the Green before 1 pm for a procession to the main area for judging just after the Opening Ceremony by Jeanette Reynolds of the George and Dragon.

GARRIGILL CARNIVAL entry form 2011

Gnome poster

Carnival Garri-Gnomes

Charity number: 1000874

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

with

CHEESE AND WINE

This AGM, which all residents of Garrigill are invited to attend, will take place on

Wednesday 29th June 2011
at 7.30 pm

in the Village Hall

The Agenda will include updates on all matters relating to the hall as well as the election of trustees

See you there!

Lodestone is an event for you to exchange, buy and sell local produce, services and resources – anything that you think might be valued by someone else. This might be bric-a-brac, artisan food, cosmetics, seedlings and plants, vintage clothing, books, drawings, poetry, web pages to share, musical groups to form, collaborations to develop…

If you have items to sell, exchange, barter or give away, all you need to do is to turn up with your goods and make your pitch (doors open for sellers at 10.30am). To cover our expenses, we’ll take 10% commission on sales, and receive donations on other exchanges. If you just want to come along and browse what’s on offer, you’re welcome. Entrance is free.

There will be locally-produced refreshments available all day. As well as buying, selling and exchanging, use the occasion to meet new friends and enjoy it as a social event. There’s play equipment for children at the rear of the hall and a safe play field. You might even be able to book a session in St.John’s Pool, adjacent to the hall, for a swim and a session in the spa. The George & Dragon is open, so you only have to walk 50m to enjoy a drink. If the weather’s nice, you can sit out at the chairs and table on the village green, or at the carved oak seat in the shade of the huge tree.

This event is being promoted in association with Sustainable Alston Moor (SAM), which is a group with a shared interest in looking at Alston Moor’s need and capacity to make itself more sustainable.

We look forward to seeing you at Garrigill Village Hall.

Afternoon Tea in the hall: £80.00

Auction of Promises at the George and Dragon: £560.41

This is a fantastic result. Thanks to all who attended, and to all those who gave generously of goods, money and time.

The Village Hall Committee

Open the attachments to read about

the afternoon Tea Party on the Village Green and
the Auction of Promises in the George and Dragon in the evening.
There may be another event outside Garrigill but the eyes of the world’s press will no doubt be on our activities!

Do come along to meet friends and to support fund raising for the Village Hall Refurbishment.

Village Hall

To date, we have obtained grants worth £20,000, and in addition we have decided to spend £25,000 of village money, to enable work to start this Summer. This leaves us with very little in reserve but the money has been raised just for this purpose and we know that everyone is keen for the hall to be upgraded.

You will see activity around the hall as estimates are obtained and a programme of improvements commences. This expenditure gives us a good start, but we need to raise more money through fund raising and grant applications. Everyone will be aware that grant money is not easy to obtain in these difficult times.

Therefore we also need people to volunteer their time to help with specific tasks, as there is a lot of work to be done with limited resources. Even a couple of hours will make a difference. If you have a specific skill, even better. We will post requests for help with specific tasks as the programme of work evolves, and you may be approached directly by committee members as we progress. Please give whatever help you can to make the hall a meeting place we can be proud to use.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ON FRIDAY 29TH APRIL.

Tea Party pdf
Auction of Promises

The Village Hall Committee

Village Hall Feasibility Report final draft