Fairwarp Village Hall Centenary Lunch - Saturday 21 June 2025

Did the Village Hall receive a telegram from the King – sadly no, but we did sing it a very rousing “Happy Birthday” to celebrate the Centenary of Fairwarp Village Hall’s construction.  And there was good music, and there was good food and there was good company. 

The legal position of the Fairwarp Village Hall was established by a Declaration of Trust dated 19 March 1923.  However, the Hall was not built until 1924 when it was registered as a Charity under the name of The Fairwarp Institute and Reading Room.  Between 1939 and 1945 it ceased to operate, and when reconstituted after the war, it became known as The Fairwarp Village Hall, retaining it charitable status.

There was a small exhibition in the Hall that included the memories of Helen Rowland – Mums and Toddlers Group (MATA); those of Elizabeth Gutteridge – the Pre-School group including a scrapbook of year photos; Jan Endacott – Exercise and the Village; and, Angela Tilly – including an Easter Parade, Hello Cello and Make Music with your Child.  Elizabeth Tavener who runs the Sunflower Quilters in the Hall brought a selection of quilts made by her group for us to admire. 

All the Fairwarp WI scrapbooks were on display. The Women’s Institute (WI) was formed in 1915 to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. Since then, the organisation’s aims have broadened, and the WI is now the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK. Fairwarp WI began in March 1921 and has been meeting in Fairwarp Village Hall from the beginning.  So, the scrapbooks are as much a record of the Hall as they are of the WI.

The celebration took place in the car park with tents to protect from the heat, and a tent to hold the band – a mainly local group of friends assembled by Nigel Bagge.  There was a sumptuous spread provided by Secret Suppers on the Green – the brainchild of Tracy Atchison and Kathleen Davenport – with Michelle Pape assisting.  We celebrated our Village Hall’s 100 years as we listened to the band playing and we ate our food - there was quiche, and coleslaw, and hot potato salad, and a green salad, followed by meringues, cream and strawberries – an unassembled Eton Mess.

A few thank yous: the Committee for setting it up and their support for the idea; Tracy and Kathleen for the marvellous food; Nigel and his friends for their music, and to Jenny Scott for looking after the Hall so well, and John Lazenby for always being there to solve Hall problems.  And for Fairwarp Village for coming to help us celebrate with such gusto.i