THE management committee of Bratton’s Jubilee Hall, are celebrating their 50th anniversary of running the village’s popular venue and community hub.
To celebrate 50 years of the committee, there will be a party for children, followed by a dance in the evening to music played by local band, Funked Up, on Saturday 6th October.
The committee is also using this celebratory year to commend the efforts of committees, past and present, who have through hard work and dedication enabled the hall to be updated and host entertainment and community events, whilst continuing to run as a charity.
Chairman of the hall, Ken Davis explained, “The original village hall was to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, hence the name The Jubilee Hall. In 1967 Bratton won the Best Kept Village Competition and was awarded a prize of £25. Lady Seymour, supported by Mr William (Billy) Gale, suggested that this money (a significant amount in those days) should be spent in improving the village amenities which included the village hall.
“As a result, a committee was formed in the following May, 1968, to oversee the improvements in the hall. Thus the first Jubilee Hall management committee was formed.
“This committee was chaired by Lady Seymour and members included representatives of local organisations within the village. The main use of the hall was purely for local organisations and occasional parties.
“With the increased use of the hall it was decided in the late 1990s to seek to expand the hall and update the facilities. As a result, a steering committee was set up to seek funding to achieve this, comprising a few members of the then management committee.
“After several attempts to gain funding, they succeeded in obtaining a National Lottery grant of £250,000 and further £80,000 through several other local grants. The result was a hall that is twice its original size, with up-to-date facilities including a stage with changing facilities, a new toilet area and kitchen to name a few.
“It was considered, at the time, to be a flagship in village halls in the area. These improvements were completed in June 2002, to align with our present Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.”
