Last year the Village Hall Management Committee set out its plans for redecorating both the Village Hall and Youth Centre, internally and externally.  This is a fairly extensive programme, which also includes urgent, and unfortunately expensive, repairs needed to the Youth Centre toilets.

Finding the funds to do this work has become a major first step.  Last year we raised £1,500 from the Bridge Evening (to be held again this year on September 13^th), but the village's response to our needs continues to be enormously supportive.  We have received major contributions from the Billmeier Trust, from Elstead Parish Council, and from Surrey County Council.  We are delighted too to have been selected by the W.I. as the charity they will be supporting this year. Thanks as well to the organizers of the Elstead Pancake Race, from which we will also be benefiting shortly.

The first signs of redecoration were evident to those who attended the recent Elstead Cinema showing when the freshly painted back wall of the Village Hall was used as a screen.  Plans are under way for further internal redecoration work to follow, although a start on outside redecoration will need to wait until warmer weather later in the year.  We are still in discussion with builders on the best way of solving the leakage problems in the Youth Centre toilet block, where the work done will include the provision of facilities for the disabled.  There is a possibility that the block may need to be completely rebuilt.

Users of the Village Hall, as well as his many friends, will be pleased to know that Ben Tilly is making star progress since breaking his hip just before Christmas.  Ben is continuing his role as Booking Secretary, although we are currently seeking someone to do periodic cleaning.  Our sincere thanks go to Ben's wife Peggy for standing in while Ben is incapacitated.

The Village Hall plays a major part in the centre of our village life.  It is there for the village, and is well used by the village.  It is a lovely facility to have, and we are continually grateful to everyone who supports it.

For all your support, and for the encouragement it gives to those responsible for running the Village Hall, we want to say a very big Thank You.