History of Trumpington Village Hall 4

This is the final part of the history of Trumpington Village Hall. For an introduction to the series, see History of Trumpington Village Hall .

Display panel about the history of the Village Hall, Centenary Exhibition, October 2008. Photo: Stephen Brown.

Over a hundred years, the Village Hall has had its ups and downs. In the beginning, it was considered by many to be the Men’s Institute. In 1921 a committee member firmly asserted that he refused to refer to the building as the Village Hall. However, once the Billiard Room was built in 1924 for the Men’s Institute, the main hall was well used by a variety of organizations. Saturday dances with live music by local groups were popular in the 40s and 50s. When the Church School closed in 1950 and became the Church Hall, the Village Hall lost custom – particularly church groups such as the Mothers’ Union. By 1990, the Village Hall was feeling its age and big improvements at the Church Hall made it look even worse. However, in the 2000s there were significant improvements and these, combined with the closure of the Church Hall have resulted in greatly increased usage by young and old, local groups and commercial companies. Recent changes have included the redecoration of the Jubilee Room and renovation of the toilets and kitchens.

A number of individuals have made major contributions to the work of the hall in recent decades. The Trustees have included Sir Francis Pemberton and Antony Pemberton, together with a number of the local vicars and councillors. Members of the Management Committee have included Bert Truelove, Terry Andrew, Alec Pitman and Richard Glasswell. Trevor Willis and Bob Cuthbert have been the caretakers during the 2000s. Richard Glasswell was Booking Secretary from January 2004 to April 2009, when Roger Randall was appointed to the new post of part-time Manager.

To mark the Centenary of the Village Hall in 2008, a Summer Prom was held at Trumpington Hall, a Centenary Exhibition was held in the Village Hall and Antony Pemberton presented a notice board made of English oak.

For current information about the Hall and its facilities, see the Village Hall web site or contact the Manager (tel. 01223 847433).

In 2002, Trumpington was left with no surgery. Sir Francis Pemberton offered land at the rear of the Hall for a temporary surgery. Left to right: Dr A.R. Dansie, Councillor Philippa Slatter (then Mayor), Sir Francis Pemberton, pictured at the opening of the surgery on 27 November 2002. Photo: Stephen Brown. Similar photo reproduced in Trumpington Past & Present , p. 75.

Golden Wedding Anniversary, Mary and Ted Cox, 19 July 2008. Photo: Mary Cox.

Summer Prom at Trumpington Hall, 14 June 2008. Photo: Andrew Roberts.

The opening reception of the Centenary exhibition, 20 October 2008: Martin Jones, Andrew Roberts, Shirley Brown, Helen Pemberton, Victoria Pemberton, Antony Pemberton, Stephen Brown, Sir Francis Pemberton, Peter Dawson, Michael Hendy, Sylvia Jones, Hiltrud Hall. Photo: Cambridge Evening News.

Visitors looking at the display panels, Centenary Exhibition, 21-25 October 2008. Photo: Stephen Brown.

Visitors talking with Shirley Brown about the village’s history, Centenary Exhibition, 21-25 October 2008. Photo: Stephen Brown.

Commemorative notice board, October 2008. Photo: Andrew Roberts.

Trumpington Village Hall, October 2007. Photo: Andrew Roberts.

Examples of users, 1960s-present

Mark Arnold
Marshall’s Social Club
Midland Carpets
National Association of Decorative & Fine Art Societies
Newmarket Dog Club
North Road Championship Pigeon Club
Rosenberg Fabrics
Slimming World
Soft Furnishing
Terrible Tots
Territorial Association
Texas Rebels Western Dance Club
3rd Trumpington Brownies
Trumpington Allotment Society
Trumpington Bowls Club
Trumpington British Legion
Trumpington British Legion Social Club
Trumpington Conservative Association
Trumpington Elderly Action Group
Trumpington Gardening Society
Trumpington Horticultural Society
Trumpington Local History Group
Trumpington Men’s British Legion
Trumpington Over 60s Friendship Club
Trumpington Parochial Church Council
Trumpington Residents’ Association
Trumpington Rovers FC
Trumpington Tornadoes FC
Trumpington Tuesday Group
Trumpington Women’s Guild
Trumpington Women’s Institute
UK Independence Party
Venture Scouts
Vicarage Ballet School
Vital Communities
Walk ‘n’ Dodge Square Dancing Club
Weight Watchers
Whitlocks Residents
Women’s Royal British Legion

Area Health Authority: Child Health Clinic
Artificial Limb Association
Availl Health Care
Bernese Breeders Association
Bingo (Trumpington Tornadoes)
Bishop’s Court Residents
Cambridge & District Fuchsia Society
Cambridge & Hunts Contract Bridge Club
Cambridge Area Swimming Club
Cambridge Bridge Club
Cambridge City Council:
exhibitions
public meetings
Local, County and National Elections
Holiday Play Group
Over 50s Exercise Class
Mingle Munch
Girls Group
Cambridge Conservatives
Cambridge Federation of Women’s Institutes
Cambridge Filipino Christian Community
Cambridge Friendship
Cambridge Senior Muslims
Cambridge Wholesale Society
Cambridgeshire Dog Training Club
Caravan Club
City of Cambridge Brass Band
Conservative Association
Coop Education Committee
Crossways House Residents’ Association
Fellowship Club
1st Trumpington Rainbows
44th Cambridge (Trumpington) Scout Group
Gilmerton Court Residents
Granta Swimming Club
Jark Health Care
Knitting Wools
Kung Fu/Shaolin
Labour Party