History of Trumpington Village Hall 11

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

Continue with the next part of the history of Trumpington Village Hall.

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

In 1962, the Trustees (chaired by F.W.W. Pemberton, later Sir Francis) formed a Management Committee to control the affairs of the Hall, with E.N. Clark as Chairman and J.R. Harper as Secretary/Treasurer. In May 1962, the Committee circulated a letter to residents with information about the changes. They explained that the main hall was available for hire, but the rear hall was devoted to a Social Club which was administered by the British Legion and was open to membership by any adult male of Trumpington. The Committee identified a number of problems, including the need for roof repairs, new flooring in the main hall, redecoration and improved heating, lighting, kitchen facilities and toilets. They recognised that this work would require major expenditure and that no appeal for funds had been made for 40 years, during which time only the generous help of a few local residents had enabled the Hall to continue to provide a social centre at low cost to users.

The problems were not resolved in the subsequent years. At the Committee meeting held on 20 October 1967, the Secretary read a letter received from the Secretary of the Men’s Social Club, complaining that the Club was now without heat, as both stoves were beyond repair, that the toilet cistern was faulty, and some of the electrical switches were dangerous. The members of the Club also wished to know the views of the Committee on the admission of ladies to the Club. The Committee felt that two gas fires would be preferable to replace the old coke fires, and authorised the installation up to a cost of £70, the gas supply to be metered with a 2/- slot meter. With regard to the admission of ladies to the Club, there would arise difficulty as to toilets, but the Committee saw no objection to visits by occasional lady guests!

The fuller resolution of the problems took another 10 years.

Memo about the Management Committee, prior to it being established, early 1962. Source: Village Hall archive.

Letter from the Committee to local residents, May 1962. Source: Village Hall archive.

Friendship Club Christmas Party, 1965. The membership in 1965 stood at 79, but there were often visitors swelling the numbers. Photo: Bert Truelove.

For 60 years since the building of the hall in 1908, the northern boundary had been the track to Manor Farm, with the farm itself across the track. In 1968-69, Manor Farm was demolished and replaced with houses and a new road (Beverley Way) that threatened to encroach on the front of the Hall. After concern about the effect of the road on the hall, it was agreed that the line of the road would be amended to have less impact.

Manor Farm in the 1930s. Photo: Rachel Tarry. Reproduced in Trumpington Past & Present , p. 33.

Janet Brown and her cousins sitting on the wall around Manor Farm, with the Village Hall behind, mid-1960s. Photo: Kathy Eastman. Reproduced in Trumpington Past & Present , p. 34.

Letter from F.W.W. Pemberton with revised plan showing re-alignment of the footpath which protects the frontage of the Hall. Source: Village Hall archive.

The house to the north of Manor Farm, before demolition, with the new houses in Beverley Way in the background, c. 1973. Photo: Peter Dawson.

Construction work on the transformation of Manor Farm into Beverley Way, with the Village Hall and Scout huts to the left, 1968. Photo: Peter Dawson.

The house to the north of Manor Farm, before demolition, with the Red Lion in the background, c. 1973. Photo: Peter Dawson.