Old news
Armistice Day Dedication of New Memorial Hall – See recent news for Pictures
Having received the endorsement of villagers to build a new memorial hall, in February this year the old hall was handed over to the builders, FJ Reeves and Sons of Sparkford. The target was to complete the new hall and hand it over to the Trustees by the end of October, in time for the 2010 Armistice Day Service on 11 November.
With days to spare the builders were able to meet the target date and hand the completed building to the Hall’s Trustees. It had been agreed by the Trustees and Parish Priest, The Reverend Cannon Joanna Penberthy, to use the occasion of the Armistice Day Service to also dedicate the hall and a new memorial stone, carved from Portland stone by Karl Friedrich of Bruton Stone Masons.
On a wet and windy day almost 80 people gathered at the Memorial Hall for the service. Guests included Miss Ginny Lighton, the daughter of Sir Christopher Lighton who had donated the land on which the original hall had been built and Lady Dunphie, whose first husband had been part of the original hall planning committee in 1948.
The new hall, like its predecessor, was built in memory of those from the village who died in the two world wars. Of the 14 named on a new plaque 10 were from regiments with strong links to today’s Rifles and therefore it was very appropriate that the Last Post was sounded by Lance Corporal Hutchinson from the Rifles in Winchester. Corporal Hutchinson had recently returned from duty in Afghanistan with 4 Rifles. To highlight the links with regiments from a previous age the parade was supported by to standard bearers, Mr Geoff Eavis carrying the Standard of the Dorset Old comrades and Mr Mike Pike carrying the Rifle Standard.
After the Service everyone was invited to look around the new hall and enjoy light refreshments served by a number of volunteers from the village. It was a fitting start to the life of the new hall and the villagers of Charlton Musgrove now look forward to the official opening in a few weeks tim
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The old hall is now demolished.
The plan to build a new hall for Charlton Musgrove has received three major grant awards.
The new hall – warm, wired and welcoming, will be open for bookings in November 2010.
The awards are from the Garfield Weston Foundation (£10,000) www.garfieldweston.org, Somerset Community Foundation (£5000) www.somersetcf.org.uk and finally support (£1000) from our County Councillor , Anna Groskop’s community fund.
The money will be used towards the building of new hall the Community Foundations money will be spent on the electronic, fire proofed serving hatch, a hearing loop for the two rooms and essential services and equipment to the meeting room to ensure it is a great modern meeting place for local businesses.
Fundraising continues, with £17,000 still to raise.
The contract has been awarded and building regulations drawings are being prepared. ructural engineer and architect to proceed to building regs. We have started on time.
The hall will be built in natural stone and the roof will be slate. Local people, the team and trustees think this to be the best finish for the local community.
Heating will be from “air source heat pumps” and the roof will be strong enough for photovoltaic panels in the future.
