The Drax Hall has served as a Village Hall for many years. Within its walls have taken place theatrical events, sales & council meetings to name but a few of its roles.
It is available for hire for private parties or for regular meetings. Large hall & small room are both available. The latter especially suitable for children's parties. For details of hiring charges etc. Contact Hall Secretary Sally Cheeseman on 01929 471 022
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The visit by the Forest Forge Theatre Company is still ringing in my ears as I write this. The story, about a Village Hall Committee, could have been our own Management Committee only our roof is not about to fall in! As usual it was extremely well presented by four performers taking around a dozen parts. The performance lasted around ninety minutes plus an interval but before they can start they have to build up the set and then when they finish it's the reverse as they meticulously load it back into their not too large van. Those who came had a thoroughly good evening - we could have done with some more support - but by arranging the seats it looked as if we hoc a full house. The Company returns in the Spring - look out for the date and come to see a professional theatre company at Village prices.
We are having a puppet show at the half term holiday at the end of October. This is Martin the Puppet man presenting 'A Fishy Tale'. Martin Bridle tells of the litterbug that uses the sea as a dustbin, and of the problems this causes. With a touch of Mermaid - Magic, Lobster - Logic, Fishy-Fun and Audience Assistance, the environment is restored to its former glory. Martin is one cf the best puppeteers around which he demonstrates as he weaves in his witty and whimsical way. This is ideal for all children - and we are all children at heart! Come and enjoy it - at 3.30pm on the 29th October. Bookings on 471 342. CM.
Parishioners will have noticed we hope, that the external paintwork has been completed. The internals are being undertaken in November. It is a very big task and we are grateful to Gordon Tucker for taking on the contract. There is quite a lot of work going on in the Hall but the events continue undisturbed. We are hoping that the inevitable roof repairs will be finalised before the heavy rains return. However when that is done the 'pot of honey' will be almost empty and so we start to build up the funds again.
We are holding a Christmas Bazaar on Saturday 22nd November - look out for the posters and on Monday 8th December there will be Christmas Bingo at 7.30pm in the Hall. Do try to come along and lend your support to your Village Hall. CM
December is a busy month for the Hall even though the booking board has nothing on it after the twentieth. It is good to see that the BRATS are rehearsing for their New Year spectacular, the PIP rehearsing and performing their Christmas extravagancia, the routine users all crowding into those twenty days.
We are so lucky to have such loyal users and it makes the task of ‘keeper of the purse’ so much easier if our day to day costs are met by the hiring fees. However each event needs support so please do come along to your Village Hall and do your bit for its continuance.
One thing that struck me as amusing on the board was the entry for Thursday the 11th December - ‘Parish Council’ ‘Poppets’ - we know they are!. CM
The events held in the hall during December were very well supported and were financial successes. The festive decorations in the hall were enjoyed by the many people who visited the hall. The painting of the hall proceeded regardless of the events and is now complete. Now we have to fill the hole left in the coffers and save up for the next time we have to paint it.
Looking to the future we have a Puppet Show booked for the February half term. This is to be the Story Box Theatre production of The Snow Queen. We had the same Company last year when they presented The Tin Soldier and it was very popular. This production will be on Tuesday 17th February at 11.00 am. There will be more details next month but tickets as usual from 15 North Street Tel. 471342.
Further to the future, the Drax Hall Management Committee are planning to hold an exhibition entitled ‘Bere Regis - a step back in time’. This will be a pictorial exhibition of village life and will be held on Monday 12th April 2004 - Easter Monday - from 10.00am to 4.00pm at the Drax Hall. The exhibits will consist of photographs, postcards and other historical items depicting life in Bere Regis both in the past and more recently. To make the exhibition a success the organisers, Paul and Alison Bennett, need some help. They have a collection of many pictures but would like to hear from anybody who would be prepared to lend other pictures and items for showing. This will be a very interesting exhibition to view but it does need the support of the people of the village. Would those people willing to offer help please contact Paul or Alison on 472023 before the 20th February 2004. CM
As usual at half term we have a puppet show for the young children - and adults. This time we have the Storybox Theatre presenting ‘The Snow Queen’ which they first produced in 1991. The production retains all the beauty and magic of one of Hans Andersens’ best loved stories. There is a world of snow which is beautiful but very cold. Gerda’s world is warm and full of flowers. Is she strong enough to find her friend Kay who has lost himself in the palace of the Snow Queen? So begins her long journey ............ The story of Gerda’s long search for Kay is told using a blend of storytelling, live music and puppetry techniques by a single performer (Rod Burnett). Note the date Tuesday 17th February at 11.00am. Tickets from Mr Maunder at 15 North Street or 471342. Adults £3.00. Children £2.50.
Then in March we have a performance by the Forest Forge Theatre Company when they will present The Belle of Bonavista Bay. This is the story of people from these parts who two centuries ago emigrated to Newfoundland. It is a new play from Forest Forge and tells the story of one descendent who moves back today to find her roots in the New Forest. Its moving, amusing, about who we are and where we come from, a story of love, loss and longing that seeks to move and amuse in equal measure. Make a note of the date - Wednesday 17th March at 7.30pm and watch out for the posters.
The preparations for the ‘Bere Regis - a step back in time’ exhibition are going very well. There are many items, not seen previously, being assembled which will be of interest to anybody who has an interest in the village. Items of interest are being sought and if anybody has anything then please contact Paul and Alison Bennett on 472023. Make a note of the date, Easter Monday 12th April from 10.00am to 4.00pm, in your diaries and tell your friends as these historical exhibitions are very popular. CM
The great news from the Drax Hall is that we have been granted a £4000 grant from the County Council to enable essential works to be undertaken, particularly with reference to the Disability Act. These works will cause a disruption when being undertaken but I am certain that everybody will understand and accept the need for the work. The Grant is very generous and the Committee is grateful for the money but we will have to continue with our own fund raising to complete the work that is necessary.
On March 17th we have an Artsreach performance when The Forest Forge Theatre Company present The Belle of Bonavista Bay. This is the story of an early 19th Century family who left the south coast of England for the forbidding shores of Newfoundland. Two hundred years later a young descendent makes the journey back in search of her family roots. The play is presented with live music and stirring folk songs from the Canadian North. The Belle of Bonavista Bay is a story of love, loss and longing which seeks to move and amuse in equal measure.
May I remind everybody that this is a professional company performing in our Village Hall and we are extremely lucky to have them back for a second time this year. Please do try to come along.The half term puppet show was lovely and was thoroughly enjoyed by the full house. CM
A very big event for April and one of interest to all who are fascinated by and love our Village.
A Step Back In Time – a Pictorial Exhibition of Bere Regis
The Exhibition will be held on Easter Monday the 12th of April from 10.00am to 4.00pm at the Drax Hall.There will be lots of photographs, pictures and postcards of how Bere Regis used to be. The displays will be categorised into sections on The Church, Education – including lots of old school class photos, Farming and Agriculture, the Watercress Industry, Woodbury Hill Fair, Village views and buildings and lots more too numerous to mention.
Many Village organisations will be there displaying their archives. I am sure that many of you will see either yourselves or members of your families.
We also have the Bere Regis Website with many pictures available for you to look at and a digital imaging show on the stage ongoing all day of hundreds of old views etc of the Village. Fred Pitfield, local historian, will be on hand to answer any of your questions, as will other collectors of this type of material.
Why not bring that old photo you have always wondered about and see if you can find out more?
There will be an Egg Hunt game where you have to choose where the Easter Bunny has hidden his eggs on a large aerial photograph of the Village. There will be Raffle for a pair of framed prints of West Street and North Street and a general prize raffle. Refreshments will be available in the Lower Room where there will also be an ongoing slide show of Bere Regis Carnivals over the years.
If you are young, or not so young, if you have lived in the Village all of your life or you are new to the Village, then this is an exhibition not to be missed. Admission is one pound per person – no concessions.
We look forward to welcoming you to take a ‘step back in time’
Alison and Paul Bennett.
The hall has many kind benefactors from time to time and the Committee would like to record its gratitude to Mr Whitelock of Elder Road who has generously donated his piano to the Drax Hall. It is a very good instrument and has many hours of music left in it. Amazingly Mr Whitelock tells me that he still has the original invoice of its purchase in 1931 - £7 10 0d (£7.50 today)
Another generous donation of £50 has been received from the Woodbury Hill Singers. Coming at a time when we are having to spend out on improvements and essential repairs, it is a very timely indeed.
The Management Committee’s Annual General Meeting will be held in the Hall on Friday 23rd April at 6.30pm. Everybody is invited – please come and help to run our Village Hall. CM
As I write this the Hall is reeling from the successful exhibition of memorabilia. Alison and Paul Bennett who organised the event are to be congratulated for arranging the most interesting display of photographs and other items. They had a very good team and people were generous in lending them precious pictures of buildings and parish scenes. It was a privilege to be able to share these treasures. However it made one stop and think of the people that we were looking at around the self same cottages that we see today, did not have taps for water, inside toilets or electricity.
The Hall funds benefited considerably from this event by nearly £750. This is a very welcome addition at a time when we must make improvements to the Hall. CM
After the AGM life is very quiet in the hall though it is busily used. Traditionally the Drax Hall AGM always ends up with those people attending being on the Committee! This years meeting was no exception and Alison Bennett is now the Secretary.
Plans are being made behind the scenes for the necessary works to make the hall more disabled friendly. We have been most fortunate is being given a grant by the County Council towards this work but in addition the Pop in Place team have generously donated the proceeds of the last two ‘Open Gardens’ to the hall. This money is held by PIP in readiness for the works, which we hope to undertake later this year. What is more is that they have promised the hall the proceeds from this year’s event as well. This is exceedingly generous of the PIP who work tirelessly for the good of the Parish. CM
Report on its way
The Committee have worked very hard to obtain quotations for the necessary works and it looks as if the work will be done during the autumn months. Sadly this means that we will not be able to put on our normal ‘live theatre’ performances this year. However next year we can look forward to some good theatre and more comfortable toilets! The works are not cheap and we are grateful to PIP for organising so many events that have contributed to the funds. Of course we include the supporters and people who opened gardens. Thank you. CM
The Hall Committee is grateful to everybody who has contributed to their appeal of ‘Pound per Person’. Approximately £200 has been collected to date. Also the Committee is grateful to the Pop in Place team for organizing the Open Gardens which generated £1,165 for improvements to the Hall.
We are confident now that sufficient funds are available for the works to be undertaken. The total that we have been aiming at is £12, 000 and though a little short at present the Committee feels able to proceed so the Hall will be closed after Thursday 16th September and will re-open on the 1st October – with new toilets, a water tight roof, a new fire door upstairs and a wheelchair friendly access and escape route from downstairs.
We are extremely fortunate that there is a concert on 4th September – ‘Light ‘n Shade’ – that has been offered to us totally free. Thus all of the proceeds will be going to the Hall and the necessary works. As I write this there are some tickets available and you are advised to call Alison Bennett on 472023 if you wish to attend. It should be a very good concert and remember that one of the four guys and four girls that make up this vocal group came from Bere Regis. You will be treated to close harmonies and splendid vocal solos from a group that regularly tours Dorset and Hampshire. CM
By the time this is published it is to be hoped that the long awaited improvements to the Hall will have been undertaken. Tremendous efforts to raise the necessary funds have been undertaken and reported on in these columns. One source that the Committee applied to has informed the Chairman that we have been successful in our bid. However until Kath Jeeves collects the cheque we are unaware of the sum involved. The Committee is just delighted to be receiving a grant.
The concert given by ‘Light ‘n’ Shade’ to raise funds for the hall was a great success with over £560 being raised. Everybody enjoyed it. The Committee is very grateful to Duncan House and his companions for this wonderful contribution.
In addition to the usual events from now until Christmas there will be a ‘Table Top Sale’ in the hall on Saturday 13th November. Then for the children – and that includes us all - at Christmas time there will be special super magic show. ‘Mysto Magic’ on Saturday 11th December at 10.30am in the hall. Entry £1.50 for children and £2.00 for adults. Tickets from Kath Jeeves (471175) or Alison Bennett (472023).
The Christmas Bingo will be played in the hall on Tuesday 14th December. CM
The rebuilding work inside the Hall is going well and is on schedule. The Hall has been able to be used but only the new disabled toilet is available for use as yet. We anticipate completion of the inside work in the next few weeks. The roof is now leak proof so those rows of buckets which became familiar in times of rain are no longer required.
To cover the costs of this work the Hall received grants from the County Council, The Hall and Woodhouse Community Chest, The Williams Trust, The Kingsbere Quilters, The Parish Council, The Woodbury Hill Singers, the ‘Pound for the Drax Hall’ Appeal and from The Pop in Place who organised many events. Many people have been involved throughout the Village and the Management Committee is most grateful to them all.
Watch out for the forthcoming events in addition to the normal meetings etc.
Saturday 13th November - Table Top Sale with raffle, competitions and refreshments.
Saturday 11th December – Mysto the Magician visits us – ideal for the all ages.
Monday 13th December – The Drax Hall Christmas Bingo – lots of wonderful prizes.Remember this is your Village Hall. Please do come and use it. CM
The refit of the Hall is going well and real improvements in the toilet area are there to be seen – and shortly enjoyed! The Chairman and her committee are well pleased with the works.
We had a very successful Table Top Sale last month, organised by Sally Cheeseman. It raised over £192 in the two hours that it was open. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves whether they were buying or selling. The money raised helps boost the funds for the work in hand. Our grateful thanks to Sally.
The BRATS Christmas Pantomine on the 3rd and 4th December is a ‘must do’ for the Theatre Goers. The rehearsals seem to be going well and they deserve our support. They work extremely hard during the Autumn evenings to get the show on the road and produce performances that should not be missed.
On Saturday 11th December the Committee are putting on Mysto Magic. Its aimed at the children, but then at this time of the year everybody’s a child, so come along and enjoy some magic.
Less magic but pot luck is the Christmas Bingo with lots of lovely prizes on Monday 13th. Come and have fun and support the Hall. This is always a popular evening.
Finally the Committee wish you all a very happy Christmas and hope that Santa brings you great joy with your presents. CM
The Hall has had a very successful 2004 with fund raising resulting in a good start being made to the necessary improvements. The new year will start with the new toilets completed and a start being made on the disabled access and exit followed by improvements to the kitchen area.
We were most fortunate that as the year ended we received a grant of £4000 from the Talbot Village Trust, which is based in Poole. This will be a great help with the outstanding works, though no doubt more fund raising will be required.
The Hall has been well used, despite the building works taking place, and bookings were well up on previous years. This was particularly so in the lead up to Christmas.
The private parties and events together with the successful Pantomime presented by the BRATS, the Hall Committee staged a magic show that was greatly enjoyed and the Christmas Bingo Evening at which over sixty people attended then the Pop in Place held their Christmas entertainment.The Hall Committee meets early in the month to programme events throughout 2005 which will be advertised in the Parish Magazine. They thank everyone for the support that has been received throughout the year and wish everyone a very happy New Year. CM
The work on the toilets is nearing completion and thus will complete Stage 1 of the improvement plans. Stage 2 will see the ramps to provide easier Disabled Access into and from the Hall. The final stage will involve the kitchen area.
All of this work costs a great deal of money and the Committee have been fortunate in successful fund raising and obtaining grants. However more is required and so the fund raising will continue to see the task through. To this end the PIP is arranging a Concert as a tribute to and in memory of Cis Lewis on 30th April. Details of tickets etc will be made in next months magazine.
The Committee is planning further events so watch this column for details. This is your Village Hall. Please do come and use it. AB
No minutes are available for this meeting
On 8th April at 7.00pm in the Lower Hall we will be holding the AGM of the Hall Committee. This is the opportunity for anyone to learn of the activities and to see where the monies have been spent etc. It is also the opportunity to come along to offer ideas and to take part in the running of the Hall during the coming year. Do think about coming along – it is the Village Hall, not the Committee’s Hall. If you can not get to the meeting, but wish to join the vibrant team, contact our Secretary – Alison Bennett – on 472023.
After all of the present phase of works inside the Hall are competed we are prepared for a visit by the Wessex Players on Wednesday 11th May at 7.30pm. They are presenting that old favourite of Thomas Hardy – The Mayor of Casterbridge. For those who enjoy the Forest Forge Players it should be noted that this adaptation was presented by Forest Forge at the Salisbury Playhouse. It should be a very good evenings entertainment by a professional team. Seats will cost £4.50. Bookings on 471342.
It is to be hoped that we will be able to get the Forest Forge Players and others later in the year.
There is to be a Grand Concert in the Hall on Saturday 39th April as a tribute to Cis Lewis who did so much in her lifetime for all good causes in the Village. Tickets will be available from Kath Jeeves and Alison Bennett
Coming up quickly – in July – will be Open Gardens run by PIP. The Hall has benefited extremely well from past Open Gardens – you can enjoy those benefits – see our new toilets! CM
Awaiting the meeting
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