Chalks
Friday, 4th June saw the first meeting of “CHALKS” being held at Chidham & Hambrook Village Hall. This is the new social and lunch club which meets there on the first Friday of every month from 11:30 am. to 1:30pm.

“CHALKS” stands for C hidham & H ambrook A ll-comers L uncheon K itchen for S eniors and as you can see from the photos, everyone was enjoying the chance to make new friends, catch up on the “gossip” and savour the two course meal. Teas and coffees are available before and after the meal and all this for the very reasonable price of £4.

Grant for Village Hall
After months of attempts and disappointments Chidham & Hambrook Village Hall have at last had their first success in their quest for funding in order to improve conditions at the Hall. Grassroots Grants have awarded the Hall £5,000 for the purchase of new, comfortable, upholstered seats, some with arm rests.

The Hall is now a popular venue for the Chidham & Hambrook Film Society who present a variety of eclectic films during their annual season, which runs from September through to April. Last season the Society recommended that those people who found the hard plastic “bucket” chairs uncomfortable bring their own cushions! Next season this will no longer be necessary as everyone will soon be “sitting comfortably”.

“Giant oaks from little acorns grow” and buoyed with this success the Management Committee are determined to track down the “big one”, which will enable the Hall to be improved to a standard of which the community can be proud.

Village Hall Christmas Fayre on 5th December 2009

Chidham and Hambrook Village Hall welcomed Father Christmas to a Christmas Fayre on Saturday 5 th December. The hall was filled with a variety of stalls which included cakes, crackers, jewellery, paintings, plants and Christmas cards, as well as a bottle stall, a raffle and ‘guess the weight of the cake'. Santa's Grotto was popular with the children, some of whom had their photograph taken with the great man.

The final total of over £500 was made, which will be used to effect more improvements to this unique building.

It may be the start of the pantomime season but has some fairy godmother really waived her magic wand to transform Chidham and Hambrook Village Hall?

No, just a group of really hardworking locals who have given it their all and made the difference.

Come and see for yourself at the Opera Affair on November 21st or at other events in the run up to Christmas.

You will all be aware of the disappointment earlier this year when it was announced that the New Chidham & Hambrook Village Centre project had failed to attract Big Lottery funding. This has obviously delayed the project by several years whilst alternative sources of funding are identified.

In the meantime and as an interim measure the Chidham Village Hall Management Committee voted earlier this month to re-launch the venerable Chidham Hall as The Chidham & Hambrook Village Hall. Plans are now underway to provide disabled access, initially to the ground floor and hopefully, eventually the first floor as well. Marshalls have kindly donated 17 sq.m. of non-slip paving and we are looking to form a wheelchair ramp on the east side, from the car park to the side door entrance. We are also investigating the provision of disabled toilet facilities.

Funds will be sought to re-decorate and upgrade where possible. We intend to seek permission to install a new attractive sign on the north side adjacent to the Main Road, to hopefully raise the profile of this fine old building.

Most importantly, we need to encourage its use by local people and societies. We desperately need to increase revenue. A new film society is in the process of being formed. This needs your enthusiastic support together with your ideas for other supportive ventures.

The Village Hall Management Committee