FORTY YEARS AGO Friday January 13, 1984
Ardrishaig Hall concern
Grave concern about Ardrishaig Public Hall’s ability to continue as a viable proposition was expressed at a hall committee meeting earlier this week.
During a recent effort to raise funds for improvements the response was very poor.
The direct appeal fund has now reached the total of £300, but £65 of this was presented by only two donors. A grand family social evening with seven musicians from The Accordion and Fiddle Club plus two singers gave a marvellous evening’s entertainment, but the audience turnout was very poor indeed.
A prominent and long-standing member of the committee has resigned, feeling that all her efforts are wasted and that she may no longer be in touch.
The committee is split into two. Those who feel that they must persevere with raising funds because the hall must be repaired, maintained and improved, and those who feel that this lack of response indicates the villagers do not feel the need for a hall. Criticism has been heard of the way the hall is run and how efforts are organised.
Looking on the bright side, the committee is to continue with fund-raising.
With the grants promised, every £1 donated means £8 to the hall. A ceilidh-dance will be held towards the end of February and discos are being held for younger people. The raffle, for which some tickets have already been sold, and the draw for the appeal fund prize will be held at the ceilidh-dance. 1964: Argyll supplies most of the crew members of the new lighthouse ship Fingal, built at a cost of £500,000, which took up duty at her Oban station on Friday.
If future efforts to raise funds fail the committee feels it can no longer function as the controlling body for the hall. The hall can continue to run as at present, but will soon fall into disrepair due to lack of cleaning and maintenance.
The chairman of the hall committee, Mr George Iveson, has appealed on behalf of the committee to all those who have fond memories of the hall and those who feel the village needs a presentable and busy function centre to come forward and help in this time of crisis.