Hall’s well in village
.. but organisers want even more people to use community hub
Sandra Williams outside the hall in Forgandenny
Forgandenny Village Hall is ideal for birthday parties People in Perthshire looking for a venue to hire for anything from band practice to birthday parties are being encouraged to consider using Forgandenny Village Hall.
Sandra Williams, bookings secretary for the hall, says the former church is the perfect place for performers to practice, people to take part in sports or for families and friends to have gettogethers.
The hall is already used frequently for keep-fit classes and indoor sports such as badminton, as well as by actors rehearsing dramas, church-goers for coffee mornings and the local primary school for services, plays, open days and fundraising activities.
Hallowe’en and New Year parties, Burns suppers, quiz nights and concerts have also recently been held at the hall.
And, coming up, the rural Perthshire venue is to host a jazz night on March 10 featuring King Louis and the Primas.
Ten years ago the 19th century building received a modest makeover which saw an extension fitted to the rear of the premises to provide a meeting room, as well as improved kitchen facilities to cater for large groups.
Ms Williams, who has lived in the village since 2008, is keen to increase the usage of the hall to keep it ticking over and to fund further improvements in order for an even better community space to be created.
Sandra says there has already been a spike in usage since a new management committee was set up to look after the hall and she is keen to see that upward trend continue.
Pointing to the kinds of groups who have been using the hall in the last few years, Sandra said: “We’ve had [touring company] Magnetic Opera using the hall the last couple of years because they can rehearse their productions here.
“They’re a London-based group and they come and stay in the village for a week and use the hall every day to rehearse before they perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
“We’ve also got a drama group up and running and they’ve put on two sell-out productions since they started.”
And suggesting the kinds of groups the committee would like to see use the hall in the future, she continued: “We’ve got the facilities to host mother and toddler groups, the hall could be used for carpet bowls and I’m keen to start up a tap dance class.”
For more information on the hall, visit www.forgandenny communityhall.wordpress.com or look for its Facebook page.
To find out about costs to hire the hall or to ask questions about how it email Sandra at sandraplod@hotmail.co.uk or call her on 01738 812212.
Tickets for the upcoming jazz night are available at the village post office or from Sandra.