100 year celebration

On the 9th December 2023 we celebrated 100 years of a public hall in Grampound. The deputy Lord Lieutenant was in attendance and an afternoon of food and entertainment arranged.

The hall recreated something similar to 100 years previously where a newspaper report had said the following:

Cornish Guardian December 28th 1923.

"Grampound.

Public Hall Opening.

The new Public Hall was opened by the Lord Lieutenant (Mr J. C. Williams) on Saturday week. Little miss Anne Croggon presented a silver key on behalf of the committee.

The Chairman of the committee Mr W. L. P. Croggon, gave a report on the financial state of the scheme and said that about £300 was needed to free the building of debt. Mr G.H. Johnstone moved that the best thanks of the meeting be given to the Lord Lieutenant for coming to perform the opening ceremony. The motion was carried, with acclamation, was seconded by Rev. G. T. Pearce (Rector of Creed). A bazaar followed, the ladies taking charge being: Jumble, Mrs ? Richards, Miss F. Paynter; fancy, Mrs. F. Solomon, Miss D. Bennett; Christmas tree, Miss L. James; china, Mrs. A. Brown, Miss Brown; refreshments, Mrs. W. Barnicoat, Mrs. R ??llis.

The gold watch competition was closed and opening the sealed pocket it was announced the time of stopping was 4.31 and that Mr. W. A. Rowe, of Grampound was the winner.

The ladies in charge of the tea included the following: Mrs. W. L. P. Croggon, Mrs. E. ? Goodman, Mrs. Pearce, Mrs O. Mannell, Miss Teague, Mrs. F. Thomas, and Mrs. R. J. ??omes.

A concert was given by Truro artistes in the evening and was well attended. The was followed by a dance, the M. O. being Mr. S. Honey.

The secretaries were Messrs. S. Johns and S. G. Bennett and the treasurer, Mr. W. L. P. Croggon. the gross proceeds exceeded £95."

The report of the 100 year celebration would read:

Grampound. A celebration of 100 years of a Public Hall was opened by the Vice Lord Lieutenant (Mr J. Williams) on Saturday 9th December 2023 following an announcement by the Town Crier, Mrs K. Chapman. Little miss Freya Llewellyn presented a silver key on behalf of the committee of management.

The Chair of the committee Dr R. D. Jenkins thanked all the volunteers of the hall and recreation ground past and present for their great work. Mrs. S-J. Coode moved that the best thanks of the meeting be given to the Vice Lord Lieutenant for coming to perform the opening ceremony and planting a tree on Fore Street with Cllrs M. Taylor and R. McGuinness. The motion was carried with a cheer!

Cornwall Councillor Mr M. Bunney was present. Afteroon tea was coordinated by Cllr. A. James.

Many of the village organisations and regular users of the facilities had displays of their work.

The gold watch competition was closed and on opening the sealed envelope it was announced that Miss Freya Llewellyn had won. The watch had been donated by an anonymous donor. The watch won by Mr Rowe a hundred years previously was on display and safely guarded by Mr E. Wells his grandson.

A concert was given by Truro artistes - the 'Amici Voci' choir led by Mr C. Brown. Later more musicians, Mr. W. Keating and Mr. J. Dowling, performed and there was a disco.

The Vice Lord Lieutenant (James Williams) and the Chair of Grampound with Creed Parish Council (Mark Taylor) dedicating the tree on Fore Street, a purple beech. The town crier, (Kay Chapman), presiding.

The afternoon tea.