The Bayston Hill Memorial Hall Committee Registered Charity No 518280
Chairman’s Report for the year 2025-26 presented at the Annual General Meeting Thursday 21[st] May 2026.
Yet another successful year in the history of the Bayston Hill Memorial Hall as we embark on the journey to embrace modern technology to help us to become even more efficient. This is being achieved in a number of ways.
Our new Hallmaster On Line booking system. This is being very well administered by our Booking Secretary Sarah with the support of other committee members. We also have an excellent Social Media facility which helps to raise our profile under the capable guidance of Rhea. My thanks go to them and all concerned.
This year we celebrated our 50[th] Pantomime of Sleeping Beauty at the Memorial Hall ably written, produced and directed by our own Judy as well as also taking part in it. For this and all her hard work as our Secretary my sincere thanks.
Paul continues to look after our financial affairs in his usual efficient manner making sure that we operate within our means and he is an invaluable part of our team. He is ably assisted by Jemma who also has other responsibilities including car parking issues.
Our Vice Chairman Anthony is in the engine room of the committee overseeing and managing all our maintenance needs and necessary alterations. His contribution over the years has been and continues to be invaluable.
Our Flicks in the Sticks continues to be popular and ably overseen by Andrew ably assisted by Eric and Venice. Ray, our long standing committee member continues to keep an eye on the heating and Anthony Luton keeps a regular check the emergency lighting. Both important tasks.
We are also supported by our Local Councillor Teri, together withuser group representatives Judy Willetts ,Ted Clarke and Ann Pearce all of whom make a valuable contribution to the smooth running of the Hall.
We continue to work very closely with Community Resource and at the time of this report we have been successful in again being awarded Hallmark 1 and are presently being assessed for Hallmark 2 and 3. We have also been highlighted by them as an example of how a Village Hall should be run and involved with them in a promotional video.
Originally the Memorial Hall was built to commemorate those of the village who paid the ultimate sacrifice in WW1. We have arranged for a Memorial Plaque to be displayed in St George's Church, Ypres, Belgium which is a fitting tribute.
Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in our grant application for the proposed extension but the new tea bar is well in hand and we have made the decision to concentrate on improving and updating the facilities we already have.
Finally, once again my thanks to everyone for your help and support over the past year and I look forward to the Bayston Hill Memorial Hall continuing to be an invaluable community facility for generations to come.
Allan Caswell Committee Chairman.