You could feel the anxiety in the room at an Extraordinary General Meeting held at Camerton Community Hall recently. The meeting had been called as a result of committee members tendering their resignations and interested and concerned parishioners who attended thought this proud, but struggling facility, was faced with closure.
After lengthy discussions, the result was that a sufficient number of community-spirited people stepped into the breach.
At the E.G.M, Cyril James, the Chairman, gave a brief history of the hall and when and how it was given over to the Recreational Hall Committee by the National Coal Board Welfare Service, providing the committee could achieve charity status. If it had not been for people like Cyril, Bete Ashman, Jim Hawkins, Brian Emery and a whole list of people who helped to raise the money, the hall would never had been built. It was a lengthy process for charity status, sealed on March 20th 1973 and the six Trustees appointed. It was years of work by Cyril James to secure Capital Grant Aid
Funding with many disappointments along the way before eventually securing the funds to commence building.
The total project cost was £50,000 with the Camerton Recreational Committee
having to find a massive £21,000 – but they did it!
The Camerton Recreation Hall was opened by the Architect, Peter Kirkland, who provided his services for free, as he lived in the Parish. Ken Biggs Contractors also generously worked on a no profit basis.
The new committee is committed to getting this important village amenity back on its feet with the first event this Saturday, April 15th – an Easter Fun Day from 12 noon until 4 p.m. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt, Quiz, face painting, cakes, Easter Bonnet Competition and lots more.