Hall work brought to successful conclusion

The Courier, 28 August 2000

North East Fife MP Menzies Campbell officially re-opened Kingsbarns Memorial Hall on Saturday afternoon following a major facelift and renovation programme which will guarantee the future of the popular local feature.

Late year the small East Neuk community received a £128,500 windfall from the National Charities Lottery Board to carry out the works’ programme of extension, modernisation and refurbishment.

Saturday’s happy occasion was launched when villagers and guests assembled in The Square and were piped to the hall - it was first opened in the summer of 1954 by Mr J. Henderson Stewart - by Billy Walker.

It was standing room only as the chairman of the Memorial hall committee, Peter Erskine, made a speech of welcome and introduced Mr Campbell and his wife, Elspeth. The MP formally opened the building by unveiling a commemorative bench which will be installed outside the property. Mrs Mary Frail presented a bouquet to Mrs Campbell.

Among the special guests were Sir David Erskine, the first-ever chairman of the hall committee, and Lady Erskine, architect Ron Hardie, Fiona Rogan, Grants Officer of the National Lottery Charities Board, and contractor Vincent Reynolds.

Entertainment was provided by Roger Caseby and the ceremony closed with a vote of thanks given by Allen Stevens.

A spokesman for the hall committee said later, “We are grateful for all the help, support and donations received which enabled us to complete the renovation programme.”

He added that a condition of the Lottery grant aid was that a substantial figure had to be provided from current hall funds, and that had been made possible thanks to the careful stewardship over the years by the chairman and members of the management committee, coupled with the sterling efforts of the hall’s fund-raising team.

The upgrading programme involved the replacement of the hall roof, a new heating system, facilities for the disabled, new toilets, and the provision of a new kitchen extension.

The hall was built in the post war era of scarce materials and no major improvements had been undertaken Since, although the committee has operated a policy of low rents and gradual improvements over the years in an effort to encourage usage. It proved to be a recipe for success and user numbers increased with private functions, including wedding receptions and anniversary parties, being held.

The hall is also regularly used by village groups, the WRI, the community council, for classes and by the local Kingsbarns flower show members, While a number of social activities on behalf of other groups such as whist drives, dances, bingo, Burns suppers etc, are also staged there.

It is now hoped that the improved facilities in the hail will encourage a wider variety of local groups and individuals to make even more use of it.