The Village Hall - three
generations who kept it looking good.
Recounted by Margaret South:
Granny Edginton used to clean the tin hut in the days when there was an old cast
iron stove with a chimney that went out through the side of the hut and kept the
place warm. Outside were the men's toilets, whilst the ladies had the comfort of
being inside, though it was just a bucket that was used.
Mrs. Doris Hopkins took over the cleaning from her Mum and was sometimes helped
by her daughter Margaret, who went to the hall after school. If there was a
party or a dance taking place, Doris would light the stove earlier in the day
and check it regularly, very often whilst she was preparing refreshments as
well. A cover was put on the billiard table on which were placed drinks and
plates during the course of the evening.
Of course the stove needed tending, and before an event a full bucket of coal
was left next to the stove but sometimes forgotten about as young people warmed
up very quickly when they were dancing.
It was a popular venue and used a lot for parties and jumble sales and it was
good for dancing in spite of the holes in the floors. Music was provided by the
Bartletts, the local band. If the young people weren't dancing in Hullavington
they headed off to Castle Combe or Sherston on their bicycles.
As well as keeping the hall clean, Doris did a lot of fundraising alongside
others like Mrs. Reed, selling raffle tickets to help raise money for a new
hall. When Doris decided she would have to give up her cleaning job at the hall
because of all her other commitments, her daughter Margaret took over and
cleaned there for many years before starting the same work at the village
church.
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