Hall is well at Findochty!

IT may just be seven months since the community took over the running of Findochty town hall, but the huge impact which has been made in this short space of time was there for all to see when an open day was held. On Saturday, February 23, a warm welcome was extended to all by the facility’s management committee for the inaugural event designed not just to showcase the progress which has been made since the group were handed the keys last July, but also to garner ideas as to how it could be better used for the benefit of the whole community. The main hall was given over to a variety of local groups and organisations, including a table tennis demonstration and taster by Rob Barsby. There was also an opportunity for the public to leave their suggestions as to what sort of activities they would like to see at the hall, as well as find out more about what already goes on there. There was a chance to step back into Findochty’s past thanks to a heritage display, which drew a
crowd, as did the slide show featuring historic images from the area, kindly provided by Buckie and District Fishing Heritage Centre Ltd. Another section was set out for teas, coffees and snacks. One of those delighted with the day was town hall chairman Graham Cryer, who said he had been left over the moon with the backing shown by the local community since last summer. “The last seven months have been just great,” he told the Advertiser. “There’s been so much going on. Our volunteers have been spending a lot of time at the hall and I don’t just mean an hour or two, I’m talking about all day. “We’ve had people from the community popping down to see what we’re doing and find out more about what we’re trying to do. “There’s been a lot of support from the community and also from Moray Council community support officer Dawn Brodie. “It’s great to see the community coming down here in such numbers for the open day.” Mr Cryer went on to say that he and other committee members had only recently returned from a fact-finding trip to the central belt to see how a variety of town halls were run by community groups. “It was a very useful trip and it enabled us to see how these halls, often in very different communities, were run. “I think it was interesting to see what these groups both did and did not do to run an develop their halls.” As the management group continue their journey towards eventual ownership of the town hall under the Community Asset Transfer process, there was plenty of exciting developments in the pipeline when it comes to attracting more user groups and activities to the building. “One of the things we’ve done is get in touch with the local primary school and the children have given a list of things they’d like to see
going on in the hall,” Mr Cryer added. “Another area we’re trying to develop is a heritage display of items from Findochty. We’d be delighted to hear from people who’ve got old photos and other items that are just sitting in the attic or the back of a cupboard. “We’ve already had some items kindly donated and are keen to get more. “It’s important to get feedback from the community so we know what they’d like to see. There’s been a lot of positive feedback today plus some new bookings, which is very encouraging.” On accepting the keys to the
hall last year from Moray Council on behalf of the committee, Mr Cryer was at pains to stress the vital role that children and young people had to play in the facility’s long-term sustainability and success. One of the visitors to the hall’s open day was Moray MP Douglas Ross, who was full of praise for
the efforts of the volunteer committee. He said: “It was great to go along and see for myself the work that has been done since the new committee took over the running of the hall from the council and I was very impressed by what I saw. “I use the hall myself to hold constituency surgeries and it was great to see it looking so bright with the improvements made and it is clearly well used. “It was a very busy open day and it’s fantastic to hear that so many groups are using the hall again. “It’s a great community asset and the volunteers have done an outstanding job. “I’m sure it will continue to be a valuable resource for local people and I wish them every success for the future.” Since taking over the ownership of the building, members of the group have been busy cleaning, repairing, renovating, rewriting policies and also fundraising in order to improve the facilities on offer in the building. Following the deep clean, regular users of the hall were amazed to discover that the passage-way floor was actually red in colour, not brown as had been previously thought. Grants, as well as donations and funds raised through various events over the year, such as quiz nights, dances and, coffee mornings, have provided much-needed new equipment for the hall and kitchen. A dish washer is making life a lot easier for those hosting coffee mornings on the premises along with the new cooker and work surfaces. The town hall offers a range of facilities, including the main hall, which has a stage. There are also two meeting rooms and a kitchen, and a further room is being developed with office facilities. For updates about the hall as well as other events happening in Findochty, visit the committee’s Facebook page Findochty Town Hall.