The spirit of the original community initiative to build the village hall has continued with generous grants from companies and organisations, support from suppliers and contractors, and donations and volunteered time from individuals.
HALL IMPROVEMENTS
updated April 2022
2022
To conserve our funds during the pandemic, we put all planned projects on hold until the hall returned to full use in early 2022.
Base on our requirements brief CES St Albans did an excellent job designing and installing the upgrading of lighting with LED technology in the Main hall and stage, the Studio, and storeroom. The project was led by Peter Gough, a local resident. The Low Carbon Workplaces provided a grant for a third of the project cost.
SRS did an assessment of the acoustics in the Studio and designed and installed sound absorption panels. The experience of the space is now comfortable.
Graeme Hall, a local resident, did an excellent job painting the office and touching up the Studio ceiling.
Harry Shipp, another village craftsman, replaced the external doors to the Studio, storeroom and the Main Hall doors to the car park. While on site he did several additional bits and pieces which have long needed attention.
2019
The trustees greatly appreciate the generous grant from Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund for the kitchen and Community Room upgrading and the Colney Heath Parish Council for their grant towards the cost of our roadside signboard.
Thanks to T.Taylor&Sons for their excellent work in completing our kitchen modernisation and the refurbishment of the Community Room.
Thanks to Mark Edmunds for the large and clear new signage.
2018
Thanks to Roger Hyde Floor Specialist for the refurbishment of the sprung timber floor in the Main Hall. Also to John Britton, electrician in the village for donating some electrical works, continuing the volunteering spirit that created the Hall in the first instance.
2017
Thanks to David Howard, village resident, for his work on the refurbishment of the male lavatories. David’s father was one of the volunteer bricklayers when the hall was originally built in 1936-38. The trustees greatly appreciate the generous grant from Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund.
2014
Thanks to Phil Kirkpatrick, village resident and local building contractor, for his work on the refurbishment of the female lavatories. The trustees greatly appreciate the generous grant from Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund.
2000
Grants were provided for the construction of the extension including the Community Room, new kitchen, and a store room by St Albans District Council, Colney Heath Parish Council, Countryside Agency, Herts Groundwork trust, Tranco and the National Lottery.
VILLAGE HALL TRUSTEES
Until March 2020, the Village Hall Council was the body responsible for safeguarding the hall which is owned by the charity on behalf of the local community) for future generations and managing the day-to-day running of the hall. This was then passed to the trustees of the Colney Heath Village Hall, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. This includes arrangements for regular and one-off user bookings, facilities - cleaning, repairs and improvements - accounting, finance, PR and marketing. The trustees are unpaid volunteers nominated by our regular user organisations and invited members of the community.
The contribution of recent trustees who have retired is recognized as follows :
In 2022 Eddie walsh retired as a trustee
In 2021 Anne Jarman retired as trustee.
In 2020 Chris Brazier retired as a trustee
In 2018 Audrey Fowler retired as our booking clerk. Audrey had served on the Village Hall Council as a trustee and booking clerk for 35 years.
In 2017 Brian Fowler and Gillian Graham retired as trustees of our charity. Brian served as Chairman. Gillian, who was nominated by the CBTA, had served as secretary and treasurer, for 20 years. Andrea Davis retired as our treasurer having managed our accounts for 10 years.
Further recognitions will follow when details are available.