​

Transcribed from the Rugby Advertiser 27th October 1933

​

The Opening of Willoughby Village Hall

​

 The Hall is a substantially built structure of a pleasing appearance, and contains an assembly room about 150 feet by 25 feet, with a stage,  on either side of the entrance are cloakrooms. There is also a kitchen, dressing room, and convenient sanitary accomodation. The building is heated by a low pressure hot water system.

​

Countess Inchcape Unlocks the Door

As Lady Inchcape alighted from her car, she was met by Mrs Pearce(Willoughby House) and introduced to the Vicar (The Reverend  G. E, M. Tongue) and Mrs Tongue, Mr T. W. Willard (the Architect) and others who played a part in the building of the new Hall. Mr Willard Presented Lady Inchcape with an ornamental key, with which she opened the door to the new hall. after Lady Inchcape had entered the hall, Villagers soon filled all the available seats in order to hear various speeches and votes of thanks. 

 

The Chairman was the Reverend G E M Tongue, he was supported by The Countess of Inchcape ,Mrs Pearce, Mrs Tongue, Mrs E Wigg, Mrs C Montgomerey, Mr T Willard, Mrs J Biggs, Miss A Biggs, Mrs N Hall, Miss L Isom, and Messrs E Johnson Braunston (the Builder) F.Hancock, L Hall, G Ivens, A Hatwell, W Quinney, W Harding (Treasurer of Village Hall Committee) and Mr G Hancock (Secretary of the Comitee)

​

The Chairman remarked how pleased they were to see Lady Inchcape amongst them, and how sorry they were that Captain Pearce was unable to be present due to illness.

Continueing the Vicar said he wasn’t aware of who’s original suggestion  it was to build a Hall, but that the first meeting of the Committee took place on March 10 1928 when Mrs Smith was appointed Secretary. Thus it was five years ago when the idea was first thought of and it ment a great deal of hard-work on the Village People, Much encouragement had been given by Captain and Mrs Pearce     

£706 Raised in Five years

A vote of thanks to the H. Secretary was proposed by  Mrs Tongue, who said that Mr G. Hancock had all the qualifications of the Ideal Secretary. Seconding, Mr W. Harding  said there had been no slacking on the Secretaries part.

Mr Harding stated that the builders estimate for the Hall was £904.10s and the charge for furnishing etc was £73.10s making a total of £978.00. on the income side there was a balance in the bank £513.19.5d  Subscriptions amounting to £42.2s  and promises totalling £150.

This made a total of £706.1s.5d  leaving a total of £271.18s.7d still to raised. The raising of such a large sum by a small village like Willoughby was a truly remarkable achievement.

The Chairman and Mrs Tongue on several occasions had lent their grounds for a Garden Fete in aid of the Village Hall Fund, and Captain and Mrs Pearce had also helped the Committee considerably.