Westward Ho! Community Hall Development

Plans for laying a new floor to the Kingsley Hall and the construction of a new kitchen outside the main body of the hall were disclosed by the chairman (Mrs Doris Hudson) at the annual meeting of the Westward Ho! Community Association on Friday.

Last year a legacy had been left to the Association and, after careful consideration, it was decided that these two improvements were essential, added Mrs Hudson. ‘Application has been made to the Ministry for grant aid towards these improvements but I can give you no further information at the moment as we are awaiting developments’ she explained. During the year 100 new chairs had been purchased and a pay desk had been constructed in the entrance lobby, she said.

Present membership of the Association numbered 199 seniors, 27 juniors, a slight increase on last year’s figure. The Follies’ section had held a most successful summer show and pantomime. ‘The dance club has increased its membership one hundred per cent, which I think is a jolly good effort’ commented Mrs Hudson.

Referring to the Association’s Community Sunday service, introduced three years ago and held yearly in November, Mrs Hudson said ‘The committee is very disturbed that so few members attended the afternoon service last year and were horrified by the lack of attendance in the evening, when a really first class concert was given by Bideford Town Silver Band. It was a great disappointment to us and we hope this year more members will attend’. Mrs Hudson concluded by thanking fellow officials and members of the committee for their support during the past year.

In his remarks the retiring President (Mr R J Smallridge) spoke highly of the work carried out by the ‘hard core’ of workers, most of whom had been with the Association since its inception. Presenting a financial statement which revealed a balance of income over expenditure of £210, compared with £216 the previous year, the treasurer (Mrs I E McHale) commented ‘I think we can be well satisfied with our position’.

The present position was mainly due to the legacy which had been left to the Association, she said. ‘Now we have repaid all the outstanding loan so this has been the first year we have been free’ she added. Election of officers resulted: President, Mr F C Twose; chairman, Mr H G Morgan; secretary, Mrs W Eagle; treasurer, Mrs I E McHale; membership secretary, Mrs Dale. The following were elected to serve on the committee, in addition to the representatives of sections and affiliated bodies: Mr and Mrs Feron, Mr and Mrs Lancaster, Mr Smallridge, Mesdames Westoby, Hambly, Dale, Eagle, Morgan, Peel, Matthews and Miss Lewis.

Gazette article dated 2 May 1958