Villagers in big push to raise funds to replace run-down hall in Barnham

The event on Saturday, July 19, from 6pm to 11pm on Murrell's Field is being organised by BLADE (Barnham Leisure And Development Enterprise).

Helping the group mastermind the last big push for funds is Barnham-based theatre director Joe Harmston.

"Barnham has a dilapidated corrugated iron village hall which is desperately in need of replacement," he explained.

"Over the years, locals have successfully raised a fair bit towards a new building, and recently rather splendid plans for a really well-designed hall have been drawn up.

"They are now in a push to raise the rest of the money to start building in 2012. I've offered my services to help them organise some of their fundraising events.

"The budget for the hall is 1.5m. By various means and by a deal that they are going to do with the developer, they have already got more than 600,000, which is pretty impressive."

But they will need most of the money in place by the time building begins, the new hall going up about 20 yards from the old one which will be demolished.

"It's a brilliant scheme, but not many people know about it. Eastergate and Yapton and Walberton all managed to organise themselves to get things built for the millennium, but Barnham rather got left behind."

It's a great place to live, Joe said: "But there is not at the moment a centre for anything to happen."

The confirmed acts include The Sads who started out as a pub quiz team about six years ago. They are: Laurence Duffell on vocals; Phil Watkins on bass; Nigel Brooks on drums and Alan Collins on guitar. Also appearing are Lost Boys, a semi-professional three-piece band made up of Steve Turner and Martin Banks from Bognor Regis and Mike Neale from Barnham.

"They perform classic songs by artists ranging from Alice Cooper to Weezer, with a bit of Gershwin thrown in for good measure and have been part of the music night for several years."

Joe added: "Chancer are Mark Green, Gemma Elton, Ben Reid and Dave Storey who have been playing together for five years and all of whom are local.

"CoverNote are Damien Best and Simon Gledhill, who are both local boys though they now live in Brighton.

Tickets at the door.

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