15th February 2005 - Roy Underdown Pavilion

At our meeting in February, Ian Underdown talked about Hamble Memorial Hall. He started by asking us how long we have lived here, and for what reasons we had visited the hall. The range of activities was surprising, including wedding receptions, meetings of the Women's Institute and Flower Club, visiting the Parish Council Office for various reasons, voting in elections, and many others. It had long been thought that there was a need for such a facility in the village and, in 1920, an ex-government wooden war hut was erected within the Vicarage grounds, near the Church. The basis of the present, permanent building was opened in 1933, and there have been several improvements and extensions over the years, up to the completion of the new facade in May 2003. Hamble Players are regular users of the hall, and an extension in 1970 helped them somewhat. Before the stage was improved, actors had to exit through a window on one side, and make their entrance through another window on the other. There is much more information on the Memorial Hall, including photographs and plans, in Ian's booklet which is available for £1.00 per copy.

Recent Meetings