Village Hall

BAVH becomes BACA – AGM report

~ bavhadmin

On Thursday 26th July we held the AGM for the Bellingdon & Asheridge Village Hall and Recreation Ground. The warm weather showed off the hall at its best and we were heartened to see a solid turnout from local residents plus several offers of help.

Hugh Griffiths kindly chaired the meeting in the absence of our chairman, Alf Field, who unfortunately had to work at short notice. The minutes are available to read below but the highlights were:

  • In the last year we’ve achieved a huge amount  – from moving the heater into the storeroom (enabling winter functions to proceed without it sounding like a fighter jet was about to take off) to the complete overhaul of the kitchen and bar area plus the redecoration of the inside of the hall – all of which have made a huge difference to the hall and its users.
  • The hall’s finances are looking healthy – with sufficient reserves to meet any emergency expenditure that might arise. Money has been put aside to fund the much-needed roof repairs; in case the ageing mower gives up; and for future projects to improve the car parking area.
  • BAVH will undergo a name change and will be called Bellingdon & Asheridge Community Association. Don Baker will mastermind this change, which hopes to make the association more inclusive for all. All community groups are encouraged to nominate a representative to act as a liaison point with the BACA. Please let us know who you’re nominating.
  • Jules Eyles has stepped down as Secretary. We thank her for her eight years’ service. Don Baker stepped down as Treasurer after 7 years but will remain on the committee in a fundraising and special projects capacity.
  • Chris Hood would like to step down from the Bookings Secretary role (7 years and counting) but has very kindly agreed to continue in the short term until someone else feels able to take the role on. We are working hard to install a keyless entry system which will remove the need for physical key handovers to private hirers.
  • Nick Richardson has joined the committee as Treasurer. Gary Woodley, Natalie Baker and Sam Williams have also joined the committee as trustees.

Chariman’s Report 2018

Minutes of AGM Thurs 26th July 2018

Year End Financial Statements 31.3.2018

Accounts to 31.3.2018

AGM 2018: Change is coming to BAVH

~ bavhadmin

June 30th saw the culmination of months of hard work on the annual Village Fete and Fun Dog Show. Our fete relies on the generosity of our residents – whether it be donations of unwanted goods at the doorknock or of their time before, during or after the event. We welcome all offers of help, however small.

Proceeds from the fete are used for the maintenance and improvement of facilities at the Bellingdon & Asheridge Village Hall and Recreation Ground. This year, we’ve refurbished the kitchen and bar area, and repainted the inside of the hall. These are exciting times for our village hall as the current trustees seek to give this vital community asset a firm foundation for the future.

BAVH’s AGM – to which all residents are cordially invited – is on 26th July at 8pm. After this date the BAVH Charity will be renamed the BACA – the Bellingdon & Asheridge Community Association.

What is in a name, you ask? The idea behind this change – which will include an update to the charity’s constitution – is to improve communication and reciprocal assistance between the many different community activities that exist in our villages, as well as ensuring the future of our hall.

Most organisations that rely on volunteers are, frankly, struggling. The time pressures of modern life mean that fewer people have time to help out. We hope that, by pooling resources and expertise we can foster a greater sense of community and ease the burden on the few people that dedicate a huge amount of their personal time to making sure that essential community activities are available.

If you’re interested in joining us, please do get in touch. There are so many things we’d love to host at the hall – Christmas fair, film nights and activities for our younger residents – so please do let us know if you have any ideas you’d like to take forward.

Several of our current trustees have decided that the time is right to step down and we (and the wider community) would like to take the opportunity to thank them for their service and wish them well. Jules Eyles has been Secretary for 8 years, Don Baker has been Treasurer for 7 years and Chris Hood has been Bookings Secretary for 7 years.

The three remaining trustees – Alf Field, Hugh Griffiths and Helen Valvona – are delighted that Nick Richardson will be joining us from July as Treasurer. We’re still looking for a Secretary and a Bookings Secretary.

The Bookings Secretary is a pivotal role for the future of the hall, without which we will be unable to take private hires going forward. These account for 50% of the hall’s annual income and without the revenue generated over the last five years we would have been unable to contribute to the recent kitchen renovation project, the upcoming roof repairs and the planned floor refurbishment.

We’ve worked hard to streamline and simplify the bookings process, which Chris had already updated from a paper based system to a Google calendar and electronic booking forms during his tenure. In the future, we’d like to look into keyless entry to the hall and further automation of the bookings process.

Fete 2018: Traditional fete entertainments and raffle

~ bavhadmin

As every year we’re delighted to bring you a huge variety of traditional fete entertainments, all organised and run by our very own villagers.

Sumptuous tea and cake will be available all day in the hall, plus there’s a well-stocked bar and sizzling barbeque on the field.

Those of you with a competitive streak can try the china smash, coconut shy or football target wall (formerly known as beat the goalie). We have our very own children’s area with splat the rat, hook a duck and so on.

Bookworms can dive into our extensive range of hardcover and paperback books at bargain prices. We also have a huge range of bric-a-brac on offer and, of course, our wonderful tombola.

Not forgetting the raffle, this year we have a fantastic range of prizes again, featuring two premium tickets for a rugby international at Twickenham, courtesy of Conlan Associates.

We also have a car service to the value of £125 – Priests of Chesham; 12 bottles of wine donated by residents; Panto Tickets for the Elgiva; Portrait Photography Sitting – Venture Studio, Eton; Delta Force Paintball Vouchers; Beauty Treatment – H H & S Ltd; Bicycle Service – Old Amersham Cycle Workshop; Coty Toiletries – Conlan family. 

 

Fete 2018: Stalls and entertainments

~ bavhadmin

As always we have a variety of stalls at our fete, this year you can visit: Elite Body Solutions; Greene Wellbeing; Chesham Stags Rugby Club; Latton Alpacas; Handmade cushions; Elaine Crump Jewellery; Silver and costume jewellery; St John’s Church; Pocket money toys; Gin and tonic gifts; AJP Originals handmade cards and gifts; Mid Bucks Bee Keeping Association (observation hive); Face painting; The Village Nursery Bellingdon; and Barney’s Biscuits.