Category: Village Hall

Bobservation No. 145: The Last Post

In the spirit of Bob Rowland, who died last week, it seems appropriate to make some observations on how to be a key part of the local community.

It helps to live in the community for decades, be on good terms with everyone around you and to have a beautiful bluebell garden which you open to all every spring. More formally, you can get involved in the Parish Council and support it long after you finish your term. Or perhaps run a Social Committee to protect village activities and assets. But how do you fund these? Well, you could run an award winning Village Fair, or you could hold an annual Call My Bluff wine evening and tell a few ‘edgy’ stories to spice things up a bit. Later in life you can reflect on village matters, world affairs or social inequity every month in the village newsletter or website. Then maybe become involved in regular quotations meetings to debate the deeper philosophical topics with other villagers.

Bob did all of these things and much more – of course supported and encouraged by Pam.
He was a true gentleman and an example for us all of what community involvement means. Fulking will miss him.

Bobservation No.143: Lords and Halls

Peerage
Cartoon image of Lord leaping with palace of Westminster in background. Cartoon AI generated.I have been involved with Fulking village for the last 35 years and in that time I do not recall ever hearing of a villager being given the honour of a peerage. Nick Stace OBE and his family have been around in Fulking as long as I have. I am sure Nick fully deserves the honour and you would have to go a long way to meet a nicer guy. I am sure villagers will join me in offering our congratulations to Nick and hope that he stays connected with Fulking for many more years.

Village Hall
I understand that the rumour about a hiccup relating the purchase of the village hall from the Church Of England will quite possibly be correct.

Bobservation No. 139: Wars of Convenience

Convenience
I understand, from a good friend of mine, that the South Downs National Park (SDNP)have approached the authorities concerned with the possibility of converting the recently acquired village hall into a public toilet. This will not, in any way, alter the ownership of the property which would remain in the hands of the village trustees.  The existing chapel building could then be rented out to a supplier of toiletries.(1 April)

Global Insecurity
I wonder if it would ever be possible to Continue reading “Bobservation No. 139: Wars of Convenience”

Village Hall AGM

THIS WEEK: Friday 6th March. 6:30pm
Join us at Fulking Village Hall for our AGM and update. We’ll give you the latest news on the hall regarding it’s acquisition, what the next steps are and upcoming events. There will be drinks and snacks provided during which we would love to hear your ideas on what we do next with our hall.

AGENDA

1 Apologies
2 Approval of Minutes of AGM 2025
3 Matters arising from minutes
4 Chair’s annual report
5 Financial report and Auditor’s report
6 Election of Officers
7 Discussion of future goals and strategy
8 Any Other Business

Refreshments

Bobservation No.137: Richard Rawlings and the Village

Image – Vertikal.net

Richard Rawlings RIP
It saddens me to have to report the death of Richard Rawlings who was a stalwart of Fulking village and a great benefactor of St Andrews, Edburton. I had known Richard for some thirty plus years and the one thing that I like to think we had in common was being opinionated about most things. Socially Richard was amusing and likeable and he will be greatly missed by all the Fulking villagers who knew him well. I count myself as one of those.
Continue reading “Bobservation No.137: Richard Rawlings and the Village”

Target Hit

We are delighted to confirm that we have now hit our fundraising target of £85,000 needed to save Fulking Village Hall!
It’s incredible to think that in only 9 months, our community & friends have come together and raised so much money and we would like to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has helped us reach our target.
Whether you attended one of our events, bought raffle tickets, made a donation or your company has become a sponsor, we would like to give a heartfelt thanks to the whole community and beyond who have made this dream a reality!
Continue reading “Target Hit”

Village Hall Appeal Update

What a year it’s been for Fulking!
Following a community consultation in January, we launched a bid to raise a daunting £85,000 to save our village hall. There followed a year-long programme of fundraising events, from Seedling Sunday, Farm Open Day and the Wimbledon Garden Party to the Charity Cricket Match, Ceilidh and Call My Bluff.
The Shepherd and Dog came up trumps with a £1 voluntary donation on every table, raising an incredible £4,000 to date, and most recently Sally Gunnell’s quiz at Preston Nomads raised over £3,600.
Still to come are the Fulking Xmas Party on Dec 12 and a Champagne Music Night on Dec 13.

The good news is that with £80,000 in the pot, we’ve very nearly made it, and the hall purchase is going ahead as we write. An enormous and heartfelt thank-you to everyone for your incredible generosity and support.

The even better news is that the whole community has come together behind the project as never before! Any surplus funds will go to hall improvement.

Bobservation No. 134: Call My Bluff Wine Quiz

Call my bluff wine quiz
Nick Hughes and I started this event to raise funds for the Social Committee. Through the years we have been supported by Quaff, Wine Rack and Tesco among others.
Initially we were helped by a friend of Nick’s but as it developed we did more of the organisation and pricing ourselves.

Call My Bluff Wine Quiz evenings have been held in the village hall, in the marquee at the annual village fair at various private homes, at Preston Nomads and at the Shepherd & Dog.
The ethos has been to keep the cost of admission as low as possible whilst enabling the guests to enjoy good wines and perhaps even learn a little about wine. The largest number of places we ever sold was 96 in the marquee.

We have tried to keep the inebriation at an acceptable level but I must confess on a few occasions it has ended up as a bit of a party. The three quizzers have been assisted by a crib sheet for each of the wines and allowed to embellish this as much as they care to.

I have personally had a great deal of pleasure presenting this evening and have descended into barely acceptable Limerick poetry at times.
Over the years we have raised quite a lot of money for the Social Committee.

Lastly, I wish the Village Hall fund raisers every success in their latest edition next month, of what, I hope, has become something of a Fulking tradition.

Call My Bluff Wine Evening – 7th November 6:30-10:30pm, Fulking Village Hall.