Friends who keep village life alive

12:02pm Friday 31st October 2008

I LIVE in the small and well spread-out village of Hope-under-Dinmore and Newton. We have a very old village hall, which lacks the modern requirements needed these days to survive or entice others to hire it for functions. I know from past experience how difficult it can be to encourage local people to use the hall and indeed join in events.

On Saturday evening we were treated to a most fantastic harvest supper where around 50 plus people enjoyed a wonderful home-cooked meal in a pleasant atmosphere. It was complemented with live music, raffle and a quiz.

The success of the event was down to the Friends of the Village, a small, dedicated group of people who have worked non-stop, giving their own time and financial help to save us from having no community at all.

Our village is like so many these days.

We have lost our school and post office, and we have no shop or public house in which to gather. At the harvest supper I was able to meet other villagers who I would never have met, and I have lived here for more than 10 years.

I would like to thank the Friends of the Village for all their hard work since they have taken over the running of the hall, because, without you, it would be a ghost village.

I would encourage other residents to please come along and join in. We need all your support.

BARBARA REES Hope-under-Dinmore, Leominster.