A VILLAGE hall has sprung back to life this month with the first community event since the beginning of the pandemic - and its team is working hard to fundraise for a new hall.

In the year before the start of the pandemic the footfall for the use of the Tolleshunt D'Arcy Village Hall was more than 10,000 people.

It is now bouncing back as the hall hosted its first community event earlier this month since the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

The Autumn Supper event - organised by Helen Morris and a group of volunteers - was hosted for more than 60 residents of all ages.

The numbers were restricted due to the Covid risk assessment - and the hall's team says twice the number of tickets could have been sold.

There was live music from the band Control Freaks and "excellent" meals all for just £5 per person.

Businesses Chigborough Farm and Lambton & Jackson made kind food donations for the supper.

A spokesman for Tolleshunt D'Arcy Village Hall said: "The music was excellent, the atmosphere was warm and friendly, the conversation was almost louder than the music as families and friends came together again to celebrate a degree of freedom in their own village hall."

An overall profit of almost £550 was made thanks to a raffle, silent auction, bingo and donations.

"This may seem a small contribution to the overall funding needed to build a new village hall in Tolleshunt D’Arcy, when over £800,000 is needed, but this is just the start of bringing life back to the village hall and to the fundraising and applications for grants that have been put on hold for almost two years," the spokesman added.

The Grant Funding Group will be getting back to business and seeking substantial grant funding to support the quest for the new village hall.

The Fundraising Group also has plenty more events planned in the new year:

  • February 5 2022 – Quiz Night
  • March 5 2022 – Race Night
  • May 15 – Afternoon Tea
  • June 4 2022 – Village Fete
  • June 26 2022 – Open Gardens
  • July 2 2022 – Barn Dance