A lot of work was required to bring about not only a successful application but also the project management work necessary to achieve a new successful kitchen build. To that end I would like, in particular, to give a sincere thanks to our secretary Julia Boyd who did so much hard work behind the scenes to bring about the successful build of the kitchen. Julia was relentless in progressing the work and dealing with problems and difficulties. She spent a great deal of time and tenacious energy bringing about the successful conclusion of the task in which she was involved. I would like to thank the TMH Management Committee and the kitchen sub-committee for their work and input and I would also like to thank Pam Luck and colleagues of Warwickshire Cava for their advice and support. Last but no means least, of course, a big thank you must go to WREN for supplying the finance and in particular to Mr Joe Newby WREN Contracts Manager and his colleagues, for their help and support during the whole process associated with the application and build.

Various items of equipment have been replaced in the Hall including a new instant hot water boiler in the upstairs kitchen and a floor buffer purchased so that there is now one on both floors.

The cottage tenant looks after the property and mows the grass as the garden is now mostly shrubs which the Trustees arrange to have tidied. The large tree in the garden has grown extensively and surgery is planned any day now.

Thanks to Dorothy Bancroft the Hall participated in the Festival of Flowers in St Mary’s Church to celebrate the Queens 90^th Birthday.

TMH hiring charges have been in the main maintained at previous levels for the last 5 years except for an increase for the use of the kitchen. The Hall continues to be well used by regular groups, individuals, the Borough Council, for functions and for social events but there are still spaces for more activity particularly during the daytime. We know that the success of the TMH has much to do with our caretaker Sandra who is so very helpful and obliging to all who use the hall. I must put on record our thanks for her help and support and the help of husband Malcolm in making the hall the success that it is.

We have been unsuccessful in obtaining the longstanding grant from the Parish Council for the last two years. The Council now have a new procedure and application will have to be made for a specific amount for a specific purpose. The Trustees have agreed that the Parish Council position a defibrillator on the outside wall of the building.

I must record appreciation for the work done in 2017 by the secretary Julia Boyd and by the treasurer Julie Garratt. The Townsend Memorial Hall committee as a whole should also be complimented for the successful contribution it makes in accommodating such a wide variety of user groups that have a need for village hall facilities. We are lucky to have such a dedicated committee. Thanks must go to each one of them for their valued contribution in accommodating some of the activities and interests of our local community. However, committee member numbers are decreasing and there is a desperate need for additional committee members to successfully run, what must be a very valuable community asset. Please consider joining us to keep the TMH management committee viable and successful. There is still plenty of work to be done to improve the Townsend Memorial Hall building – and plenty of work to do in the week by week running of the hall.

I hope that everyone – those who use the hall, committee members and members of the public – will continue to give their full support and encouragement to our efforts to bring about the much-needed improvements to the building and to what the TMH has to offer.

Nb. Dorothy Bancroft added that the new water heater in the downstairs kitchen had proved unreliable, however an agreement had now been reached to lease a more efficient model.