The weather outside may have been wet and miserable, but the reception that awaited over 100 local residents in the newly extended and refurbished hall could not have been warmer.  At 2.30pm on Saturday 23^rd October, Brent Knoll Parish Hall welcomed their honoured guests Robin Bush (of Channel 4’s Time Team and Chairman of Somerset County Council), Ann Bown (Chairman of Sedgemoor District Council) and David Hancock (Charity Bank).  

Everyone was greeted with a free glass of wine and, after dodging the showers for some quick photos outside, the opening party moved back into the Hall.  Jo Wright, Parish Hall Chairperson, welcomed everyone and handed over to Master of Ceremonies John Page who introduced the guests. Robin Bush cut the ribbon and the Hall was officially reopened.  Robin and Ann congratulated those assembled and the whole village for their efforts in producing such a splendid hall, which so successfully blended the original hall with the modern extension and facilities.  They both agreed that a Village Hall forms the heart of the community and Brent Knoll’s heart was 

obviously strong.  

John Page thanked the guests, and all those who had helped, including, the architects, Stride Treglown, the builders, Smith & Co., the County and District Councils, who between them had given £ 70,000, the Charity Bank, who had provided a loan to the hall to complete the works, the Community Council, the Wyvern and Nuttall Trusts who had donated funds, many local people who had given donations, including the Bobbie John Fund (which was still collecting money in order to name a room after Bobbie), the Parish 

Council and everyone else who had raised money on behalf of the hall.  He also thanked Sanders Garden World for providing the lovely plants around the hall.  He said there were too many people to name everyone individually, but thanked all those who attended the monthly bazaars, the village fete, the Red Cow quiz nights and various other fund raising events, as well as those who bought tickets in the 200+ Club.  All had contributed to the success of Project 2000+ which would benefit the whole village for years 

to come.

After thanking all those who had turned out inspite of the awful weather John Page invited them to join in the wonderfully prepared and set out buffet provided by Parish Hall Committee members and asked Jo Wright to cut the celebration cake.

 “It was such a lovely event”, Jo Wright said afterwards “and to have so many local people come out to the opening, on such a wet and miserable day, made you realise it had all been worthwhile.  Now all the hard work is complete, I would like to express my grateful thanks to all the committee members who have worked so hard over the last few years to achieve the wonderful results we see before us today”.  

Volunteers have helped to finish the inside of the parish hall.