Our new Chair Lin welcomed Carol Cook and her signing choir Hands4Voices into the hall on Saturday 4th February to help raise money for the EDCS. All moving and a grooving doing Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Waltz, Charleston and finishing off with a barn dance over 40 ladies and gentlemen had a wonderful time. You can see how beautifully the hall copes with such a large group of dancers. 

Lin holds many dance classes around the community Strollercise, Couples Ballroom and Strictly Ballroom and also in our hall. If you fancy learning you can contact her here. 

Carol Cook is the Choir leader for Hands4Voices and Founder of Don’t Shout Out, a company that teaches accredited British Sign Language. If you would like to learn BSL or join her choir you can contact her on her website here. 

The signing choir Hands4Voices run by Carol Cook came to the hall on Saturday 19th November to teach the children from the EDCS how to sign two Christmas songs. ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’. The parents enjoyed a beverage of their choice and a cheeky little cake in our new Room of Requirement while the children were in the hall with the choir. There was such excitement and joy. At the end the children performed the songs to their parents and grandparents and left to go home full of Christmas cheer.

This class, as you can see, is proving to be very popular. Comments received so far have been.

‘I actually feel like I’m dancing’  

‘I don’t feel like I’m exercising this is so much fun’

‘you’re saying if I’m asked to dance, I can?!’

’where did that hour go?’

With discussions on Strictly Come Dancing and dancing to some of the tunes used too. The class is inclusive and offers a feel good factor. Why not contact Lin and join the ladies and do a Rumba, Paso or a cheeky Salsa?

Contact Lin Green on 07414 572866

On Saturday 29th October we welcomed  a new hirer to our hall, The Gaynes Park Allotment and Gardens Association. They held their annual quiz night to raise funds for the Association. Around 70 people attended and enjoyed a fun night which included a fish and chip supper halfway through the evening. Our Vice-Chairman, David Catchpole, organised the evening being a member of the Association. He said it was a very enjoyable evening and many of the members complemented him on the choice of venue. They particularly liked the Air Purifier units which was quite a talking point having never seen them in any local halls.

On Saturday 8th October the hall was filled with a group of wonderful people raising funds for the ECDS (Essex Children’s Deaf Society). Carol Cook from ‘Don’t Shout Out’ hosted a quiz night with members joining from her BSL signing classes and her signing choir Hands4Voices. As you can see we used our new tables for the first time and how wonderful do they look? 96 people seated comfortably with plenty of room to move around. 

Making connections with the community is paramount and 1st Ashingdon Scouts have provided and made these stunning soldiers. Something we envisioned last year, that they have bought to life.  This… this is what’s it about. To say as a team we’re proud. Very proud! Thank you 1st Ashingdon Scouts for making this possible!  
Go to our Remembrance Day page to see the community’s Trubute!  

The Room of Requirement is gradually getting there. Once the much sought after door was installed we realised the most beautiful breathtaking view that is St Georges Park. We still need to plaster, change the internal doors, paint, do the electrics, get the light fittings up, draw the mural, get the floor replaced and buy comfy furniture. It will be worth the wait. 

There was a nice surprise for one of our new hirers this weekend, Nee Naw Parties which hires our hall on a Saturday had a visit from a real Nee Naw vehicle in the guise of a rapid response Police car which parked in the car park, PC Adam Hollingworh and his colleague kindly popped in the see the children and allowed them to sit in the car and activate the siren and blue lights. With a wave goodbye from all the children they were soon back on duty protecting the public.