When it was Built
The Hall was opened on April 29th 1939 – four months before the war began. The record of its activities is largely associated with war time conditions. Within a few days of the outbreak of war the Hall was commandeered by the Northumberland Hussars. This order was cancelled within a day or two and renewed twice over and finally cancelled. It has been used on more than one occasion to give rest and warmth during the night to men on route marches. The Hall is now placed on a register of premises which should not be requisitioned by Civil or Military Authorities. (See file marked YRCC).
With the arrival of 31 evacuated children and 5 helpers from Hull on the 1st September 1939 the Hall was quickly made use of. The helpers met in the kitchen once a week to mend the clothing of the evacuated children; when a bus load of parents arrived to visit their children they found warmth and a cup of tea in the kitchen. First Aid and Home Nursing classes were started and knitting parties met each week. Miss Crosland started a play centre for the younger children on Saturday mornings – and she and Raymond Hayes and others started a junior club on Monday evenings.
When the First Aid group was formed the Village Hall became its headquarters. Fruit bottling and fruit preservation were carried on during the summer of 1941 but this was not continued in 1942 owing to the difficulties experienced in the previous year in disposing of the fruit and also of collecting it in the first instance. Dances, Whist Drives, Jumble Sales etc were held to raise funds for the many wartime appeals. Red Cross, Prisoners of War, Comforts Fund, YWCA etc.
A Social Club was started with the idea of providing amusement and pleasure to all of us in the village as transport was becoming increasingly difficult. The Hutton le Hole Players gave entertainments until their numbers were depleted by the claims of war time service. The County Library is open to its members once a week.
The Hall has proved its suitability for Praise and Prayer as well as for the events more gay. When the Rev. C G Thompson came to the living of Lastingham in the spring of 1941 he quickly showed signs of friendliness to those who worshipped in other communities than his own and he warmly accepted the proposal of holding United Services when the occasion should arise.
At the time of the writing of this Record two such United Services have been held in the Village Hall – accommodating as it does larger numbers than the church or the chapel could hold. The Vicar and a Methodist Minister take the service which has been well attended each time and a new Spirit of Goodwill is becoming increasingly evident. It is hoped and believed that these services are only the first of many others and that the whole community will be enriched by gathering together in this way.
Dances are held frequently – organised by the people in the village or by the troops or people from other villages who prefer to come to Hutton le Hole to dance on the good hardwood floor
A Christmas party for the children has been held each year – the floor again providing a great attraction- for sliding on – rather than for dancing on.
The end of the war in Europe was celebrated with a Thanksgiving Sale when £120 was raised for the children of Liberated Europe. It was opened by Margaret Ann Thompson aged 20 months – daughter of Rev. and Mrs Thompson and she was supported by the babies of the village.
And from outside our own village have come great feasts of delight and revelry. The Yorkshire Rural Community Council produced ‘Twelfth Night’ to the keen enjoyment of everyone – children and elders alike – in the crowded Hall. They returned a year later with Shaw’s ‘Arms and the Man’ and we look forward to many more visits from this gifted group of players.