This year has really been one to remember at the Memorial Hall.  Our refurbished kitchen was completed; our anniversary art exhibition, organised by local artist and long-term Hall supporter Angie McCall, was a very successful and prestigious event for the town; our coffee days and family lunches were very much appreciated and the people of Pickering have supported us in all our efforts.

          Many projects will have been completed this year in addition to the kitchen refurbishment. The updated lighting and the new floor coverings have been very well received.  All the improvements have been achieved with as little disruption as possible to those who use the Hall’s facilities.  This is due to the hard work by the small team of staff and volunteers.

          On “Wartime weekend” Saturday, we held our annual “British Restaurant” followed by the superb sell-out concert by the tremendously popular “Miscellany”.  Our home made food at the restaurant earned much praise and the wartime programme raised £3,432 towards the upkeep of our unique community facility. The whole weekend was a great success.

          The Hall is very well booked already for the Christmas season with lots of community events in the pipeline. As well as the usual Night Owl dances, WEA and other courses, Slimmers’ world meetings, yoga, friendship groups, karate, a very wide variety of aerobic activity from Dance*Tastic, there are some very exciting, Drama productions, Christmas Fairs and celebrations to suit all tastes. If you haven’t yet visited the Hall, do come along and see what we have to offer.

          As Christmas is upon us, it would seem to be a good time to think about what to do with those presents that we all receive, that may well be treasured by someone else but for which we do not really have a personal use. These make superb raffle and games prizes and we are most grateful to all the people who so generously donate these prizes to us.  Please keep them coming! We are also always very happy to hear from anyone interested in supporting us in any way.  If you are able to do so, please contact the Hall any weekday morning between 9am and noon, (telephone 01751 477522) or ring 01751 477913 and speak with our secretary, Mal Danks.