A successful Sunday lunch organised by three North Devon Masonic Lodges has resulted in a £500 donation to Filleigh Village Hall.
The lunch, held at the hall on 11 May, was hosted jointly by members of the South Molton, Lyn, and West Buckland School Lodges and proved a highly successful occasion.
Following the event, the Lodges were pleased to return to Filleigh to present a cheque for £500 to support the village hall and the important role it plays in the local community.
Filleigh Village Hall has been at the centre of village life since the present building opened in 1997. Set between Barnstaple and South Molton, it is a registered charity established specifically to provide a village hall for the people of Filleigh and the surrounding area.
It is a particularly well-used community facility. The main hall can accommodate up to 200 people standing or 180 seated at tables, while the building also includes meeting space, a stage, kitchen facilities and the Weston Room. Throughout the year it provides a home for activities ranging from children’s groups and badminton to short mat bowls, dancing, craft groups, the WI and local history meetings.
For a village with a population of just 282, that breadth of use underlines just how valuable the hall is as a meeting place and community hub.
The donation is also very much in keeping with a long tradition of community involvement by Freemasons in the South Molton area. Freemasonry has been established in the town since 1834, and local members continue to support charities, organisations and community groups across North Devon.
The £500 presentation provided a fitting conclusion to an enjoyable event: a Sunday lunch that brought people together and, at the same time, generated a worthwhile contribution towards maintaining a facility used by so many others throughout the year.
Pictured, from left: Rob Tucker, Treasurer; Carol Foster; Tanya Hussell, Secretary; Eddie Dymond; John Rice; Peter Kyle; and Richard Maxwell, Chairman.