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MORE GREAT NEWS!

The Main Hall - refurbishment and decoration completed for October 14th, the date of the official launch.  It has now been transformed into a light, bright space.  In the near future, FORCH will be happy to contribute to the cost of providing prints to complete the decoration

The launch, to which all FORCH members had been invited, was a most appropriate celebration of the outstanding work that has transformed Ramsbottom Civic Hall.  Many guests, especially if they had not visited the Hall during the last couple of weeks, said they were thrilled to see the wonderful improvements.  Everyone was so pleased with what was around them that the event could only go really well, and so it did, with everyone enjoying themselves.
 
Preparations in the days before the event by the hard-working hall staff had ensured the Hall was shown to best advantage.  The Hawkshaw Flower Club, long term
users of the venue, had produced beautiful matching flower arrangements for the entrance lobby, the bar and every window ledge in the main hall so
everywhere looked stunning for the occasion.
 
Distinguished guests were the Leader of Bury Council, Cllr Bob Bibby and The Mayor and Mayoress of  Bury Cllr John Byrne and Mrs Brenda Byrne who were welcomed by Friends of Ramsbottom Civic Hall Acting Chairman Eddie Jones.  The Chairman briefly outlined the extent of the developments at the Hall and gardens and invited the Leader of the Council to address the guests and formally relaunch the Civic Hall.  Afterwards, a ribbon which had been placed across and inside the Main Hall entrance, was cut.
 
Other guests included local councillors and other members of Bury Council who have promoted the project, Bury Council officers and staff who have been involved in the work and the Hall Manager and his regular team.  Members of other local community groups and individuals who have actively supported FORCH and the refurbishment of Ramsbottom Civic Hall were also invited.
 

The Garden/Patio Area

Thanks to two recent projects the garden/patio area will become a most attractive area and be seen as an important new facility for when special events such as weddings take place at the Hall.

The Alpine Garden

The raised bed running alongside the back of the building was an Alpine Garden Society project under the leadership of John Dower, the incoming Chair of the East Lancashire Alpine Garden Society. (The Society holds its monthly meetings at Ramsbottom Civic Hall.) Members of the group visited Marshalls who supplied the pieces of local stone which Bury Council transported to the site. The Council also repaired the hard landscaping and prepared the garden beds. Bury Council gardener Terry Treen and John Dower were responsible for the final selection and ordering of plants.

The gate and railings for the short flight of steps, were provided by John Dower and the Alpine Garden Society. Final planting and construction of the garden took place on two AGS members’ days in October 2010 when members donated more plants.

Planting by the Hawkshaw Flower Club

The planting of a backdrop (of foliage plants and bulbs) in one of the beds behind the Hall has now been completed by the Hawkshaw Flower Club. The plants will also in due course be a useful resource for demonstrations at the Hawkshaw Flower Club’s monthly meetings. They are one of the longest term users of Ramsbottom Civic Hall. Their members’ creative talent is much valued and is regularly demonstrated in floral displays within the Hall.

Bury Council has provided a substantial part of the funding and also managed this recent work but it could not have been done without the large grant from the Pilsworth Environmental Company. 

This grant was achieved because of FORCH so your support has at last made possible major improvements which were so badly needed and will be appreciated for many years to come.

 

  
 

FRIENDS OF RAMSBOTTOM CIVIC HALL CONSTITUTION (Abridged)

As agreed at the General Meeting of June 18th 2007. 

Name

1.    The name of the group shall be Friends of Ramsbottom Civic Hall

 

Objects

2.     The OBJECTS of the group are to:

 

 2.1     Promote membership to anyone wishing to join the Friends group.

 

2..2    To help to support the hall as a key element in the local community.

 

2.3     To help to create a culture of appropriate use and care for the hall, encouraging a positive attitude and sense of ownership

 

2.4    To help to promote and develop the hall, maximising its success as a valuable community resource

 

2.5    To create and maintain a working partnership among the Friends, Bury MBC and staff of the hall and users with a view to securing its long term sustainability and to remain within the ownership of Bury MBC

 

2.6    To aim for charity status to maximise outside support for public use of the hall.

 

2.7     Be non-party political.

 

2.8     Provide regular information to members.

 

2.9     Publicise Friends of Ramsbottom Civic Hall and community events at the hall through local media and providing addition to the www.ramsbottom.net website.

 

2.10    Regularly consult all members.

 

Membership

3.    Membership of the group shall be open to all.

 

4.    A record of all members will be kept by the Committee in a membership register and updated prior to the Annual General Meeting. Each new member shall be provided with a copy of the Constitution when they join.

(A full version may be obtained by contacting the secretary on 01706 823658.)