The Long Hall (Haul, geddit?!)
It’s been the scene of school plays, wedding parties, jumble sales and countless whist drives over the years.
On Saturday though the village hall in Dartington was visited by moon struck poets, ladies singing and a wise owl in a paper tree. Not to forget guitarists, the W.I., helpers in 1940s pinnies and an
artist. Such is the way it rolls in TQ9, home to kombucha lad Matt Harvey, the bard of barbs about our Narnia vibe. So we have a sourdough habit! Get over it!
The day of celebration for the hall’s one hundredth began with puppet master Tony Gee and helper Anna Cantoni with four novice puppet makers – Amelie, Bella, Iris and Bea – who together wrote their untold history of the hall. Who knew it stretched back a thousand years and involved an owl, a salmon, a snake and the incarnations of the four seasons? Tony said: “To cover all of that in a short time was amazing – those kids were extraordinary. They even instituted their own company today, the Golden Four Theatre Company.”
In between mouthfuls of lemon drizzle and finger sarnies (thanks Mark and Mel from The Cott, the W.I., Mary P, Sue, Val and everyone on snack duty) the tea urn going flat out, villagers wandered in to see how the hall is looking after all these years. I can tell you ( ok I am biased, I’m the treasurer) it’s looking splendid. From the solar-panelled roof to the gold leafed date out front (thanks Brent) , the pale blue porch and the cleaned up corrugated, our hall is, as our users tell us, the only village hall in the village. Seriously, they love it! *
The Mayor popped in in her red cloak and golden chain before the evening’s festivities kicked off with Roger Robinson and Steve Wherly serenading us with guitar and mandolin. Our Matt only living up the road he could hardly avoid being gently cajoled into performing some of his greatest hits and some new stuff. Matt asked the audience to write a line about the full moon and the resulting verses, stuck together with sticky tape , became an improv work of art.
For example: “Tonight’s just right, if you feel you might, be bright , go for a prowl, have a good howl, hoot at an owl.”
As Paula Cloonan sketched the festivities and the bar opened, Vicky Hadland’s singers from Devonly Voices and Singers Upstairs began warming up with music in another room. On stage they were, like their song, larks melodious. And then we inevitably all sang Dancing Queen.
Too many people to thank really, but I have to mention that the celebrations , including out beautiful bench outside, a poppy bank and a landmark walking trail, are being funded by the National
Lottery. Our day also raised £290 in donations which are going to Totnes Caring.
And so the moon guided us on our way home, a song in our hearts and an owl hooting softly in the trees…..
* For accuracy, there is the church hall too!