Scout & Guide Hall officially re-opened last night

Last night saw the official re-opening of the Audlem Scout & Guide Hall in Cheshire Street where a packed hall heard the Mayor of Crewe & Nantwich praise the community spirit in Audlem and congratulate all concerned in the project to renovate the building. Cllr Howard Curran was accompanied by the Mayoress Sheila Curran.

The guests at the event included representatives of the clubs and societies that use the hall including the uniformed organisations, the Women's Institute, Embroiderers' Guild, Audlem History Society and Audlem Ju-Jitsu Club. The contractors who had worked on the project were represented, as were the Scout & Guide Hall committee, Audlem Parish Council, and many donors, including WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Limited) who have provided a major grant. The mayor also singled out the £5,000 that had been raised amongst local residents as a sign of the way the Audlem community is prepared to help local causes.

Christine Cottrell, who has led the project, described the history of the building. It was originally built as a Methodist Chapel and was used as a church hall to St James' Primary School before the new school was built in Heathfield Road. The 1st Audlem Guides and the Scout & Guide Hall committee purchased the building in 1982 when St James' Church granted them a free mortgage. The Disability Discrimination Act acted as a spur to improving access and it was then decided to undertake a complete renovation.

Treasurer of the committee, Andrew Bradshaw, spoke and thanked all that had donated, including those that had contributed in kind. He particularly thanked Richard Smith of WREN, who made the major donation that allowed the work to go ahead and said he was astonished at how helpful and involved Richard had been during the work.

Jane Dale spoke on behalf of the Scouts & Guides and about the hard work Christine had put in. Christine was then presented with a flowering shrub by the uniformed organisations in recognition of her work.

The hall is now a credit to the community with full disabled access. It's already being heavily used – this Saturday it is hosting a local music showcase with four bands playing.

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