Reading Room Committee – Chairman’s Report for the year October 2018 to October 2019

The committee represents various different organisations and interests in the village as well as including those people able and willing to devote their time to Reading Room matters. 

  • Chairman: Rosemary Rees
  • Vice-Chairman: Ian Wright
  • Treasurer: John Ketchell
  • Minuting secretary: Alison Boothman
  • Bookings secretary: Vanessa Stone

Committee

  • Pat Charnley
  • Martin Charnley
  • Thomas Eagle
  • Denise Maguire
  • Tony Maguire
  • Bryan Procter (Trustee)
  • Malcolm Spencer
  • Margaret Spencer
  • Veronica Trueman
  • Chris Weston (Trustee)
  • Edith Wright

We decided to continue with our focus on arranging events that would be of interest to the village community, that would bring the community together and that would have the added benefit of raising money for the maintenance of the Reading Room.

Our Reading Room ‘year’ started in October with a fish and chip supper which was, as always, very popular and well attended. November saw our ‘Getting Ready for Christmas’ Saturday, which gave the village the opportunity to meet for a chat over a coffee as well as buy some Christmas cards and gifts for friends and relatives. This was followed in December by our traditional Christmas party, hosted by Ian and Edith Wright. We had a bit of a break in January. In February we ran a Saturday coffee morning where Alison’s cakes were a spectacular success and villagers were able to catch up with local happenings over the winter months. In March we held a pie and peas supper evening that was very popular and where villagers stayed and chatted long into the night.  April saw us hosting a musical evening, where ‘Jazz Junction’ entertained us with their fascinating and skilful improvisations that were appreciated by people who had come from far and wide. Our plant and coffee morning in May was very well supported and we all appreciated the wonderful display put on by Andrew ‘Lay of Lay of the Land’ that really drew people in, many of whom brought plans for their summer gardens. In June we were again heavily involved on the catering side of Open Farm Sunday, held at Cappleside Farm, and again appreciated a share of the proceeds, generously donated to Reading Room funds by Chris Weston. July saw villagers throwing open their gardens for a “How does your garden grow?’ event. Inevitably, after days and days of sunshine, it poured with rain. But gardeners are intrepid people, and a goodly number donned waterproofs, put up their umbrellas and sallied forth. September saw us drawing legs on beetles in a Beetle Drive that was enjoyed by young and old alike.  As I write, we are looking forward to a flower arranging demonstration by Catkins in October and, in November to a photographic evening with Phil Simnett and to our annual village Christmas party the following month.

Earlier in the year we agreed to purchase a dishwasher for the Reading Room kitchen. Not only would this save time for our regular Reading Room users, releasing them from the kitchen to more fully to engage in the Reading Room activities, but would make the Reading Room more attractive to potential hirers. Alison Boothman undertook extensive research and with the agreement of the committee, negotiated the purchase and installation of an appropriate dishwasher. This involved quite considerable re-organising of the kitchen in order to install the dishwasher close to the sink, and Martin Charnley worked wonders here. To Alison and Martin we give our grateful thanks. The purchase of the dishwasher was made possible by the generosity of Settle’s Rotary Club, Age UK (North Craven), Craven District Council (through our district councillors) and North Yorkshire County Council (through our county councillor). To them we extend our thanks.

All committee members have been fully involved in planning and organising, setting up tables and taking them down again, designing posters, flyers and tickets, baking cakes and scones and generally working behind the scenes – and sometimes in front of them – to make sure everything runs smoothly. Committee work has not been all about planning and organising events. We have negotiated with our insurers and utility providers, and made sure that the fabric of the building is kept in good repair. We now have a  B4RN ‘box’ in the car park and the Reading Room has fast broadband connectivity. We hope to utilise this in future and are working closely with Catherine Johnson, the CDC’s Arts Development Officer who is setting up and encouraging a number of local initiatives.

It has, as you can see, been a very busy year for us all. As chairman, I must thank all the committee members and trustees for giving so unstintingly of their time, their ideas and their expertise – and the village for its support. We welcome ideas for activities and if any villagers would like to join us on the committee, you would be most welcome.

Rosemary Rees

Chairman of the Reading Room Committee

October 2019