Charity Number : 269652
Hamstreet is located some seven miles south of Ashford, Kent, just on the boundary of Romney Marsh. Hamstreet is not an archetypical ‘pretty village’, but it is a place of great character.
Hamstreet Victory Hall was finally opened in 1961, after many years of raising funds, starting just after the end of World War II, hence the name chosen for the hall. The hall was opened by the actress Dinah Sheridan, who stated at the opening ceremony that she would consider herself to be ‘the hall’s godmother’. In September 2011, the village joined with the present committee to celebrate the hall’s 50th birthday. One or two of the original committee were able to attend and see the changes made over the last 50 years.
The Victory Hall is situated in the centre of the village, with good access to all, including both parking and access for the disabled. The hall fronts on to a delightful village green, which is very well used as a social area with parents sitting on the benches watching their children play; and on the west side of the hall it has a play area for the younger children.
The Hall is managed by an elected Committee, supported by representatives of the organisations who hire the hall on a regular basis. The day to day bookings hire charges cover the running costs of the hall, electricity, heating, water, cleaning etc., but in order to maintain and improve the hall, extra funds need to be raised, and this is done by regular Boot Fairs, (on the first Sunday of every month, running from April – September, excluding August), Jumble Sales and Coffee Mornings etc. There is a bric-a-brac sales table always in the hall, and in the seating area off the kitchen, there is a large bookshelf with books, jigsaws etc for sale, all for hall funds.
A new kitchen was installed in 2011, and the bar kitchen also has new units, matching those in the main kitchen. The toilet for the disabled / baby changing area, was put in a few years ago, this is a large light area with plenty of room for moving a wheelchair round in it.