A Backwards Look - from Sibford Village Hall Newsletter September 1959
The Judges in the Oxfordshire Tidy Village Competition said “Sibford has made the most of its splendid new Village Hall, with attractive and well-kept flower beds. It was far and away the best Village Hall surround in the villages we visited.”
In that summer, the Entertainments Subcommittee had organised an Arts and Crafts Exhibition attended by over 1,000 people.
The autumn’s programme of entertainments included a Celebrity Evening with the pianist Sidney Harrison (all seats reserved at 5/- and 3/-); the village Quiz, taking the form of a knock-out competition between Sibford Ferris, Sibford Gower, Brailcs and Hook Norton; a lecture with lantern slides by the archaeologists excavating the Roman and Ancient British buildings at Swalcliffe Lea; the Hall’s 2nd Anniversary party; a Dance with Cabaret; a Country and Old-Time Dance; a Christmas Funfair; a play presented by the Sibford Players and a Carol Concert put on by the Sibford Singers.
The Sibford Singers were planning to perform “The Messiah”, and thus needed to augment their numbers. “Membership of The Sibford Singers is not restricted to singers. Croakers with enthusiasm are welcomed with open arms. … The conductor is relatively benign and no vocal embarrassment in the way of solos is ever caused to anybody.”
TEENAGERS EVENINGS: “We hope to hold some Teenagers Evenings occasionally on Friday or Saturday, depending when the Hall is available. … Indoor sports and dancing will be organised, with additional items of interest. Members will pay 1/- per evening. (Note: This Club is not to be confused with the Church of England Communicants Guild which meets in the Mission Room.) “
Meanwhile, another group was organising a Local History Exhibition to be held the following Whitsuntide. “It will be preceded in the coming months by a series of lectures and films telling the fascinating story of our predecessors who, for hundreds 0f years, lived and worked and died in this neighbourhood.”
HIRING CHARGES: Hall 5/6 per hour. Dances – £2 to midnight, 7/6 per hour thereafter. Concert or Play 25/- (outsiders or professionals 35/-) . Kitchen 2/- per session.