MARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

&

MARK VILLAGE HALL

A BRIEF HISTORY

1970 – 2018

• 1970 - MARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (MCA) was founded with the initial aim of providing a Recreation Field for the use of Villagers.
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• A Social & Fund-Raising Sub-Committee was established, comprising Committee Members and supporters from within the  Village..
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• 1971 - Supporters` Club Draw (later known as the MCA Draw) set up to help raise funds on a monthly basis
• A wide-ranging variety of events were put on in Mark Church Hall, the Pack Horse Assembly Rooms and the Watchfield Hall, for the purpose of holding communal social events and fund raising  for the purpose of raising money to buy a Field.
• The popularity of these events led the MCA to realise that there was a need for a VILLAGE HALL which would be large enough to hold these events and which could also provide indoor Sports Activities eg. Badminton, Indoor Bowls.as the other venues were limited in size.
• A local farmer was prepared to sell one of his fields in Vole Road.
• In 1978 MARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION purchased the Field for £11,262. All of the money came from its Fund-Raising activities.  
• MARK CRICKET CLUB initially expressed an interest in having the Field as their Cricket Pitch, but, unfortunately, the boundaries were just short of the area they would need to play League Cricket.
• MARK BADMINTON CLUB and Villagers who wanted to see an INDOOR BOWLS CLUB expressed considerable interest in the project of a Hall and it was decided that it should be a Multi-purpose Hall.
• After touring round and viewing many other new Village Halls and being advised on the mistakes made in their designs, the MCA`s Officers eventually came up with the present design.
• The Local Planning Authority accepted the proposals with some modifications.
• The cost to the MCA would be about £80,000 – a considerable sum in the 1970s!
• In 1979 Sedgemoor District Council purchased the land from the MCA, who leased it back for a nominal annual rent. The ASSOCIATION would be responsible for managing, maintaining and funding the development of the Hall and Site.
• A 50% Council grant towards the cost of the building of the Hall was offered with the MCA having to find the remaining £40,000.
• The Bank agreed to a £10,000 loan on condition that 10 members of the Committee underwrote the loan, which would last 10 years. 10 Officers and Members agreed!!

1980 – 1984

• The Field was drained, treated and leased for grazing.
• It was agreed to consider for the future a Bowling Green, a Children`s Play Area, a Youth Area and maybe a Tennis Court.
• MARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION continued with monthly Fund-Raising ventures to raise the necessary sum, including among others:
• Children`s Discos, Mouse Racing Evenings, Duck Racing on the river(!!), a Book Stall, a Gallon of Whisky Raffles, Plays and Revues, Dances, “Favours” Auctions, Coffee Mornings, Invitation Dinners, Safari Suppers, Skittles Weeks, Quizzes,
• Swimming Lessons, a Medieval Banquet, Pig Roasts, Barn Dances, May Fayres, Dog

Shows, Donkey Derbys, Buy a Brick Appeal, attending Street Fairs and other events with its own goods to sell, the Collection of old Newspapers – and the still-running monthly Flea Market & Car Boot Sale (once the Hall was built).

• In June 1984 the building of the Hall began. To celebrate the laying of the foundations, members of the 2^nd. Battalion (“Red Berets”) Parachute Regiment “dropped in”.
• The Vole Road footpath had to be constructed and hedges and trees planted all at the MCA`s expense.
• In October 1984 the building of MARK VILLAGE HALL was completed.
• On Saturday 15<sup>th</sup>. December 1984 the Hall was officially opened and a free Children`s Party in the afternoon and a Dance in the evening were organised.

1984 – 1999

• Within 3 years, the new Hall proved so successful a venue for Organisations, Weddings, Birthdays and other events from within and outside the Village that all the debts were cleared.
• The MCA raised money for the Car Park and Entrance to be asphalted. In the Main Hall a new
•  all-purpose Floor was  installed. Both items financed from fund raising and hall revenues.
• The MARK MOOR BOWLING CLUB was formed on the site as a separate entity and they raised the money for the creation of the Green and more recently the construction of the new Clubhouse.
• The MCA set up a Playground Sub-Committee to finance the construction of the hugely successful, popular and much used CHILDREN`S PLAY AREA for younger children.  This facility is now managed and maintained by Mark Parish Council
• MARK JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB was founded, but, unfortunately, only lasted for a few seasons. The football pitch is now available for hire.

2000 – 2018

• In 2000 the MCA initiated the construction of the MULTI – USE – GAMES – AREA offering facilities for 5 a side football, net ball, basketball and cricket practise as well as general sport plays.
• A major refurbishment of the hall was undertaken between 2005 – 2011 upgrading all facilities including the provision of disabled access/parking, new toilets, new ceiling panels, roof insulation, modern light fittings, stage lighting, new kitchen fittings and equipment.
• 2013 the MCA raised funds for a skate board park to be constructed alongside the MUGA thereby providing a wide range of  leisure facilities for all ages.
• 2018  the MCA raised funds for Outdoor Exercise Equipment to be installed next to the boundary of  the Skate park, providing free access for adults and older children to utilise exercise equipment in the open air.

TODAY

• MARK PARISH COUNCIL is the “Custodian/Holding Trustee” for the Hall and Site.
• MARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION,  is a charity managed by committee members comprising “Managing Trustees”, some of whom are representatives of local groups/clubs, and associate members. It is responsible for the management and maintenance of the Hall whilst also seeking to develop the amenities within the Village Hall and surrounds for the benefit of the community.

The FUTURE?

MARK VILLAGE HALL & SITE is a great asset to our Village and its future success is dependent on the support of the elected Officers and Members of MARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.

If you wish to support Mark Community Association,

please visit the website to find out more.

www.markvillagehall.co.uk