A VILLAGE hall, which has served the community of Gidleigh since the late 1920s, has been brought bang up to date following a £180,000 refurbishment.

With its new facilities, the venue is now fit for every village occasion — from whist drives to theatre productions and wedding receptions.

Parishioners from Gidleigh and Throwleigh were invited to join in the celebrations on Saturday when TV weatherman Ron Bendall performed the official opening ceremony.

Provided by a benefactor Charles McIllwrath who lived at nearby Gidleigh Park, which is now a world-famous hotel and restaurant, the hall was originally opened in 1927 and villagers would walk several miles from scattered farms and cottages to attend dances and whist drives there, finding their way home by lantern light.

Following a deterioration of the building, the mammoth task of raising funds for the hall repair was started three years ago.

Grant assistance from the National Lottery, West Devon Borough Council, Community Council of Devon and the Countryside Agency together with the practical and financial help from local people made the dream come true and the £180,000 refurbishment began in March this year.

The hall now has a splendid new catering kitchen dedicated to the late Jean Bowden, who gave a lifetime's service to the hall, cloakrooms, a movable stage and a handsome well-lit main room for all occasions.

The first wedding reception has been booked for next month and members of the parish are putting on a concert in January.

One of the major advancements has been the installation of heating which before had prevented the hall being used very much in the winter.

Chairman of Gidleigh Village Hall management committee Chris Smallwood said the parish had little choice but to do something about the old hall when it was condemned by Environmental Health.

'We have had numerous fundraising events for the hall and donations from local people which alone amounted to £5,000,' he said.

'Everyone has been very supportive and I think the hall will become more important to the village as time goes on.'

Mr Smallwood said, although the introduction of TV had damaged a certain amount of village life, there was a need in all communities for people to get together.

'By spending time together people learn to look after each other and that is a very important part of life,' he said.

The ongoing maintenance costs of the hall will be helped by the sale of a book by Gidleigh residents Tony Grumley-Grennan and Michael Hardy.

The book lists every property in Gidleigh and a commentary about each one.