Meopham Village Hall in Wrotham Road could close forever if volunteers are not found

A village hall that has served its community for more than 100 years is at threat of closure if volunteers cannot be found to help run it.

Meopham Village Hall, in Wrotham Road, Meopham, was built before the First World War by a wealthy consultant surgeon at Guy’s Hospital in London.

Trixie Leyshon, who says she is closer to her 80s than her 70s, has been a volunteer for more than 30 years but said she needs to step down and no one is coming forward to replace her.

“It’s a sad story and a sign of changing times,” she said.

“Sadly life has changed somewhat.

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“Maybe the younger generation are working longer hours so have no time leftover or perhaps the need to give something back to the community they live in is not high on their agenda.”

And Trixie is worried about what will become of her beloved community without somewhere for everyone to meet.

“If the village hall doesn’t keep going where would all these people go?

“A community without a central hub is irreplaceable.”

Trixie says a constitution drawn up when the hall was built stated it should be affordable for all villagers.

She said this has been followed, with volunteer trustees managing it for free and keeping the costs down.

Trixie has helped out as chairman, vice chairman, booking secretary, events organiser and fundraiser but says it is time for her to retire, along with many other members of the committee.

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She said: “We have vacancies for chairman, vice chairman, secretary, plus various long-term hirers are meant to be able to produce a representative from their organisation which has also proved impossible.

“At present we are all still in situ until people can be found but I’m doing two jobs, that of secretary and vice chairman.

Trixie, who ran her husband’s private practice as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon before she retired, said she needs to step done now.

“I feel I’ve done my bit for the community,” she said. “I’m tired and we need new ideas and younger people on the committee.”

But she said finding a new generation to take over the reins is proving tricky.

“Volunteers can no longer be found,” she said. “Everyone expects payment.”

‘A community without a central hub is irreplaceable’

Paying volunteers, Trixie said, would go against the century-old constitution and hike up hiring prices.

“If we ignore the constitution and employ paid staff the whole ethic of being affordable for the villagers goes out the window,” she added.

The hall has 32 regular hirers offering 40 different activities catering for all ages, including tea dances, baby massage, Scottish dancing, guitar classes, Meopham Women’s Institute and karate.

It is also regularly hired out for birthday parties at weekends.

Anyone who would like to offer their services can contact Trixie on 07970 791450 or 01732 884439. Alternatively, email [email protected].

On the same site and also owned by the village hall is a table tennis club, a country club and Meopham Tennis Club, which has just been awarded the title of number one tennis club in Kent.