Throw back Thursday – Colden Common Community Association

It’s Village Halls week and we are celebrating the contribution that some of our members have to their community by sharing the history of their hall/community space!

Colden Common Community Association was formed in 1985, to raise money to build and maintain a Community Centre as a meeting place for a growing number of groups and societies.

The foundations were laid in 1991, and Colden Common Community Centre was finished and officially opened in 1992 by the Duchess of Gloucester. The largest hall, the Gloucester Hall, was named in her honour.

There were many contributors to the fund-raising efforts, but one in particular, Patrick Moore, the astronomer, a long-time friend of the village, made a large donation to the fund. One of our rooms is named after him, and was opened by him in September 1992. He was also persuaded to appear in one of the village pantomimes. Our smallest room, the Bert Stratton Lounge, was named after local benefactor, Mr Bert Stratton, who bequeathed his stamp collection to be sold, the profits to be used for the centre.

We celebrated our 25th Anniversary just over two years ago, with a party at the Community Centre. One of our local residents contributed towards the purchase of a clock to mark the anniversary, which now has pride of place on the Centre roof.

We have free daytime drop in table tennis sessions this week for Village Halls Week, and are holding an Open Day on Saturday. Our local MP, Steve Brine, will be visiting for a short while that day, at 11.00 o’clock. At our open day, we will be announcing our partnership with local company, Winchester Bourne, who are sponsoring the Centre this year.

We have several new events planned this year, including a Fashion Show on 21st March, and a Health & Wellbeing Show on 18th April. We will also have our regular events including Common Have A Go, the Beerfest, and our Winter Market.