Pelham Hall AGM 2026

The Hall AGM took place on June 4th and full minutes will be available in due course.

One of the main items on the agenda was the election and appointment of members of the 2026/27 committee. Ian Bristow and Antonia Pearson stepped down, both after notable service, Ian’s role as premises officer being particularly hard to follow.

The new committee is:

Chair: Bob Scarr; Secretary: Andy Henstridge; Treasurer: Steve Northedge

Committee members: Sarah Haeffner, Tom Rigby and Julie Richards

Representatives: Tennis (Caroline Peters); Cricket (Cameron Lee); Bowls (Vacant); Church (Vacant); TUCC (David May)

Bob Scarr’s report from the Chair follows (Steve Northedge’s Treasurer report is in the AGM minutes):

Introduction

Welcome, everyone, to the 2026 Annual General Meeting. It has been a busy year at Pelham Hall, but one that has produced great results. Reflecting on the past twelve months, I am proud in what we have accomplished as a team and excited for where we are headed. This report provides an overview of our maintenance achievements, the diverse event calendar we enjoyed, our financial position, and, most importantly, the people who make this hall the beating heart of our community.

Projects and Maintenance

Keeping a community hub like Pelham Hall safe, functional, and inviting requires a continuous investment of time and resources. This year, we successfully completed several major improvement projects alongside the endless list of "little things" that keep the building running daily.

Our physical spaces saw significant upgrades, including the completion of the veranda renewal and the installation of new windows in the Tennis Room. Underfoot, we laid a brand-new floor in both the Bar area and the upstairs toilet. To improve our entertainment and meeting capabilities, a new Audio-Visual unit was installed in the bar area.

Crucial upgrades were also completed upstairs, including a fully renovated kitchen and the replacement of the hot water tank to ensure our facilities can support our users.

Events and Community Engagement

Our event calendar this year was nothing short of spectacular, bringing a wide range of  entertainment to the village and welcoming plenty of new faces and customers alongside our regulars.

Our screen and stage offerings were packed, featuring 11 Film Nights, 6 NTLive screenings, the brilliant Jazz in the Village, the  Art in Penallt weekend, and the highly anticipated return of the Penallt Panto Players! We gathered for seasonal celebrations like the Christmas Flower Workshop, festive Carols at the Christmas party, summer BBQs, and an educational Bee’s Talk. Our social calendar continued with regular Coffee Mornings, a successful Beer Festival featuring live music and great food, competitive Quiz nights, and popular themed food evenings showcasing Fish & Chips and Caribbean cuisine.

Crucially, the Hall remains an anchor for regular weekly activities. We continue to host a wide range of groups including Pilates, Table Tennis, Bowls, Rugby Tots, Yoga, Cricket, and Tennis. Our 48 Social Nights also provided a consistent, welcoming space for neighbours to connect throughout the year.

Financial Overview

While our Treasurer will shortly deliver a detailed breakdown of the numbers, I am pleased to report a positive financial result for the year. This stability is due in no small part to the vital funding support we have received, for which we are incredibly grateful. In particular, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Trellech United Community Council (TUCC) and recognise the incredibly generous donation from the Art in Penallt team.

Our People

The success of Pelham Hall rests entirely on the shoulders of the people who give it their time. This year, we have been delighted to welcome a wave of new audience members and customers to the Hall. However, our operational reality means we still place a massive reliance on just a few dedicated individuals.

I want to extend my thanks to our hard-working Events Committee, our dedicated team of Bar Volunteers, and our Secretary and Treasurer, who keep the administrative wheels turning. Beyond those holding official titles, there are countless "hidden stars" who quietly step up to help whenever needed - your efforts do not go unnoticed.

On a sadder note, this year also saw us say farewell to some exceptionally strong friends of Pelham Hall. Their contributions over the years have left a lasting legacy, and they will be deeply missed.

Summary and Future Outlook

In summary, it has been a remarkably busy year, but the hard work has paid off with a truly great result for our community asset. Looking ahead, we cannot afford to stand still.

Our immediate future includes hosting the Classic Car Show and tackling a new round of projects and renewals. It is time to breathe new life into a few larger maintenance initiatives that we have had to keep on the slow burn. Furthermore, we aim to increase local participation across the board and continue growing our venue usage, with fantastic community groups like the NCT and "Soup & Sew" leading the way.

Thank you all for your continued support of Pelham Hall. Let’s look forward to another successful year ahead.