We were delighted this year to receive funding from COF with a grant of £25,000.00 to enable us to complete the final phase of the Lysaght Roof Project.
Report by By Richard Walsh
Thursday 24th April 2025 7:00 am WSFP
VILLAGERS in Old Cleeve are celebrating the completion after eight years of a new roof on their Lysaght Village Hall and Club, a much-used and vital community facility.
It was 2017 when they recognised a new roof was needed with the cost put at more than £55,000, a daunting sum to raise.
It is a rare example of a successful community-run facility which has been in existence for more than 100 years and is highly valued by members and local residents of the village and the surrounding area.
The club has continued to grow over the past century and now boasts more than 300 members, providing a range of activities including snooker, skittles, darts, boules, and a quiz league, together with bar and dining facilities for members to enjoy.
The hall is a popular community venue for regular clubs and activities, also a popular venue for weddings, parties, utilising its kitchen and licensed bar facilities.
The driving force behind raising the funding for the new roof was the management committee, along with members of the Old Cleeve Community Hall Committee, who worked together to start a ‘Raise the Roof’ appeal in 2017 with volunteers supporting the campaign within the area.
After the community hall committee retired in 2018, responsibility for the running of the Lysaght Hall was returned to its management committee, which then had the task of raising the money needed to complete all three phases of the project.
On the financial side, Lysaght Management Committee member and trustee Judi Stabb took on responsibility for obtaining grant funding, securing £20,000 from the National Lottery together with additional money, including the Fairfield Trust and the Roger de Haan Trust, which was put toward phases one and two.
Ms Stabb secured a further National Lottery award of £20,000 in 2023 and applied to the Government for a Community Ownership Fund grant of £25,000 in respect of the final phase three work which began in January, 2025.
During the eight-year period, various committee members and volunteers worked together to raise the money for each phase to be completed, with a variety of fund-raising events being held, a phenomenal achievement by everybody involved.
The project was voluntarily managed throughout by Martin Stabb, a retired chartered engineer whose experience proved to be invaluable.
Three different roofing contractors were involved, A J Raucki & Son for the first phase, Parker Roofing for phase two, and finally GC Roofing.
The project’s total cost reached about £101,000, nearly doubling the initial £55,000 estimate given in 2017.
A spokesperson said: “This is now a building and facility of which the local community and its benefactor can be rightly proud.”
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/By Richard Walsh
What’s on at the Lysaght August 2025
THE LYSAGHT VILLAGE HALL & CLUB PRESENTS
“AN EVENING OF IRISH MUSIC, SONG & DANCE”
With the welcome return of
“SEB & BREN OF THE RAGGLES”
Playing a mixture of their own music along with Irish folk songs and bouncy reels and jigs!!
Brendan O’Neill: vocals/ guitar/ bodhrán
Sebastian Tesouro: violin/ multi-instrumental live looping
Friday 15th August
Lysaght village Hall & club - Old Cleeve - TA24 6HJ (bar open at 7 pm)
Tickets £15.00 to include!
“Chicken & chorizo paella supper”
*(Vegetarian option available)
To reserve your tickets email lysaght.club@gmail.com OR pop into the bar! For more info call Angie 07935101496
Limited availability so be sure to book early!
SUMMER BBQ
You are invited to join us for our Annual Summer BBQ!
At the Lysaght Village Hall & Club (Members and Guests welcome!)
On Sunday 31st August ~ Bar Open @ 12 pm ~ Food served from 1 pm
Nick & Skye will be serving all of your favourite BBQ Food! *Veg option available
*Cumbernauld sausages
* Gourmet beef burgers with cheese (optional)
* Jerk Chicken thighs
All served with Coleslaw ~ Summer leaves ~ Potato salad with sundried tomato, gherkin, aged balsamic, honey and mustard dressing served in burger buns and hot dog rolls.
“Introducing our Special Guest Musicians”
"Ten Strings Attached "
Playing Acoustic Covers ~ Requests available
Playing all your favourite music and songs for you to enjoy, sing along, and dance!!
TICKETS £15.00 ~ Reserve your tickets email lysaght.club@gmail.com Tickets also available at the Bar ~ Contact Angie 0735101496 for more information.
Summer time Opening hours!
FRIDAY EVENINGS ~ 6.30 PM - 10.30 PM
SUNDAY LUNCHTIME ~ 12 PM - 2 PM
(Event opening hours may vary see posters for details)
PLANNING A PARTY OR WEDDING/EVENT IN 2025!
The Lysaght Village Hall with its stage, 80 seated capacity and fully equipped kitchen, it is an ideal venue for Parties/Weddings and Events, with reasonable
hire rates, the fully stocked Club Bar can be made available by arrangement, along with our Skittle Alley.
Also, for smaller more intimate occasions why not hire the Lysaght Bar and Dining Room, with its log burner and open fire, seating for 35 guests, kitchen
and bar available for hire.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU
TO THE LYSAGHT VILLAGE HALL & CLUB VERY SOON!
Please contact Angie on 07935101496 or email lysaght.club@gmail.com for more details on any of the above.
One last thing before you go!!
The Skittle Alley is available every Friday evening for members to use so why not bring along your friends and have a fun game of Skittles fully stocked bar available! Speak to Angie to discuss.