TWO volunteers who helped rescue a Forest village hall almost 50 years ago were among those celebrating a restoration costing more than £200,000.

John Dougan and Jean Davies were among the volunteers who helped rescue the Assembly Rooms in St Briavels when they had become so dilapidated that they almost closed for good.

The work started in the 1960s by Mr Dougan and Mrs Davies, along with others including John Eskell and 'Spider' Davies, rescued the hall – but there was no significant extra investment until four years ago.

The work on the hall – opened by Captain Octavius Andrews in 1924 – began in 2008 with a £94,000 grant from the South West Rural Enterprise scheme to rebuilld the main walls and renovate the interior of the hall.

The second phase including a new open truss pitched roof with lights to replace a leaking corrugated asbestos roof and a glass folding walll to integrate the hall with the recreation room, was completed last year.

It was funded with £45,000 from Biffa and £5,100 from St Briavels Parish Council.

This year the recreation room was remodelled and renovated with a new floor, kitchenette, cafe, bar and toilets with disabled facilities, a walk-in shower and baby changing facilities.

The £63,500 cost was met with £50,000 from the Forest of Dean Local Action which was made possible by a £10,000 match fund from the Summerfield Charitable Trust, £2,500 from Oldbury power station and £1,000 from the parish council.

Volunteers are now looking to raise funds for a new roof on the main hall and to repair the disused reading room.

Volunteer Karen Cockfield said: "The day marked the completion of three phases of an extensive programme of renovation made possible by community fund-raising and generous contributions totalling £214,000.

"This new flexible space means the bookings diary is filling up fast – already there are activities on almost every day right into 2013 which is fantastic to see.

"We also intend to create an enclosed safe garden terrace to the rear, which could be complete by the autumn and will make a huge difference to the appeal of the Assembly Rooms as an all-round venue.

"Dedication and hard work saved the Assembly Rooms from almost certain closure back (in the 60s), so our present committee of trustees would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge their important contribution and thank the team of the 60S, including John Eskell and 'Spider' Davis for their valuable service.

"We also wish to recognise the contribution of skilled labour and professional advice given over the years by Gerald Williams, who sadly passed away in June."