I have followed the history of the Ruardean Woodside Darby and Joan tapestry from the time it was first framed as their Millennium project. The idea to preserve and frame the cloth came from my late wife and her friends. It meant a great deal to her; in fact, she was involved with the Memorial Hall for over 50 years, serving on a variety of committees including that of the village hall. Her commitment to the hall involved our whole family and also friends.
I recall knocking through walls to access a kitchen, collecting boilers, a cooker and kitchen units (paid for by Elliott Higgins and Daphne Booth – both of whom served on the hall committee), installing a kitchen with the help of George Parsons, George Williams and Ron Peates, etc. I drove to Manchester to purchase fabric for curtains that were made by my wife, daughter and Ruth Williams – these are to name but a few tasks.
The present hall committee have worked hard; but they aren't the only ones to decorate or improve facilities. The present committee have shown arrogance and bloody-mindedness. My wife's era both had and shared respect – they would never have treated any organisation in the contemptuous, callous manner shown to the Darby and Joan club.
When I lost my wife, that hall committee showed compassion and respect. Whatever has gone wrong with the current members? What has changed? It's obvious that the damp and all the other reasons given to stop the cloth being re-hung are just nothing more than excuses, particularly when we hear comments made in the community by some members of the committee such as "I don't want the cloth back up" and "I'll resign if that cloth goes back up." I feel insulted by these people and feel the memory of my wife and others like her who gave so much has also been insulted.
To show my disgust, I for one have stopped my own and my late wife's weekly lottery contribution to the village hall. Why support people who show contempt for our loved ones?
The hall committee said the three photographs of local centenarians could go back up on the wall. We are now hearing that only one qualifies as the other two did not live in Ruardean Woodside! Are we reaching the stage where you'll have to show your ID to gain access to the village hall? Either that or is it that you need to declare an interest in propping up a bar! Traveller beware, if you're planning to travel long haul from the Pludds or Ruardean Hill to Woodside, just make sure your passport, visa and vaccinations are up to date.
I call on this hall committee to put aside their own personal opinions, to stop hurting and insulting people and to show the compassion that some once had, and re-hang the cloth where it belongs.
– Les Ruck, Walkers Lane, Ruardean Woodside.