A VILLAGE hall that dates back 126 years is being spruced up by an army of volunteers.

Helpers picked up paint brushes to give the Evergreen Hall in Broadwell a lick of paint last week, and they’re planning to do the same again today, Wednesday, April 19, from 10am to 3pm.

“People power and generous donations are building a stronger and brighter future for the regular and new users of the Evergreen Hall,” said organiser Kishe Redwood, who holds yoga classes at the venue.

“She deserves to look her best and is getting a makeover thanks to the generosity of local businesses and the efforts of the yoga students who use the hall regularly through the week.

“We also plan to tackle the exterior of the hall in the summer, along with sanding the wooden floor and fundraising for these have already begun to take shape.

“The turn out last week included surprise professional help from four lads from local firm CU Phosco, and another work date is planned for Wednesday.

“We have painted the huge main hall, which meant all the curtains down, all the gloss surfaces sanded and undercoated, with just the top coat to be finished off.

“And the gents now have sunshine yellow walls, and the ladies have pleasant pink walls, while the ‘Green Room’ has been gutted and is ready to paint and fill with comfy chairs and a coffee table.

“I am overwhelmed by the generosity of time, energy and good spirit. And as for the lads from CU Phosco, what a surprise and what a gift. We had no idea the pros were in town.”

Evergreen Hall Broadwell was built for £1,500 in 1891 as a church, then became the church hall in 1938 when the Church of the Good Shepherd was built.

It served as a venue and hall for nearby Broadwell Lane End School and has recently operated as a village hall, hosting hundreds of people in yoga and dance classes, and monthly Last Thursday live arts events.

Recent Last Thursday nights have seen a Russian tenor accordionist, a show based on the life of jazz/blues singer Nina Simone, and Welsh folk trio Alaw, while on Thursday, (April 27), the Quartette Lunoire (www.quartettelunoire.com) will be playing a new composition Neck of the Woods and their take on Kurt Weill’s Little Threepenny Music.