By the time you read this, the formal opening of the new hall will be imminent. Some of you will already have had a chance to look around it as the regular bookings have taken place there since early July and the art show by the Malling Art Club provided an opportunity for everybody to look round.

The formal opening ceremony takes place on 3^rd September, with our MP Tom Tugendhat performing the opening ceremony followed by the rededication of the memorial by the Bishop of Rochester. The programme of events for the opening week forms the centrefold of this copy of Village News.

The hall management committee is aware that the hiring rates have not been changed for five years and so we wish to give notice that the charges are being reviewed, with the intention that they will be changed at the start of 2017. We will continue to offer a discount for regular and local hirers as compared with the rates charged to commercial users.

Looking further forward, there will a programme of planting in the autumn to reduce the bare appearance of the car park and to introduce visual interest around the new building. If you would like to help with this, please contact any of the hall trustees.

We would also like to appeal for new committee members to join us, as we would like the committee to be representative of all those who live in the village, whatever their age or interests – the age profile at the moment is rather biased to the older and retired members of the community, so some ‘younger blood’ would be most welcome!

Sandy Mackay, Chairman of the Trustees