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The Boy’s Club was resuscitated and there was a strong and
enthusiastic membership of boys of fourteen and over. The boys elected
their own games committee. Mrs Meager and Mrs Simmons organised games
for the younger boys and boys a girls one evening a week
To celebrate the re-opening of the club, Mr Leary invited professional
table-tennis players to give a display in the hall.
At this same time a club was organised for the girls by Mrs Meager,
helped by Miss Benson, then living at Ash Manor, who taught the girls
handicrafts.
Throughout the Second World War 1939-1945 the hall was in great
demand. It was used as the centre for the reception of evacuees from
London, also for assembling of the gas masks when a violent storm
dislocated the electric lighting and the vital task had to be
completed by candlelight. The fitting of the gas masks was also mostly
done in the Village Hall. The 35 A.R.P. (Air Raid Precautions) Wardens
in Ash underwent a course of instruction in First Aid, the Instructors
being Doctor Ockwell, then Medical Officer of Health for Dartford
Rural. Several lectures and demonstrations in connection with A.R.P.
services were given. The W.V.S. (Womens Voluntary Services) working
party of which Mrs F. Goodwin was in charge, met one afternoon a week
to work, pick up fresh supplies of wool and wrap up the parcels for
dispatching. Besides woollen comforts for the Forces, clothes were
made up for evacuees. Later Mrs W. Ewbank took charge of the work, and
towards the end of the war Mrs W. Simmons took over. The W.V.S.
membership was at that time at 35, of whom nearly all were Women’s
Institute members. The hall was also equipped as a "Rest
Centre" by the W.V.S. members. Once a month some kind of
entertainment was organised, the proceeds of which were handed over to
the Treasurer (Mrs D.G. Meager) for the "Forces Comforts
Fund."
At the end of 1941 the Rev H.B. Hennell died and the Hall Committee
under the chairmanship of H.B. Nicholls ceased to function.
Soon afterwards the arrival of the new Rector, the Rev J.D. Vigo, in
1942 a new Hall Management Committee was formed with the Rector as
chairman, and this Committee, with one or two changes from year to
year is still active. The Secretary and Treasurer is Mrs Dagnall
Goodwin of "Cherrystones".
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After the War the Kent Education Committee equipped the hall kitchen
for dealing
with school meals, and the children have their dinners in the main
hall.
1948 saw the start of another Boys’ Club under the leadership of Mr
G.V. Muller. For a time this was very active, but at the end of three
years many of the members had left, and the club closed down.
A local branch of the St John Ambulance Cadets was then formed under
the leadership of Mr H.G. brooks and several boys and girls of the
Village joined. They are still quite active, several have entered for
examinations and have earned certificates. Entertainments are arranged
to raise necessary funds.
In 1953 an entertainments committee was formed under the chairmanship
Mr J.V. Muller. The other members of the committee were Mrs M.J.
Muller, Mrs E.A. Hollands, Miss Joan Pocknell and Mr H.G. Brooks . At
the end of 1953 Miss Pocknell’s place was taken by Mrs D. C. Meager.
The support given to many of the entertainments arranged was very
disappointing and at the end of 1954 the committee decided to
discontinue their activities.
A Child Welfare Clinic was conducted in the Parish hall weekly for
thirty-one years from 1920-1951.
In the year the County Health Department, for economy reasons
transferred the Clinic to a central one had at Hartley.
A Doctor’s Surgery is held in the hall every Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock
.
All Women’s Institute meetings and Parish Council meetings are held
in the hall as also are all Village entertainments.

The Hall in 1957
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