East Boldre villagers make a song and dance of campaign for new community hub
EAST BOLDRE’S campaign for a new community hub has been boosted by the launch on YouTube of a promotional video starring the village’s residents.
As reported in the A&T, the facility is intended to remedy the possible loss of the local shop by turning the village hall into a community hub, including a new store.
The current shopkeeper and his family are moving on and the future of the outlet and post office is uncertain, so residents are rallying around to get a replacement ready.
The video features music from local band Clockwork Carousel who have a studio in nearby East End, and features villagers talking about their hopes for the project and dancing to the music.
One of the film’s stars is village hall treasurer Steve Antczak, who said: “It was great fun making the video, the locals were all very enthusiastic.
“All sorts of people from nearby took part including local children, East Boldre Garage, Matt Gregory Tree Services, East Boldre Football Club, local Zumba and yoga classes as well as the Pilley pantomime cast, the headteacher of South Baddesley School and the Turfcutters Arms.”
Part of the video was made with images from World War 1 projected onto the village hall. Steve said: “It made it look very effective and it reminds people that the historic village hall was first used as an officers’ mess as a part of a First World War airfield.
Project designer Guy McNair-Wilson said: “My history is in film and TV directing so I offered to make a video.
“The objective was to show there wasn’t a single group that knew what was best for the village but that the whole community was involved. The village hall committee is delighted with the result.”
Referring to the hall project, Guy added: “We haven’t worked on the final design yet. The general thinking is we are waiting for feedback from Natural England on how we can rearrange the site.
“Then there will be a public meeting before we start the final design. We hope to have a planning application in before the end of the year, should the community be happy with the project.”
The video’s director of photography and cameraman was Roger Bonnicci, who has worked on major feature films, commercials, and TV dramas.
Proposed ideas for the Hub include an upgraded and enlarged theatre, community shop, new space for meetings, functions and exhibitions, new sports changing rooms and an integrated historic exhibition throughout the building depicting the old airfield’s heritage.
