Please click below to read our newsletters and keep up to date with recent news and events.
Hall re-opening
Following government guidelines, some classes have now resumed.
Most classes will resume from 17th May.
Friday 21st May
Welcome back ~Open Evening 6pm to 8pm
Join Alison, Derek, and the Covid Crew for this informal evening to welcome back everyone to the hall.
So many changes have been made over the past 12 months. Every room has had a makeover. Here is an opportunity to catch up and see the results that have been achieved.
From painting the ceiling and adding a 3rd stripe to the coving around the main hall. To the restoration of the cottages damaged by fire 50 years ago. The complete modernisation of the stage and a new layout in the basement. No need to book, light refreshments available.
Please be aware that Covid restrictions/rules apply.
Friday the 4th June ~ Hopefully 3rd Time Lucky
having been cancelled twice.
Hall Covid-19 Recovery Fundraising Night
Are you ready for a night of joyful fun!
QUIZ NIGHT with Nigel and Lucy starts 7pm
£6 per person including pie and pea supper.
Teams of up to 6 people, must be from no more than 2 households.
10 teams is the maximum capacity
£50 Prize Money for the winning team.
Bring your own drinks.
The hall layout will be set to meet the current guidelines.
Hand sanitiser stations are provided.
Tables may only be booked for no more than two households or one bubble group, no separate guests.
You must not attend this event if any member of your group is showing any symptoms of Covid-19 or has been asked to self-isolate.
Doors will open 15 minutes before the quiz starts.
Please ensure all the members of your party are present and wearing a face covering before entering the hall. If a member of your party is exempt this must be notified to us before booking with proof of exemption provided.
Important
Please wait outside the hall observing social distancing guidelines until a member of staff invites your party into the building.
You will be asked to scan the QR code for track and trace on entry. You will be asked to use sanitiser and your temperature will be checked using a digital thermometer to ensure it meets current guidelines.
Do not touch any surfaces in the hall unnecessarily.
Each group will be shown to their table by a member of staff. You are not permitted to move any tables or chairs. Once seated you may remove your face covering for eating and drinking. You must always remain at your table unless you require the toilet in an emergency. Face covering must be worn when going to the toilet and you must adhere to social distancing guidelines.
When the quiz is finished please remain seated at your table, until a member of staff gives you permission to leave.
Please note the main hall is covered by CCTV, this may be used by the authorities to ensure we comply with the latest regulations.
This event may be cancelled at any time due to Covid-19 and a full refund will be made.
To Book your team in:
Tel Derek 01484 311303
Mobile Phone 07866337065
By email to: derek.fairbank@ntlworld.com
Payment may be made by PayPal
longwoodmechanics@ntlworld.com
Saturday 16th July
CJ’s Summer Junior Dance Show
Fundraiser for hall funds
More details to follow.
We Need Your Help
We do not employ a cleaner at the hall, please do your bit.
Help us to keep the hall clean, do not leave it for someone else to do.
If anything is broken, damaged or need replacing please let me know.
Please use drinks mats under cups to prevent ring marks.
Your help will be much appreciated.
Dance Inspired Fitness Class
Unfortunately, we are unable to start this class at the moment due to hall availability.
New Class
Four Times UK Champion
Sensei Josh gives offers a warm welcome to all for new classes at the hall.
Karate
Improve your Fitness, Self Confidence & Discipline
With current Member of Team England
Bushido Ryu Huddersfield Karate Club
Starting Wednesday 28th April 5.45pm
Limited spaces
Book now 07983808504
YOGA
With Jayny
Starting soon Monday 9.30am to 11am
Elderflower Champagne
If you are interested in a course on at the hall on how to make Elderflower Champagne, please contact: Hannah Lucitt
Lionstoothforaging on Facebook
LONGWOOD VILLAGE SHOW 2021
Date to be confirmed.
The 2021 Longwood Village Show will be held in the Longwood Mechanics Hall as soon as it can be arranged following the lifting of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The classes will be as follows:-
Overall Show Champion – to be presented with the Longwood Silver Cup.
Awarded to the person having accumulated the most points/placings in all classes
Horticulture Cup (& £20.00 cash) –A Display of 4 varieties of produce
Handicrafts Cup (& £20.00 cash) – A “Thank you to the NHS” card
Art and Craft classes Baking classes
Knitting/ Crochet. Flavoured cake.
Sketch, painting or other artwork of an animal Decorated cake.
Needlework 3 Fruit Scones
Handcrafted Greetings Card 6 Flavoured biscuits.
Home brewed wine, beer or cider
Horticulture classes
A basket of produce
A chutney, pickle or preserve
A single flower
The most impressive single vegetable
The weirdest thing you’ve grown
Children under 7 Children 8-13
Drawing/Painting of “Space” Drawing/Painting of a family pet
Collage of “Under the sea” Craft model
Three decorated biscuits A mini cake
Entries 50p each. Cash prizes for all categories.
Full details of the event will be released when the current emergency restrictions are lifted. Keep an eye on the Longwood Village Group website or contact Raymond and Christine Collier on 01484 656389 or Gina Wescott on 07821739149. Meanwhile get cracking on your entries!
AGM
Date and time to be confirmed.
Longwood Gardens
Now Open
Seasonal Fresh Cut Bouquets
Bedding Plants
Herbs
Fruit and Veg Plants
Open Wednesday to Sunday
Longwood Allotment
Percival Street
Longwood
HD3 4UX
Keep Safe ~ Stay Well.
See you all soon!
Welcome to the Monthly Newsletter of the Mechanics Hall.
(please help increase our circulation by forwarding to family and friends, thank you.)
I hope this finds you all safe and well?
Welcome Back ~ the Hall is Re-opening
As we start to ease out of lock-down we are getting nearer to re-opening the hall for classes to resume.
We are pleased that all our groups wish to resume at the hall; there will be a steady start to build back up to full activities.
Some groups may be limited on numbers, you may be asked to book in.
Others may have more sessions available to accommodate everyone who would like to attend.
The Hall is following Covid-19 Secure guidelines.
Please help us by following hygiene and social distancing guidelines when using the hall. You may be asked to complete a Covid-19 register for NHS track and trace.
We have installed hand sanitiser dispensers, social distancing marks and a counter screen to help prevent the spread. We are providing cleaning materials for all user groups.
We have re arranged some of the rooms to create more space and make them more spacious and easier to clean.
We ask you to stay to the left when using the stairs and not to congregate on the stairs or landings.
Please respect other people’s space and follow the social distancing guidelines when attending the hall.
The Longwood Mechanics Hall supports Government guidelines to prevent the spreading of Covid-19 and minimise pressure on frontline services.
Hall Maintenance
Whilst the hall has been closed; maintenance and improvement work has been ongoing.
I would like to thank all the team for all the hard work and effort that has been put in over the past few weeks.
Out team of volunteers have:
Main hall
Re arranged the cupboards
Strip and re-polish the floor. (strip wax 1, wash twice and polish 4 times)
Repainted the ceiling, centre rose and cornice.
New worktops and sinks fitted
Stage
Sorted out and tidied.
Fit new back curtain rail.
New backdrop
Strip and re-polish stage floor.
Work on-going.
my apologies to all groups that use the fabric backdrops, when sorting I knocked the mop bucket over which ruined them all, fortunately there are all the part rolls of fabric left if these need to be re-made.
CCTV
Upgraded
Art room
Sorted and re arranged the cupboards.
New sink fitted.
New chairs
New tables
Strip and re-polish floor (strip wax 1, wash twice and polish 4 times)
(Re decorating planned for Christmas break)
Dance studio
Moved pictures
Strip and re-polish floor (strip wax 1, wash twice and polish 4 times)
Moved curtain rail
New Curtain
New lighting
(Re decorating planned for Christmas break)
Lower staircase lobby (off dance studio)
Picture gallery created
Philip Taylor Room
Re painted
Sound recording booth created.
Cottages
Cleared out the cottages upstairs and downstairs.
Had workmen in to remove the flooring, take the walls down and remove the floor joists in the cottages.
1 day of skip filling.
Had workmen in to fit new floor joists and lay new floor boarding.
Had workmen into board and stud out the new upper storeroom.
Fit suspended ceiling in new upper storeroom.
Fit new lighting in upper storeroom and lower storeroom
Joiner to make new doorway to storeroom
Fit hard tile flooring to upper storeroom and staircase
Paint both rooms
Fit racking in new upper storeroom
Fit new racking in lower storeroom
Fill the new
Storerooms
Kitchen
New cooker fitted
Kitchen store
Re organising ongoing
Cottage Project
This was to be our major project to get going this year, but thanks to our team of volunteers and funding by the Huddersfield Common Good Trust (£3000) and the Golcar Buy and By Shop (£1000) received just before lockdown this has enabled us to get on with this project, we are now
Cottage Project Done
Cleaning
A good week of cleaning before re opening
Coffee Mornings.
As now a date has not been set for these to resume; but watch this space.
Class Fees
It was extremely fortunate that going into the lockdown the hall was in quite a good financial position.
We have benefited by two generous grants that have enabled us to get the cottage project completed. Our many thanks to the Huddersfield Common Good Trust and the Golcar By and Buy Shop.
We have used the opportunity of Lockdown to progress with some other big projects at the hall in the hope that we will be out of lockdown very soon.
It is now very apparent that it will be an easing out of lockdown with a reduced number of classes and limits in class size.
We are asking all hall groups to increase the class fee by 50p per person with immediate effect to help the hall recover financially and build funds back up.
Fund raising
We are planning several fundraising events to help put the hall back on a more secure financial footing once we are permitted to hold these. We hope to announce the details of these in the extremely near future.
Longwood Village Group Longwood Mechanics Hall AGM
Friday 23rd October 7.15pm for 7.30pm start
In the man hall
LONGWOOD VILLAGE SHOW 2020
TO BE HELD SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE WHEN THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED.
The 2020 Longwood Village Show will be held in the Longwood Mechanics Hall as soon as it can be arranged following the lifting of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As it is not known when that will be, the show will concentrate on arts, crafts and preserves that can be prepared while we are in the current “Lock- down situation”
The classes will be as follows:-
Overall Show Champion – to be presented with the Longwood Silver Cup.
Awarded to the person having accumulated the most points/placings in all classes
Horticulture Cup (& £20.00 cash) –A Display of 4 varieties of produce
Handicrafts Cup (& £20.00 cash) – A “Thank you to the NHS” card
Art and Craft classes Baking classes
Knitting/ Crochet. Flavoured cake.
Sketch, painting or other artwork of an animal Decorated cake.
Needlework 3 Fruit Scones
Handcrafted Greetings Card 6 Flavoured biscuits.
Home brewed wine, beer or cider
Horticulture classes
A basket of produce
A chutney, pickle or preserve
A single flower
The most impressive single vegetable
The weirdest thing you’ve grown
Children under 7 Children 8-13
Drawing/Painting of “Space” Drawing/Painting of a family pet
Collage of “Under the sea” Craft model
Three decorated biscuits A mini cake
Entries 50p each. Cash prizes for all categories.
Full details of the event will be released when the current emergency restrictions are lifted. Keep an eye on the Longwood Village Group website or contact Raymond and Christine Collier on 01484 656389 or Gina Wescott on 07821739149. Meanwhile get cracking on your entries!
Covid 19
For those self-isolating or in need of help during these uncertain times we have our very own Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group Team.
They are prepared to do shopping runs, medication runs, call doctors, help with benefit claims, teach people how to use social media, facetime and email so they can keep in touch with loved ones during this hard time.
If you, or someone you know locally, who may need help, please pass on the contact number below for Zoe who is our support group co-ordinator.
The team are ready to help, if you need assistance please do give Zoe a call on 07900157094
Our many thanks to our local Councillors who have approved funding for this group.
See you all soon!
(please help increase our circulation by forwarding to family and friends, thank you.)
Happy New Year Everyone!
Coffee Morning 10am till 12
Saturday 4th January
After the Hustle and Bustle of Christmas come along and chill out with friends.
Fancy a change from the Christmas fare, don’t despair
The Library will be open with all books available to buy from 50p
We hope you will come along and join us.
We have a selection of handmade cards and for all occasions available in the main hall
There will be the usual Tea, Coffee or Hot Chocolate & Biscuits,
cake stall, raffle, books and jigsaws for sale.
Free Entry Everyone Welcome
This Month
- New Light shades in fitted in main hall. We inherited a mix of glass and plastic shades when we took over the running of the hall. One has recently been broken. We have replaced with a full set of polycarbonate shades that comply with all current fire and safety requirements at a cost of £600 for the set.
- Decorated hall for Christmas
- All first aid kits replaced
- Light units replaced in Philip Taylor room
- New blue roll holder in Brenda Hey Room
Appeal
Your help would be much appreciated at the end of the coffee morning in putting the tables and chairs away back onto the stage.
Many hands make light work and all help would be most appreciated. Thank You.
Do you have any photos or old programmes with Longwood Amateur Operatic Society when they were based at the hall? Please let me know if you have.
Jigsaws Wanted
We would appreciate any donation of jigsaws for the trolley at our coffee mornings.
Unwanted Christmas Presents
If you have any surplus/ not wanted Christmas presents we welcome these for the Raffle to raise funds for the hall.
Important- All Users – Deadline 30th January
We are having a big sort out and will be clearing out everything in the burnt-out cottage and in the cellar. Any items remaining in these rooms after 30th January may be disposed of in the skip
If you have anything stored in the burnt-out cottage or down in the cellar; please ensure it is removed. Any problems/concerns please contact Derek 07866337065
As we start the New Year
Everyone is welcome at the hall, we have an extensive range of activities
for you to try.
For anyone who is 55 or over why not try our Thursday afternoon SPACE group.
No skills required, tea and cake, afternoon chat and try a few of the board games or even Table Tennis. You will be made welcome.
Have you some time to spare. Could you establish a new group?
Chess, Rock and Roll, Creative Crafts, Ukulele, Bingo, Choir, Bridge,
Scalextric, Model railway, Community band, Yoga, Tai Chi
or help our Handyman. Do you fancy organising a community event?
What would you like to do?
Hall Bookings
The Hall is licensed for the sale of Alcohol on and off the premises.
We can provide a licensed bar for private functions held at the hall
Dates fill up very quick, please book in plenty of time to secure the hall for your private party or function.
Year Overview
We have achieved much in 2019.
Fitted new stage curtain.
Replaced the dance studio windows
Replaced the staircase windows
Repaired art room windows
Completed the side garden
Replaced 2 laptops for family history group.
Replaced 2 table tennis tables
The Year Ahead
We look forward to publishing the Longwood Community Directory in Early 2020
We would also like to replace the sink and facilities in the Brenda Hey Room (formerly the art room) due to the increase of users in this room.
Cottage 2020
This is our major project for this year.
After 50 years we now need to sort this.
The caretaker’s cottage was badly damaged by fire in the 1970’s.
The hall is very busy, and storage space is at premium.
We need to replace the flooring and joists in the cottage to make this into a safe usable area.
It would really help reduce costs if we could get some volunteers to help with stripping out the wall partitions, flooring and joist in the cottages.
We are looking to contract out the fitting of the joists.
Once the joists are fitted; we hope our team of volunteers will fit new flooring and line out the rooms.
We urgently need to do some fundraising to help cover the costs involved.Our first event will be a
Frozen 2 coffee morning Saturday 4th April. A Disney themed event.
Bring your little one’s in princess outfits and meet our characters from Frozen 2
All help would be appreciated.
The other projects in the coming years (no specific order) will be:
Replace landing and ladies’ toilet windows
Replace gent’s toilet windows and workshop windows
Replace library windows
Replace Philip Taylor room windows
Replace Fire exit door under porch
New porch and doors to go over the ramp at dance studio entrance
Full repointing of the building
Together our target is to complete all these projects by 2028
See you all soon!