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When
the
British Linen Bank first came to Gifford in 1931 it was
accommodated
for a few months in the hall (Wednesdays
12-3
p.m.),
before
finding its permanent home.
Hall charges had been raised in 1930 to
an average of 25/-
for the main hall, 3/- for a room.
In 1932 there was a change in tenancy in Dolphin Cottage, and
the
Marquis took the
opportunity to make a further addition to the
back room
to create
more cloakroom space.
Soon afterwards a curtain rail was erected
across the Hall to
create a stage area for dramatic productions.
Badminton was a regular booking at this time. In 1938 there were
105 lettings
altogether in the year.
Not long after the outbreak of World War II the
Hall became quarters for units of troops,
initially Scots and
latterly Poles.
John
Johnstone and Arthur Spence resigned in 1940 and their places
were taken
by the Marquis and Robert Tait, Spence's successor as
butcher.
There were no meetings of the committee during the War,
but when
the hall was released in 1945 a fairly major programme
of work was
put in
hand to repair the ravages.
A new W.C. and hand-basin were installed, along with a new
platform in sections.
The whole place was redecorated and refurnished.
There were repairs to the floor and the
installation of an Ideal
boiler with six radiators.
The piano, however,
was beyond repair.
It was eventually replaced, thanks to a gift from the
Feuars, in 1950.
In 1948 there were 113 bookings.
1949 brought two significant appointments to the
committee.
Mrs. McFarlane of Gifford Bank was the first woman member and,
though she almost immediately resigned
because of leaving the
village, the principle was established and she was replaced by
Kit Weddell.
David Neilson,
the headmaster of
Yester School, was the other appointee.
It would seem that the Marquis had already conceived the notion
that the headmaster
and minister should be ex-officio members,
though this
was not made explicit until 1961.
It was David Neilson
and Rev. John Cumming who were chosen in that year
to act as
delegates at a Conference of Community Associations and
Hall
Committees in Haddington.
In the early 1950's, as a result of the post-war
refurbishments and
improvements,
funds were very low.
It is from this time that regular
efforts were made to raise
money.
By comparison with the present time, fund-raising was a fairly
half-hearted affair.
A whist-drive, a sale
of work or a coffee morning, usually in October,
was considered sufficient.
It was donations from the Feuars which really made the
difference and in the
latter part of the 1950's there was a considerable
programme of improvement,
including the installation of a gents W.C.
New scales of charges were introduced, so that the hire of the
hall
went up
to around 27/6, and of a room to 5/-.
Between 1958 and 1961 there
were no meetings.
This was mainly because the Marquis
suffered a long period of
ill health.
There was also a protracted
vacancy at the Church after
the retirement of Rev.John Cumming.
However, the use of the
hall continued normally.
In 1958 there were
139 bookings.
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