Heart of the community
Tackling rowdy behaviour, disorderly conduct and the alcohol abuse is high on the Government's agenda at the moment.
And it was just the same for residents living around Upton Village Hall during the Second World War.
In 1942, four residents living near the hall, on Mill Lane, complained about the disorderly conduct of certain people attending late dances and the consumption of intoxicating drinks on the premises. The correspondents suggested imposing a closing hour of midnight on all users of the hall.
Despite complaints, the majority of local people seem to have appreciated the facilities.
Upton Village Hall celebrates its 80th anniversary this month, having been officially opened in December 2008 by Lady Arthur Grosvenor.
The hall's history has been chronicled since the early 1920s and a scrapbook containing circulars, programmes, notices and press cuttings up until 1984 was lodged with Cheshire and Chester Archives.
An inventory of gifts was kept, including a kitchen geyser from Mr A Crompton, the first chairman, a gramophone and records from Mr W Clayton and five dozen teaspoons engraved 'UVH' from Mrs C Newport.
Phil Pearn, chairman of the village hall committee, said: "Unfortunately all the spoons are missing so if anyone has one in a drawer at home please could they let us know."
Other titbits from the minutes include, in June 1931, the cricket club agreeing to give a length of matting to the hall in return for two free nights for dances.
Maintenance of the hall didn't come cheap and a minute from 1952 records the purchase of a vacuum cleaner costing £25. With the average salary just topping £100 per annum, it would be the equivalent of spending about £5,000 of today's money to keep the place clean.
In 1953 the conduct of the youth club was considered to be unsatisfactory and the vicar was to be informed.
Earlier this year local resident George Bolton confessed to getting into dances free back in the 40s and 50s.
One of his gang would get in on a ticket and then let the others in through the window.
The village hall underwent a major refurbishment during the 1980s under the chairmanship of Nancy Turton, described in the minutes as a 'young, ambitious, enterprising, energetic and keen chairman'.
Nancy is still a trustee of the village hall. The hall has recently undergone another refurbishment, in a project named 4-SCORE and it now boasts a new kitchen and bar area, a new side entrance with toilet giving better access to the meeting room, increased storage space and a new sound system.
An exhibition celebrating the 80 year history will be mounted this Sunday, December 7 from 2 - 5pm at the village hall.
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I couldn't make the exhibition unfortunately my mother Eunice Jones embroidered a plaque with UVH for the opening in 1928. I would love to know what happened to it if anyone knows please could they get in touch. I was interested in the article about the missing spoons given by Mrs C Newport my mother knew the family well.