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Community Affairs
Kippen Reading Room
The Committee of the Reading Room and
the Mitchell Trustees wish to record their
appreciation and thanks to Winnie Dunlop
for her exceptional work as Secretary to
the Mitchell Trust over many years.
As indicated in the last Wee Vine article,
the Reading Room have seen action as
an activity hub in support of Ukrainian
families. A general meeting for hosts and
volunteers was held in the main hall. This
was followed by screen projections of
the two World Cup rounds involving the
Ukrainian national team including the
serving of pizzas at half time. This sort of
activity is exactly what the rooms are best
suited for, and many congratulations are
due to Adrian Chamberlain and June Waley
for their work in promoting this initiative.
Even as other village activities have
also begun to revive however, the
school holidays are now upon us. The
management committee has taken the
opportunity to close the rooms for the
summer, and to concentrate on the
COVID-delayed Kitchen Project, involving
substantial structural alterations and
refurbishment. The kitchen, once moved
to the rear of the building, will be larger,
better equipped, and able to serve the
main hall directly, in safety.
It is also hoped to create direct access to
the garden by installing French Windows
on the south side of the building.
now like to establish a specific fund to help
pay for additional equipment and future
improvements.
As a result, it has been agreed that a direct
approach to all village residents should be
made which reflects the wide spread of
current users. All donations will be most
welcome and, if requested, the names of
individual donors will be displayed inside
the Reading Room in due course.
It is currently intended to hold an “Open
Evening” in the autumn so that everyone
who so wishes will be able to see the
significant improvements and to gauge
how the facilities will be of use to their
organisation or for personal events.
The committee is also studying how best
to establish an active relationship with all
villagers, building on the experience of
links developed during the Pandemic.
As the village expands the committee also
believes that the Reading room can and
should play an important part in bringing
people together to face the difficult times
which seem to lie ahead for all of us.
That new kitchen may yet prove to be a
godsend.
Meanwhile, there will always be an
opportunity for a good party!
Jeremy Gaywood
Disabled access will be at the front of the
building and will be much improved.
By making these alterations, a considerably
enhanced facility will be available for the
village, one in which all age groups can
enjoy themselves at their leisure.
The committee is delighted to have
received very considerable support from
the Kippen Community Trust without
which the current improvements would
not be possible. They would, however,
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