It was George Horner who acquired what became the Village Hall, originally a YMCA hut in Dunwich, in 1919. It was brought to Yoxford by a Village Committee, headed by George, who was President of the YMCA 1920-1. Land was leased from Cecil Chadwick Lomax of Grove Park and a further strip added in 1922. The local Red Triangle Club was based here. These were set up by the YMCA as a means of keeping young men fit by making a variety of sports available to them – tennis, cricket, football, bowls and billiards.
Dr Frank Marriott and Charles Hacon, Headmaster, both keen sportsmen, were also involved in organising the sports activities and managing the Hut.
Lady Olive Hambling of Rookery Park purchased the land from Major Cecil Chadwick Lomax for £175 in 1935. On 22nd February 1936 the leases were surrendered to Lady Hambling and she purchased the hut from the YMCA for £100. She had it renovated. A new Committee was formed to run the activities, including Lady Hambling and her daughter Mollie, Mrs Geoffrey Smith.
Lomax had been selling his land on what is now the Old High Road for development and Lady Hambling was evidently concerned that the Village Hut should remain in perpetuity for Yoxford residents. Lomax sold Grove Park 31st July 1935 when he married. He was the grandson of J.P. & Barrister Thomas Lomax, who was at Grove Park by 1881.
On 15th August 1959 the hall was conveyed by Deed of Gift to the Trustees of Yoxford Village Hall and subsequently vested in the Official Trustee of Charity Lands.
Other entertainments at the Hut/Hall.
In the 1930s Percy Horner ran a silent film show once a month in the winter in the hut. There was no electricity supply at that time so a 12-volt battery was used to run the 9.5mm Pathe projector. Films were hired from a supplier in Lowestoft. Entry was free, so everyone could enjoy the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Laurel and Hardy.
Yoxford Village Club.Jack and Pat Horner were involved in the Club. The President was Lady Hambling, Vice-President Mrs Charles Hacon, wife of the Headmaster. Jack was Hon. Secretary and one of his roles was to present a survey of the year’s work at the Annual General Meeting. An un-dated news cutting in the Archive mentions that in the past year the premises had been booked 470 times by various organisations. Dances used to be held but the cost of bands was proving prohibitive. There were whist drives, dancing classes, flower shows, billiards and a fortnightly cinema show. This news cutting was prior to Jack and Pat‘s marriage in 1956 – Miss P Kerridge reported ‘a fairly successful year of tennis, the courts being in a better condition’.