Blisworth Scout Hall - rebuilt in 2011, opened in 2012

The old and the new, side by side - April 2011: at present, enough funds have been raised to finish the erection of the shell. Money is still to be raised to fit out the interior, demolish the old hut (being a condition on being able to use the new one) and landscape the area.  The building shell will take another 3 to 4 months.  The interior will consist of a large hall with full WC facilities and there will be a kitchen and store room.  There will also be some upper floor storage areas.  The track will be opened at some point, perhaps when car parking space has been laid out, which will be to the left on the site.
A View of the Main Structure that will provide loads of space: The working space is generally described in the panel above.  The entrance will be in the wall facing the football field beyond whilst there will be access for storage at the face nearest the camera position.  The whole area will be fenced off for reasons of security, there will be no windows to defy vandalism whilst natural light will be via roof windows.

Many months passed as the building gradually gained completion.  Then, as announced in the December 2011 issue of "Round & About", "what a wonderful night we had on 17th November when all members of the group gathered together and processed up to the New Community Scout Hall (this being the new name given to it, rather than "Scout Hut"). The District Scout band led the way and gave the occasion a real celebratory feeling. Our newest Beaver cut the ribbon and everyone came into the hall and watched as we broke the flag for the first time in the new hall. To see all the scouts standing in a semi-circle as we performed that ceremony was a truly magical moment and one that will stay with me always. A picture of this is hoped for.  Then on the 26th November we opened our doors so the village could come and see the hall, such positive comments from visitors gave us a real buzz. At both events Greta Bodsworth came, who along with her husband had built the old hut way back in 1973, we may have a fantastic new hall but our history is still very important, it was so good to see her there. We still have things to do so the hard work is not over yet, we will be holding our official opening on 25th February when we hope to have representatives of all those who have awarded us grants or given donations".  These words from Sandra O'Connor, Group Scout Leader.

The pictures below include a little of the ceremony and views of the interior space and the kitchen service hatch with an access to storage and toilets.  There is a charming plaque proclaiming "Sandra O'Connor had a dream" and citing her efforts in 2011 to realise that dream.  She has done tremendously well.

For an assembly of historical items, updated in 2014 with the cooperation of M. Turton and  J. Hazell (present G. S. L.), see the History of the Scouts in Blisworth also some miscellaneous photographs are on the website.