TODAY marks the 80th anniversary of the official opening of the War Memorial Hall at Fernhill Heath.

It was completed and opened on September 28, 1922, after three years of fund-raising by local people who had it built as the village's war memorial to those from the area who gave their lives in the First World War.

The building, with its furniture and fittings, cost about £2,300 and was designed by architect H. Percy Smith of Foregate Street, Worcester and built by Messrs Spicer of Droitwich Road, Worcester. Lord Hindlip donated the land.

Almost from the start, the hall became the base of a workingmen's club, though without a drinking licence. After the last war, however, a brick extension was built to the rear of the hall to form a licensed club.

Four years ago, what had been known for decades as the Fernhill Heath Workingmen's Club was officially re-named and registered as the Fernhill Heath and District War Memorial Club, recognising the considerable use of the hall by women, too.

Throughout its 80 years, the Memorial Hall has been a focal point of the community and social life of Fernhill Heath and continues to serve this key role today.

Berrow's Worcester Journal reported fully in 1922 on the official opening where the guest of honour was courageous "local lad," Sergeant George Wyatt, holder of the Victoria Cross.

He was born in Britannia Road, Worcester, the son of Arthur and Sarah Ann Wyatt, and spent his childhood and youth at Hindlip where his parents lived after his father became coachman to the Dowager Lady Hindlip at Hindlip Hall.

George Wyatt was awarded the VC for two separate acts of valour in the opening weeks of the Great War in August 1914.

Serving with the Coldstream Guards at the Battle of Mons, he ran out under a constant hail of bullets and single-handedly extinguished the flames of a burning haystack which had illuminated the night-time positions of British troops, under attack from a force of 1,000 Germans. He also returned to repeat the act when the haystack re-ignited.

Then, a few days later, he was involved in a rearguard action in a forest and, though wounded in the head, continued firing at the enemy until he could no longer see through the blood streaming down his face. A medical officer bound his wound and told him to go behind the lines, but George at once returned to the firing line.

In his speech at the Fernhill Heath ceremony, George Wyatt declared: "I am very happy to be here in the old village I know so well and to open this hall which commemorates those who fought for the old country in a time of peril.

"I hope no-one will ever pass through these doors without giving a thought to the men who paid the supreme sacrifice."

Berrow's Journal explained how "Fernhill Heath's war memorial had taken the form of a large village hall" to serve the local community.

Today's 80th anniversary is to be celebrated at the hall this evening with a meal and a dance and entertainment led by a seven-piece band. Mrs Joan Rosier, honorary secretary of the Fernhill Heath and District War Memorial Club tells me a number of elderly residents of the area, who have known and used the hall throughout much of its life, are to be among the guests of honour this evening, notably Mrs Betty Weston.

She and the hall are celebrating their 80th birthday together today, she having been born on September 28, 1922 - the day the hall was opened!

For more than 26 years, Betty was a "dinner lady" and then "lollipop lady" at Hindlip School and, over a long period, she has raised thousands of pounds for various charities. She organised jumble and rummage sales locally for nearly 40 years, charity whist drives for 15 years and Christmas parties for senior citizens at the Memorial Hall for 20 years. Betty is a past chairman of the local Royal British Legion branch and of the Ladies Committee of the Fernhill Heath Workingmen's Club.

In 1999, she was the overall winner of the Wychavon Bursary, awarded by Wychavon District Council. Each parish in Wychavon was asked to nominate someone in their locality of outstanding achievement, and North Claines PC nominated Betty. According to Joan Rosier, Betty "won hands down" and later shared her cash award between two of her favourite charities.