'Urgent' appeal to fund £50k funding to save Cookham hall facing closure

A £50,000 fundraiser has been launched to kickstart ‘urgent’ repairs to a community hall in Cookham Rise, which could face closure if money cannot be found.

After almost nine decades of use at Pinder Hall in Lower Road, for arts, events, sports and as a polling station, the fight is now on to preserve the venue for future generations.

Leaks to the historic building’s roof tops a growing list of problems – and time is running out to act.

Hundreds of flyers with the headline ‘Pinder Hall Needs You’ have been distributed to addresses around the village, as part of a campaign to drum up renewed support for the community space.

Cookham villagers were called to action in November 2024, to volunteer and help ‘keep the doors open’ to Pinder Hall, which also served as a school for child evacuees in the Second World War during its long history.

That call has now been reiterated with emphasis, as its small committee grapples with the battle to maintain the ageing venue.

Committee member Vivienne Blaney told the Advertiser: “I know an awful lot of people would miss it if it did deteriorate – and if it ultimately had to close.

“If you’re interested in community events – in community generally – then this is important.”

Ms Blaney, 79, who has lived in the village since the 1970s, said she and her fellow committee members were ‘passionate’ about the campaign to keep Pinder Hall open.

An ‘ongoing’ programme of repair works, including patching up the leaking roof, has been managed by the committee, but time is of the essence to give the building long-term security.

“We can’t let it fall into disrepair completely, and to the point where people think: ‘well, I'm not going there anymore’,” Ms Blaney said.

“We’ve got to do something about it now.”

She added: “Pinder Hall’s practically 90 years old, and so there’s all sorts of ongoing repairs that need to be done.

“Specifically, we need to renew the kitchen, we need a [disability] ramp for the fire door, we need new chairs, new curtains, general maintenance,

“And the ultimate thing is the hall needs a new roof, because it leaks in parts – they’re patching it up, but we do now need a new roof.”

While the hall’s fundraiser has initially been set at £50,000, the Advertiser understands a new roof could cost up to £70,000.

Other repairs include renovating an empty caretaker’s house next to the hall, which it is hoped could then provide income to help with future upkeep if it were let out for rent.

A description on the Pinder Hall fundraiser online read: “For nearly 90 years, Pinder Hall has been at the centre of Cookham’s community life.

“From dances and exercise classes, to children’s activities, charity events, and celebrations, it has welcomed generations through its doors.

“But after decades of service, the hall is showing its age.

“Without urgent repairs and improvements, it will struggle to continue serving our villages in the years ahead.”

More information on the Pinder Hall fundraiser can be found on its crowdfunding page.