My sympathy to M. D. over his disappointment at the cancellation of the New Years Eve function at the Village Hall. However, a few points need to be made in defence of the Social Club. Had the band not cancelled, and I am assured that they did (didn't want to play to an empty hall and had a more lucrative contract lined up) £650 would have been spent on entertaining 29 people, and even more complaints would have followed. Telephone numbers should have been taken so the Social Club could have notified ticket holders. The Social Club of itself can do nothing, 'someone' has to do it. The 'someone' who has to book the band, sell the tickets, get the hall ready, see that the bar is stocked and manned, clear up afterwards. The same 'someone who doesn't get paid, gets little if any thanks for his efforts and is probably by now fed up with the whole thing.

Had the event been a huge success how many letters of appreciation would have appeared in the Marlpit? Few if any would be my guess.

The Social Club stands on village land and any profits made are redistributed to the village via the Coltishall Community Association (C.C.A.). Playing fields have to be cut and maintained, car parks maintained, buildings (village hall, cricket club, football club) maintained and insured, taxes have to be paid. The Community Association is now facing a huge bill for the compulsory disabled access and toilets which come into force next year. The money will be found but how many people will give a second thought to where it came from.

The time is fast approaching when the committees of the C.C.A. and Social Club will give up the struggle, and it is a struggle, and then what? With the fierce competition in the licensing trade today (five pubs in Coltishall alone) the old saying 'use it or lose it' is very apt.

Wake up Coltishall! We have facilities in this village that other places can only dream of. Get involved, join the Social Club, join the C.C.A. have a say in what goes on, help to get things for this village that YOU want. Don't let it all fade away because you can't be bothered.

Jackie Elvin

P.S. Message for M. D. If you promise to run the next New Years Eve function, I promise to buy a ticket. There you go, one sold only 199 to go. Easy.