A north-east community has banded together to ensure a village hall continues to be at its heart for generations to come.
Craigievar Hall, at Muir of Fowlis, is one of the few facilities of its kind that is owned by the community.
However in recent years the building has deteriorated and its trustees are now attempting to revive it.
So far a new car park has been built and the toilets have been upgraded, but the community now needs £10,000 to fix the water-damaged roof and improve the kitchen.
Joiners are also in the process of ensuring the building is properly insulated while preserving the wood-panelled interior.
Sandra Keir, one of the trustees, said: “Our hall is one of the few that’s not owned by the council, it’s owned by myself and the other members of the committee.
“So it can be hard work to manage as everyone has their own lives, jobs and so on, but it’s very important to keep it going.
“It’s got a special place in my heart because I grew up in the area, before moving away and coming back, and I remember playing here as a child.”
The hall was built in 1909 and was taken under community ownership in the 1960s.
During recent work, builders unearthed theatre props and equipment which dated back to the 1920s.
“I think it’s even more important now to keep these buildings going,” Mrs Keir added.
“A lot of the smaller local pubs have closed because there’s just not the business there anymore.
“People don’t meet up to talk about their week on a Friday or Saturday anymore, the way they would have in the past, because it’s all over social media as it happens.
“My husband and I own a farm nearby and we want to revive the community here, and what better way than to get everyone involved in fundraising for the hall.”
The committee is hoping to raise some of the cash with a producers’ market, which is being held next month.
There are already 22 stalls signed up, which will offer a variety of local produce, but the committee has appealed for more to come forward.
For more information on featuring at the market, which takes place at 10am on May 11, contact the committee through the Craigievar Community Hall Facebook page.
