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I cannot thank everyone enough for the amazing support given for our ‘Love Me Restore Me’ Campaign. Not only have we reached our target but we have exceeded it by £250. Wow and double wow!!!

What a team/crowd effort – knowing you are there behind this project because you know the importance of the building to the community is phenomenal.

Big hugs from all at the Tolmen Centre

Tracey Clowes xx

Tolmen Movies is moving downstairs for the winter season. With more comfy chairs and sofas, you can enjoy snacks and hot soup while you watch a great film in comfort. The cafe will still be open for full meals before the film.

Tracey Clowes, Hon. Chair, Constantine Enterprises Company

A month shy of two years since we launched our Tolmen ‘Love Me Restore Me’ Campaign, the roof work is complete. The final section of scaffolding came down mid-January and the slated slopes are looking fantastic! The guttering has been replaced along with the downpipes to the two side elevations, and bat slates have been put in place on the north-west slope of the roof in consultation with the bat specialist.

If the amount of guano is anything to go by, the seagulls are also well pleased with their new perching spot! The timberwork to the roof is generally sound, timber treatment has been carried out and insulation installed in the roof void. Thanks go to all involved in the co-ordination of this phase of our project, with special thanks to Richard Thomas, Marc Lothian, Andy, Phil and all the crew at Landstone Construction who have worked in some very inhospitable conditions at times to get the roofing complete.

So, what next? As I write we have a plasterer in situ completing internal plaster repairs around the large upstairs arched window and the kitchen/café walls. This damage arose due to water ingress from the failing roof and downpipes over many years. We also have a minor area of audi- torium ceiling to repair, not an uncommon problem in a building dating from the late Victorian period. Once we can be sure all the dust has settled and Covid restrictions allow, we shall be back into the building for a thorough clean.

On to phase three of the project – the 22 windows, most requiring some attention either repair/restoration and 1 total replacement. Constantine Enterprises Company would like to thank Constantine Parish Council who in December generously donated £2000 to assist with this phase of the project, recognising the importance of keeping such a wonderful village building in good order for the future. We also have ringfenced £4000 from an earlier Garfield Weston Grant. So, for now, we shall draw breath before hopefully in the Spring beginning this part of the project, window by window.

We are so looking forward to a time (maybe now with vaccinations, in the not too distant future) when we can invite you back to the Tolmen Centre and to say in person a huge thank you for ‘keeping the faith’ both financially and on a very personal level which is enabling this vital vil- lage project to progress. We could not have done this without your support.

Thanks to some new funding we are delighted to be able to restart the Thursday evening Drama group once again run by Jon and Tod Welch at the Tolmen Centre.

Age range is ten to a hundred and it’s open to all, but we are trying to maintain a balance across the age range, so places may initially be limited. It takes place on Thursday evenings, 7:00 – 9:00. Subscription is £1 a session.

If you’re interested please email Tod at todwelch@aol.com.

Did you know you can rent the Tolmen Centre for private parties and weddings for a very modest fee? It has a great atmosphere and is very well equipped.