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In 1975 the Conygre Hall was 2 years old. The anniversary was celebrated by a special Festival week which included a Roman banquet, a grand festival dance and a marvellous Old Tyme Music Hall with the highly acclaimed Farmborough company. More significantly Mr Les Brewer, the chairman of the Conygre Hall Development Committee handed over the deeds of the hall to Mr Arthur Moon, the Chairman of the Parish Council.
Conygre Hall was busy throughout the year and in April was packed for the visit of the London Welsh Male Voice Choir. The choir stopped off on its way home after a concert in Bridgend to give a Sunday afternoon concert in aid of Hall funds. Grenville Jones’ review of the event said that the choir conducted by John Peleg Williams struggled at times in a modern hall that was built more for microphoned pop groups than choral singing but succeeded at the outset in giving the large audience a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon’s concert. Later in the same month the hall staged the West of England heats of the National Amateur Body Building championships with Ray Evans winning the men’s event and Vicky Ball the ladies’.
It was a big year for the cricket club with the opening of the new clubroom. The opening ceremony was performed by Major Bernard Cayzer, the club President whose support had made the project possible. He received the keys from the builder Mr J. Crozier and a special guest of Major Cayzer’s was Lady Isobel Barnett who was well known for her appearances on “Whats My Line” and who was later to speak at a club dinner. Timsbury’s umpire Mr W. Jackson also presented the club with a wrought iron entrance gate on behalf of his firm
Timsbury Football Club meanwhile enjoyed its best season for a decade. The first team gained promotion to the Premier Division of the Somerset Senior League with “legend” Malcolm Davies scoring 31 goals in 33 appearances and Ken Holmes finding the net 20 times. Bryn Hawkins was team manager with John Morgan elected to look after the reserve side.
The New Inn (later the Guss and Crook) continued to dominate the Chew Valley Shove H’penny League. Captained by Jack Hasell who was also League chairman the team won the league title for the third year in a row and also captured the K.O. cup. To complete a great season Nick Glenfield won the singles’ championship.
Back in 1975 snooker was enjoying the start of its boom period and the stars of the day were happy to come out into the sticks to give demonstrations at local clubs. In January I remember being at the Three Firms Club Midsomer Norton when Alex Higgins made a return visit after a previously successful appearance. The controversial Irishman walked out after arguing with players, crowd and the scorer and won only 3 frames with a highest break of 24. In direct contrast Dennis Taylor turned on a scintillating performance when he appeared at the Fosseway Club in March including a break of 74 against Timsbury’s Fred Horn.
Margaret Hill who lived at Southlands Drive but who later emigrated to Australia with her husband David and two children had a tremendous time at the Bristol Eisteddfod in 1975. Taking part in her first music festival for eighteen years she was awarded the Bess Fowler trophy for the outstanding performer in the vocal section. She won the Katherine Gerrish trophy in the open soprano class, the Bach trophy and the Spurlian trophy. At the time Margaret was teaching at the Selwood Middle School in Frome.
Finally a dip into the political scene of the day. Timsbury Labour Party submitted a resolution over the Common Market to Edward Short, Leader of the House. It indicated its concern that the electorate be impartially informed of the issues at stake especially since the majority of the media appeared to be pro-Common Market. The local secretary Mark Hulbert said that in particular they had requested that after adequate democratic public debate the referendum be conducted in a manner to ensure a true reflection of public opinion.