Take a group of enthusiasts, some money from the lottery and what do you get? A new village hall and a thriving community.That is what happened in Foulsham when five years ago they built a new village hall with help from Lottery cash and Sports Council funding.

Take a group of enthusiasts, some money from the lottery and what do you get? A new village hall and a thriving community.

That is what happened in Foulsham when five years ago they built a new village hall with help from Lottery cash and Sports Council funding.

Now New Frost Hall and Holy Innocents Church, Foulsham are having a combined Funday Fete on Saturday, September 6, in conjunction with the fifth birthday of the hall, which was built from scratch in 2003.

Jocelyn Banthorpe, vice-chairman of New Frost Hall, said: “It is just a fantastic success. It got off to a slow start but over the last two years we have paid off all the debts.”

Many village organisations use the hall now from mini-football teams, thriving youth club, several badminton clubs, needlework group, toddlers group, archives group and Good Companions.

But just having the hall was not quite enough and in 2006 Mrs Banthorpe and a friend bought a stage off e-Bay - it took a year and another £10,000 from the Lottery and now the village hall has a proper proscenium arch for the stage and some theatre lighting.

Mrs Banthorpe said: “Grants are now being applied for to provide a full sound and lighting system. This has all been achieved by 'Stage for the Village' and a regular feature in the last three years is the village show.

“Last year the show involved 100 local people and this year is called 'Night of 100 Stars….or thereabouts!'.”

This year more than 100 are expected in the cast including youngsters from the local school which has formed the Foulsham Young Entertainers/Drama group, which regularly perform at the hall.

The big event will be on October 10 and 11 ands tickets will be on sale from September 1 from (01362) 683680. It sells out both nights to an audience of 170 people.

The combined Funday Fete on Saturday, September 6 will be at the Frost Hall from 2 - 5pm. This will then be followed by a family disco between 5 - 7 pm (or later). Events include an archive exhibition of Foulsham, Duck Races, Name the Goat, Human Fruit Machine, Penalty Shoot-Out, Foulsham School Young Entertainers, Karate display, loads of 20p games, Raffle, Tombola, Cakes, Plants, Bric a Brac, Face Painting, Last Call Bingo, Refreshments, Licensed Bar.

Money is now used to purchase new equipment for the hall and cover all running costs. The grounds have been developed and now provide a beautiful area around the hall, all of which are maintained by local volunteers.

Events at the hall include Show nights (including meals), (eg Radio Norfolk “Does the Team Think”, “Nigel Boy Syer, Keith Loades”), Creative Arts East shows, country & western, live bands, local school events/shows and bingo.

The hall is available for hire (01362) 683620 and is regularly booked for wedding receptions and private parties. The web-site address is home.btconnect.com/foulshamvillagehall.