During June Barcombe Clubs, Societies, Businesses, Families and Individuals were offered the opportunity to have a brick inscribed with their name and built into the interior of The New Village Hall.

The response was wonderful; approximately £16,706 has been banked through your generous and enthusiastic response. This will pay for the roof and floor within Phase 2 of our project.

Some people have expressed interest in knowing more about the engraving process. Ian Downie of Ibstock Bricks writes, “The actual process is we input the name to be engraved on to the computer this then allows us to cut a rubber based stencil which is then stuck to the face of a fired brick. The letters are then ‘picked out’ so the name is exposed; the brick is then placed in a blasting cabinet where the exposed brick is etched away. We then normally paint into the detail, let dry and then peel the stencil away to leave the engraved detail.”

We would not have raised this fabulous amount of money without the help and support of Barcombe Stores and Post Office, who kindly gave out and collected application forms, elizabrown, who displayed a brick prototype, Nigel Greenwood who followed up the Gift Aid prospects and dealt with all the cash and cheques, Chris Rumary who made and displayed the roundabout posters and Barcombe School PTA who generously purchased a brick for each pupil leaving Year 6 as their memorable leaving gift.
Personally, I am very grateful for the clarity of form filling as I typed all the names in. The proof reading process involved me reading out to Janet Hughes every letter and piece of punctuation on the form. I would be responsible for seven significant errors if Janet were not so sharp eyed. If in doubt we phoned up and always benefited from a very gracious and clarifying conversation. Janet then created the Great Wall of Barcombe on the roundabout which allowed you to check your entry. Again, the mistakes we made we were very politely informed about.

Finally, on July 1st , we sent off the completed form and I hope all 435 bricks will provide you and your families a valued place in our New Village Hall for many years, if not generations to come.

Caroline Wade
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Some have expressed an interest in how their names are to put on the bricks, so here's a few illustrative photos to illuminate you all.