Great News and AGM
Hello all. I can hardly believe I'm writing this. We are on our way again,
AT LAST! The Carnegie has been bought by a local businessman, who was born in Castleton and used to visit the library as a scholar, and has business interests in Rochdale and Castleton.
He has been in touch with us and has assured me that he will work with us to bring it back to
life as a Community facility for Castleton. The building is badly damaged and will take some time to repair and renovate, but he says it will be sympathetically done and that he - like us - wants to see it remain as near to its original condition as possible. What can I say? Thank you to
everyone for your support and belief in what - over the past 18 months – has sometimes been a very difficult thing to do. Our next meeting is the AGM on Tuesday 1st March at 7pm in the Community Centre, followed by an Ordinary Meeting. It is very important that as many members as possible attend (and any new members will be most welcome) because we need to discuss and decide on our plans for the future development. It's very exciting now to think that such an important building as "our" Carnegie is being brought back to life again.
What we need to do now is rally round as much as possible and pick up where we left off. Memberships are due, I haven't chased them up much recently, but I'm on the case again now, we need to build on the funds we have to carry on the project, so please send them to either Marie or myself as soon as possible (ask for payment methods via the contact us below ). Tell your friends and other family members too, ask them to join us - the more the merrier. We'll be doing a leaflet drop soon throughout the village, informing everyone about the new venture. I went to the Castleton Forum meeting on Tuesday and reported the news. I'm asking you now - our members - what I asked at the Forum. Has anyone got any memorabilia - photographs, pictures, paintings, ornaments - anything, to do with old Castleton? If you have, please can you take photographs and/or write down what you have, or write recollections and scan photos of your memories of ‘The Village for inclusion on this website, and get in touch. We'll make arrangements for whatever "it" is to be recorded for future inclusion in Castleton's history.
As I have said, things are not going to happen quickly, the building is very badly damaged and will take quite a long time to repair and renovate, but I am hopeful that we can get on board again now and start our new venture.
Please don't forget the AGM on 1st March, followed by an ordinary meeting. We need some ideas again on the way forward in "our" Carnegie Heritage Centre.
Here's to our future together. Many thanks Sheila Whitworth Secretary.