Windsor & Eton Express, 26 October 1912
VILLAGE HALL FOR HORTON.
MUNIFICENT GIFT BY MR. J. E. CHAMPNEY.
THE OPENING CEREMONY.
HEADMASTER OF ETON AND VILLAGE LIFE.
The value of a village hall cannot be over-estimated, but whilst this is generally recognised it is not the good fortune of all villages to possess such a building. Horton, until quite recently, was numbered amongst the unfortunate class, but now, through the splendid generosity of Mr. John Edward Champney, of Horton Cottage, Horton, the village has a hall. The opening ceremony, which took place on Tuesday evening, was, in the words of the Rector, a “red letter day” in the history of the village and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed. Headed by the Staines Band playing lively airs, the inhabitants assembled at Horton Cottage, with lighted lanterns, and paraded the village, finishing up at the new hall where the opening ceremony was performed by the Headmaster of Eton (Dr. Lyttelton). After a number of speeches had been delivered a display of fireworks was given in the Recreation Ground.
The Opening Ceremony.
The hall was crowded for the opening ceremony, and many persons had to stand. The Rector (the Rev. T. Read Davies) presided, and in opening the proceedings he said for many years past the people of Horton had been building castles in the air; they had been dreaming about a village hall, and the dream had at last come true. That evening was one of the most auspicious in the history of Horton, in fact he intended calling it a “red letter day.” As they knew, it was entirely owing to the kindness, thought and generosity of a friend to Horton [applause] that they were assembled there. Just over two years ago Mr. Champney saw that they were placed under considerable difficulties with regard to meetings in the parish, and he came to the rescue with a promise that he would help by building that hall [applause]. For that he thanked Mr. Champney from the bottom of his heart, on behalf of every resident in Horton [applause]. Before he made his kind promise he saw that the inhabitants were a little bit in earnest about getting a hall, for a piece of land had been bought close by. When alarmed as to the future of England as when they found out that the young men were drifting out of the villages into the towns. In the last fifty years something had made them think that living in the town was better than living in villages, but it was a complete mistake; but what was more when the young fellow went to London, and got married, what was the stock worth in three generations? They had lost all the health and strength of the village life. That had been going on, but he was inclined to think that it was stopping a little bit now. That was what made the present one appeal to anyone who had the welfare of the country at heart. By the building of that hall the village life of Horton had been enriched and made impossible for anyone to say that Horton was not a place where he would like to live. It would enliven the life and bring the young fellows together and arrest the temptations that they would be better in the towns. There was nothing better than village life [applause]. He did not believe that it was commonly known that when one of the very greatest men, imperialist and statesman — Cecil Rhodes — when asked what he thought to be the secret of that power which was the greatest power England had got, that of colonising, and he replied that it was the influence of the village church which had done it. He meant that there was in the villages lives things which brought people together, which taught them how to work with each other, and how to live side by side without quarrelling. That was the only way the wonderful doings of the manhood of England in times past could be explained [applause]. It was a grand thing to belong to a village which had got such a history as Horton had, and he hoped everyone was proud of what he could see been part of the village and proud of what he felt to be the hope of the future, which stared them in the face in the erection of that most beautiful building — full of hope and promise for the coming. The arrangements of the hall would no doubt be carried out by a committee of men, and in doing so they would be learning many valuable things. Upon those who undertook this work the prosperity of Horton would depend, and it was not only the village church in the future which was going to be the making of the place but the village hall, so it behoved all who had anything to do with its management to take the keenest interest in its welfare. If they saw that there was something wrong they ought to immediately set about putting it right and not rest on the fact that so and so had gone on for some years and there was no reason why it should not continue. In such an institution like that which had been provided
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