A management committee has ensured that a north-east community hall will continue to be available for the public.
Boddam Public Hall faced the risk of permanent closure when stalwarts Kim Buchan and her mum Peggy Slessor made the decision to walk away from the community asset after 13 years of service.
The pair had maintained the hall and ensured it stayed open throughout their tenure, but felt that the time had come for fresh blood to take over.
Mrs Slessor had previously said that, finding people to commit to being a part of the hall committee had been a battle for many years.
However, at an emergency meeting held before Christmas, 10 people answered calls to step in.
Last night, a spokeswoman for the hall committee said the handover had now been completed and that new members were keen to ensure the hall remains open well into the future.
She said: “We’ve got a lot of events coming up.
“We are looking at reintroducing kids’ discos and family events. We are also in the throes of organising a coffee morning-type event in May. We are also bringing back bingo, because a lot of people in the village like that.
“We are trying to bring it back to being the hub of the community. We have had a lot of positive responses from the villagers about what we are planning and what we are trying to do.”
The hall is currently booked every weekday.
Mrs Buchan – who acted as the hall’s chairwoman until Christmas to assist the new committee – previously said it was for the benefit of the community at large that the hall remained a “focal point” for local groups and residents.
To raise funds to help keep the hall open, a bag pack will take place on February 13 at Morrisons supermarket.