The story of Old Basing Village Hall began in the 1970s when Mrs Betty Holmes M.B.E. spearheaded a campaign to change the covenant on land adjacent to Olivers Battery, paving the way for the hall’s construction. Designed by local architect Derek Kearns, the hall was built with an estimated cost of £80,000 in the late 1970s. The local community rallied together, raising 25% of the funds through dedicated fundraising efforts, with the remainder supported by central Government and the borough council. Construction began in 1980, and on 5th June 1982, Mrs Betty Holmes M.B.E. officially opened the completed hall.

By the end of 1977, the foundations of the Village Hall project were firmly in place. The community had begun organising events, forming committees, and preparing for the significant planning and fundraising efforts that would follow.

In 1993, a new entrance was added, once again opened by Mrs Betty Holmes M.B.E., enhancing accessibility and welcoming even more visitors. In 2003, the hall expanded with a rear extension, including the addition of the Frank Goddard Room, a modern meeting space designed to meet the evolving needs of our community.

Here we present the events of the years in chronological order, along with scans of the original newspaper clippings and documents from the time.  In the timeline below "significant" events are coloured grey whilst "fund raising" events are coloured brown.