Historic town hall is rocking again

It has taken almost two years, but the historic Darlaston Town Hall is rocking once again as old time music returned to the historic building.

A 150-strong crowd sang and clapped inside the new-look venue at the first show since its huge refurbishment.

The town hall, which was opened in 1888, was closed in September 2006 due to health and safety concerns and only officially re-opened again this month after a £325,000 revamp by Walsall Council.

To mark the return of traditional concerts organist Mervyn Jones was joined by the Wolverhampton Orpheus Male Voice Choir and popular Xylophone player Jack Williams for a two-hour performance.

Scores of mainly elderly fans turned up to enjoy the entertainment which included old time favourites such as Delilah, Roll Out the Barrel and You'll Never Walk Alone.

The event was a long time coming, as it was originally hoped the hal would re-open last spring but the revamp ran into a series of delays which saw deadlines put back to August, December, and this March before it was accessible to the public again.

But yesterday the crowd seemed unanimous in their approval at both the performances and the hall's new look.

Retired engineer Gilbert Rowley, aged 72, from Old Lane, Bloxwich, said: "It was a brilliant. We have followed Mervyn for a number of years and this has been a marvellous occasion.

"This is one of the biggest attendances I have seen and it is a great venue. It has been well worth waiting for as a tremendous job has been done here and I am pleased for the people of Darlaston to have something like this."

Former leather trade worker Eugene Rochelle, 70, from Goscote Lane, said: "It was a fantastic concert and it is great to be able to come here again." His wife Elsie, aged 74, added: "It was wonderful and the place is a lot better now than it used to be, it looks beautiful."

Ex-decorator Ron Hodson, 73, of Enderley Drive, Bloxwich also enjoyed the occasion with his 69-year-old wife Sheila. He said: "We have been waiting for 18 months to come back and it is a great start to the new concert season. It is a lovely place now."

She added: "We have missed it and this building is fantastic now, better than what anyone could have wished for. The music even sounds better now its refurbished and this has bought joy to a lot of people."

Iris Hill, from Cherry Tree Avenue, and in her 70s, said: "It was excellent and I really enjoyed it as I have always done in the past. I like coming to the town hall and it has been really smartened up."

Improvements made to the building include roof repairs, rewiring, repainting and upgraded kitchen. The organ, which was given to the people of Darlaston as a gift by the Slater family in 1903 has also had a £7,500 refurbishment.

Organist Mervyn Jones, 70, said: "The concert went very well, it is hard to describe the feeling of being back here. Everyone is really pleased and the council have done us proud with the refurbishment."

Walsall Mayor Tom Ansell, who was among the crowd, added it had been a fantastic afternoon.