HERE leading members of the Colne Valley community take stock of the year 2012 and look forward to 2013:

Name: DEREK FAIRBANK.

Position/ Job Title: Manager at Longwood Mechanics Hall.

What was the best thing that happened in 2012 in your area?

“The opening of the Longwood Village Coffee Shop. Opened in March, staffed entirely by volunteers, the coffee shop was completely fitted out by our team of dedicated volunteers over 12 months.

“It opens three days a week serving traditional home-cooked food, Grumpy Mule coffee and delicious homemade cakes including Josie's Ginger Cake, Lemon Drizzle, Guinness Cake, Beetroot Cake and Grumpy Coffee Cake to name but a few.

“Our regular monthly coffee mornings continue to be extremely popular and we have held a number of special events throughout the year to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics, a fun day with bouncy castles and a circus skills workshop.

“Other events have been a 40s-themed afternoon tea dance and an evening dance with Mr Chris Hopkins from the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, playing the Versi duo plus organ.

What frustrated you the most?

“The weather! We had an indoor bouncy fun day on the warmest day of the year.

“And it is always amazing to hear from people who live in Longwood who have never actually been into the hall.

“We hope that for 2013 the residents will make it their resolution to visit the hall this year to see what we have to offer.

“Our next event is the monthly coffee morning on Saturday January 5 from 10am till 12noon.

What is your local New Year’s resolution for 2013? What do you want to make happen in your area?

“We are introducing a number of new classes to the hall with Songbirds, singing for pre-school children, on Wednesday mornings.

“We are also introducing Iyenga Yoga on Wednesdays (1.30pm-3pm). No booking is required. Just turn up.

We also have a Pain Support Group for sufferers and carers every second Tuesday.

“Come and meet with other people who suffer. It’s an informal social get-together to make friends.

Be lively, be laughing and have fun.

For more information contact Bernadette on 01484 429346.

“A new idea we are trying is the Monday Memoirs starting January 7 2013 (from 10am-12noon). Come along and evoke the some of those old memories and enjoy refreshments on Monday mornings in our happy and relaxed environment for older people and people with dementia and carers.

For more details contact Sally or Libby on 01484 767069.

“We are also hoping to start a bingo afternoon in 2013.

Also we have been fundraising during 2012 to replace some of the main hall windows and hope that we can reach our target of £6,000 during 2013 to replace them.”