An iconic Marsden building has struck it rich after residents pulled together to raise money to repair its well-loved clock.
Committee members at Marsden Mechanics Hall were bowled over by the tidal wave of support, which saw them raise £1,800 in just 10 days to fix the venue’s clock tower.
The most stand out structure in the village, it has left residents in a time freeze for two months after both hands got stuck at 12 o’clock.
Despite being no longer funded by Kirklees Council, the committee members – who are in the midst of a transfer asset to bring the hall under full community control – found no problem in rallying around the community who flocked in their droves to help the repair hope become reality.
The clock was installed last Friday , just in time for one of the village’s most renowned event, the Marsden Jazz Festival which starts tonight and runs throughout the weekend.
One committee member, Pete Toon, said: “The amount we were given in such a short amount of time was truly heartwarming. People came in all the time to make us a donation and every amount from 60p out of someone’s pocket money and upwards helped.
“We had one mystery donor who gave out £250 of cash while other people from outside the area donated online after reading about our aim in the Examiner.”
He hopes that it will spur on the asset transfer process which was ramped up this year.
If successful with the hall transfer bid, they hope to find more funding to enable ambitious developments of the building which could see an extension and an entire revamp.
Pete said: “It’s a real positive step forward for the hall and the asset transfer bid. It shows just what an iconic building it is.
“We just want to say a huge thank you to everyone.”
The hall will play a major roll in this weekend’s festival hosting several gigs, including Troyka, the Partisans along with The Sugar Sisters tomorrow, among others.
