Members of the Palmer Hall Committee were thrilled to hear that they had been chosen by Fairford Community Voice (FCV) to receive this year’s Fairford Award.

Malcolm Cutler, chair of the FCV, presented the framed A4 Fairford Award certificate to Sue Crowley, chair of the Palmer Hall Committee in the Palmer Hall at the beginning of August.

Sue Crowley said: "Receiving the Fairford Award has come as a complete surprise and we are grateful to everyone – especially the Fairford community – for supporting us while the renovations were being done.

"We are so lucky to have such a magnificent hall in the centre of Fairford that can now be used for many more years to come."

This is the second year that the FCV has presented the award to a Fairford organisation.

Last year it was presented to The Coffee Post for enhancing the corner of the Market Place that visitors and residents first see when they come into the centre of the town.

It brightens up the town and encourages shoppers, walkers and visitors to stay a while and enjoy what Fairford has to offer.

Malcolm said: "I attended the grand opening of the Palmer Hall in April and was amazed to see the difference that had been made to the entire hall. "There was such a transformation."

FCV was formed in April 2016 with the amalgamation of three Fairford groups – the Fairford Preservation Trust, Fairford Environmental Society and Fairford Planning Watch.

One of its aims is to encourage the preservation, maintenance and improvement of historic buildings and that is why the FCV committee unanimously agreed that the Palmer Hall should receive the 2019 Fairford Award in recognition of the high standard of renovation to the hall.