A WEEK of events to raise money for charity will end on Saturday (June 6) with the restoration of the 19th century school clock in the village hall in Pidley. The hall was originally the village school and this week events are being held in memory of one

A WEEK of events to raise money for charity will end on Saturday (June 6) with the restoration of the 19th century school clock in the village hall in Pidley.

The hall was originally the village school and this week events are being held in memory of one of the people who helped convert the disused school into a social centre - and who inadvertently broke the ancient clock.

The charity week is in memory of Arni Beeby who died aged 85, a year ago on Saturday and who for 40 years had served on the Pidley Villager Hall and Social Club Committees.

The events, running all this week, have included darts, bingo, knock out pool and dominos and end with a soul and ska disco on Saturday. Money is being raised for Leukaemia Research because Arni's granddaughter, Nicola is recovering from the disease.

Doreen Armstrong, whose husband, John, is running the disco, told The Hunts Post:"We had the original clock in the club from when it was village school, I went to the school and my mother went there and she is now in her 80s. About nine years ago, Arni Beeby wound the clock up and broke it, saying he would never touch the clock again.

"Each time we tried to get it mended, we were told it would cost too much money but it has now been repaired by Chris Lakeman an engineer from Fenstanton. We are asking someone from Arni's family to unveil the clock and to unveil a plaque to mark the work he did for the village."

On the committee of people who turned the old school into a village centre, carrying out a lot of the building work themselves were Arni Beeby and his brother Geoff, and Alf Hobbs and Mrs Armstong's father Ernie Wootten who have both since died. The other member is treasurer, Joan Hobbs.

Money was raised by events including fortnightly bingo, which started in 1969 and continues to this day on Thursday nights with a special coach laid to bring people from Somersham for a nominal fare by Dews Coaches.

The hall was officially opened by the boxer, Joe Bugner on January 3 1970.

INFORMATION: The charity disco for Leukaemia Research at Pidley Village Hall on Saturday, June 6 is from 7.30pm. Entry �1.