THE Tillicoultry community has pulled together and emptied their pockets in a bid to keep a “main hub” of the town open.

Residents have led the charge to raise £2,000, which will fund a new boiler for the Centenary Hall and allow the popular building to continue to host events over winter.

A group called the Tilly Ladies decided to set up a crowdfunding page on September 16 and in just over a week, contributions of almost £700 have been made. 

May Barker, the chairperson of the Centenary Hall committee, told the Advertiser: “I think it’s excellent that Tillicoultry has rallied round to keep it open because they can’t let it if it’s cold and it would disappear and go back to the council. 

“It’s used quite well, you couldn’t let it to elderly people for them to come in and sit in a cold hall.”

The former gospel hall now hosts a range of events from karate and dance classes to women’s guild meetings and Christmas parties. 

And Sandra Dunion, of Tilly Ladies, is convinced the fundraising success captures the community spirit which the area has become renowned for of late. 

She said: “At the beginning I would’ve said yes (it was surprising) but Tillicoultry is just one of those towns, I can’t praise them enough, when there’s something to be raised, they’re right onto it. We aren’t taking it for granted but there we go again, right behind us.”

The women’s group will also hold a bingo tea on Friday, October 27, as it pushes on towards collecting the full total and Ms Dunion encouraged locals to get involved. 

She added: “We actually take our hats off to the hall committee, who have kept the hall going for as long as it has. 

"The funding just isn’t there for them. 

“It’s in everybody’s interest that we keep it open. It’s a wee main hub for Tillicoultry. I think it’s vital to the community that the hall is kept running. 

“Over the winter is when most of the functions are on for the elderly and you can’t have it unheated. It’s a manageable hall and it’s close to the centre of town. We just want to give them all the help we can.”

Donations can be made to help keep the hall open at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/centenaryhall.