AFTER 20 years of tending to Grassington Town Hall, caretaker Rose Walmsley has decided to call it a day.

Rose, who is 77, has actually been involved with the premises for 30 years in all - for that is how long she has been a member of the town hall committee.

And she intends to remain on the committee following her retirement as caretaker next month.

"I will be sad to leave," she said. "I have enjoyed every minute of it."

Rose's involvement with the town hall - or Devonshire Institute as it is also known - first began when she started doing the refreshments for dances and whist drives. She took on the role of caretaker in March 1978.

"I am responsible for keeping the place clean, seeing it is open on time and making sure the users behave themselves - that is one of the main things," she told the Herald.

Rose has seen a lot of changes over the years, not least the major refurbishment of the town hall which was completed recently as the village's project for the millennium.

Rose does have her reservations about the scheme, however.

"I just wonder if we are going to be able to keep the place going with the extra electricity bills and heating bills; that is my biggest worry," she said.

And she added: "I dare say we did need some alterations but we did not need to go over the top."

Rose has seen other changes in the variety and number of events which are held at the town hall.

"There used to be a lot of dances years back - lovely dances," she recalled. "We have line dancing now, and there are more and more things taking place."

While Rose does not officially retire until September, the Grassington Arts and Craft Exhibition Committee showed their appreciation for her work on Friday, when they presented her with a bouquet and a cheque at the preview of their latest - and final - exhibition.

"It was a lovely surprise," said Rose.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.