Trelawnyd Memorial Hall

In 1880 Mr Michael Antonio Ralli, a Greek from Odessa who made a fortune when the American Civil War stopped cotton imports by bringing in cotton from Russia, moved to the village of Trelawnyd. He liked the village and the village people liked him, so despite the fact that he was the Greek Consul in Liverpool, he build a grand hall just outside the village, which he named Mia Hall in honour of his cousin/wife Polly Mia.

At the start of the new century there was a depression in Britain and to try and help the unemployed poor people of the area, Ralli hired them to build a village hall, which was opened in 1909. Since then it has been a well-used asset to the community.

Unfortunately subsidence and time led to the hall facing the very real danger of demolition, but David Smith and David Ellis formed a committee and with the help of John Watkin of Flintshire Local Voluntary Council raised nearly half a million pounds to repair, rennovate and refurbish the hall. I was very proud to be invited to the opening ceremony of the hall, at which various people spoke, the local school children performed and Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir treated us to a short concert.