2017 will see the 125th anniversary of Fairlie Village Hall, and Fairlie Community Association are planning a number of events throughout the year to celebrate.

The building has been very much at the heart of community life since it opened on 16 November, 1892.

Converted from the original parish schoolroom, it was presented to the people of Fairlie by the Rt. Hon. Charles Stuart Parker in memory of his late sister, Margaret, who had died the previous year. On Parker’s death in 1910, the Village Hall was left to be held by Trustees "in all time coming for the use, occupation and benefit of the inhabitants of Fairlie".

In 1974, the Trustees leased the hall to North Ayrshire Council to be used as a community centre. Today, the management of the Village Hall is the responsibility of Fairlie Community Association, and the day-to-day business is carried out by a committee of volunteers. The committee is currently planning a series of events to commemorate the anniversary – look out for details in the coming months.

The original Largs and Millport News article of the period stated: "The old Parish school-room was acquired by Mr C.S Parker, ex MP for Perth, and was subsequently converted into a public hall for the use of the people of the village, was formally opened on Wednesday November 16 1892.

"It was built more than 70 years before that Mr Parker (the grandfather of the donor and his brother-in-law Mr Hugh Tennent) on ground given by the Earl of Glasgow. The opening night was chaired by Mr Parker, being supported by Rev Messrs Allan and Fleck, Mr J A Bulloch Etal Lodge, Mr Wm, Fife, Mr Saunders, and Mr Millar, teacher.

"When the building was originally built as a school, the Earl of Glasgow provided stone to build it and the best wood he had at Kelburn - and so excellent was the wood that when the time came to examine it in connection with the operation of turning the school into its present shape - the joists were found to be even better than any they could procure at the present day. "Following the opening presentation, a long musical concert took place in the hall which was full to capacity before the three hour entertainment was concluded with the singing of 'God Save the Queen'.

"The architect was Mr John J Stevenson of London, who was already favourable to the village after providing a similar input to the primary school in School Brae."