The Reading Room has supplied a venue for several important events during November. Unfortunately the Reading Room kitchen has been afflicted with a rampant case of fast-growing mildew, growing up behind the cooker and across the old chimney front, spreading into the ceiling. The mildew has been scraped, cleaned and hopefully killed, at any rate for the time being. It is now clear that the dampness on the kitchen north wall has had 2 causes - steam from the boiling water urn, and rain leaking in from the gutter between the chimney and the kitchen roof. A new thermostatically controlled urn has been bought and is now in use, which will minimise condensation from steam.
Roof leak repairs will be combined with a roof condition survey. We have also engaged a decorator to carry out further cleaning and emergency redecoration in January. There will be some inconvenience to users but this will be minimised, and will be explained to them. The longer term solution is the Reading Room enhancement scheme, which is expected to replace the kitchen area lean-to with new construction. Meanwhile, the Reading Room remains a major asset to the Stratford community, which is managed very effectively by the Reading Room committee and is quite intensively used for a wide variety of events. Thanks are due to the committee, and to all hirers and users - and to the original and far sighted donation by Mrs Mary King in 1881. Thanks also to everyone who drew attention to the mildew problem, worked on a solution, and researched replacement kitchen equipment.
Ted Uren