Through fundraising drives and a successful lottery grant, the modern Forum opened its doors in 2004. It was designed with a specific philosophy: no fancy frills, just functional, flexible space for hire. Today, it remains a charity-run entity, governed by a board of trustees who still live within a mile of the building. Visit the Forum on a Tuesday morning, and you’ll find two worlds colliding. In the main hall, the “Tots & Teddies” playgroup is in full swing. Cushions are scattered across the floor, and the air is thick with the sound of laughter and the thump-thump-thump of tiny feet.
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“This room has seen three generations of my family learn to walk,” says Margaret Holloway, 68, a volunteer who has been with the Forum since day one. “I brought my daughter here, and now she brings my grandson. It’s the only place in town where you don’t feel rushed.” ashley lane forum