About the trust
The Datchet Recreational Centre Charitable Trust (DRCCT, registered charity 252303) owns the village hall and provides recreation facilities for the people of Datchet.
What the trust does
A place of recreation for everyone
The trust deed of 1967 sets land at Allen Way aside as a non-sectarian, non-political place of recreation for the residents of Datchet.
The village hall and Sabatini Land
As well as the hall, the trust owns Sabatini Land, open land off Allen Way.
The committee
The trust is run by unpaid volunteers. Meet the committee.
Registered charity
The charity is registered with the Charity Commission as Datchet Recreation Centre Charitable Trust, number 252303, and is usually called DRCCT. Accounts and returns are filed with the Charity Commission. See the trust's entry on the register.
History of the hall
- 1967
The trust is created
Datchet resident and benefactor Denys Randolph established the trust and left £6,250 to buy land for a new recreation centre. The deed was signed on 21 March 1967. The trust later bought the Sabatini land, which it still owns, from the widow of Frederick Sabatini.
- 1976
Datchet Village Hall opens
The Parish Council planned and funded the hall, which opened at a total cost of £118,000. About £90,000 of that came from the compulsory purchase of allotment land for the Holmlea estate. A volunteer committee then ran the hall for many years.
- 2019
New trustees
In early 2019 the trust was transferred to new trustees.
- April 2025
A new committee
A new committee took over the running of the trust, with a renewed focus on the hall's future. Meet the committee
- Since 2025
A dispute over governance
Datchet Parish Council says it is the trust's sole trustee. In a public statement on 1 October 2026 it said it has taken legal action to protect the trust's assets and is consulting the Charity Commission. Other trustees dispute this and say the charity is independent of the council. The matter is subject to legal proceedings, so this site takes no position.
Want to use the hall?
Ring the booking secretary to arrange a viewing.
How to hire the hall