Almeley

MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT FUND – The organisers of the open gardens and woodland walk, held at Oakland, Almeley Road, on July 26, were delighted with the widespread support that they received. The event raised £1,557.

Included in this amount were many generous donations for this worthy cause. The excellent raffle attracted much attention, and the prize winners were: Anne Davis £20, which she kindly donated to the fund, Allan Woodvine (champagne), Sally Trafford (hamper), Chris Williams (Tia Maria), Frances Powell (juicer), Betty Lane (wine) and Gladys Mokler (whisky). Thank you to everyone for their excellent support and attendance, which helped to make it such a very happy and profitable occasion.

Aymestrey and Leinthall Earls

CEILIDH – A summer ceilidh and supper will be held at Hall Farm Leinthall Earls on August 30, from 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 (£5 for under 14s) and are available from Bronwyn Hutchings 01568 770536 or Meg Thorpe 01568 780384.

Proceeds will go to Aymestrey and Leinthall Earls Churches.

CHURCH – On Sunday there will be a benefice service at 11am at Kingsland. There will be no service at Aymestrey on August 31.

TILL THE COWS COME HOME – On September 5, at 7.30pm Aymestrey parish hall will welcome back for the third time the Mikron Theatre Company who provide very entertaining and clever productions with a versatile cast – an evening not to be missed.

This time they will be presenting Till the Cows Come Home a further tale in the ongoing saga of the Thistledown allotment holders.

Mikron Theatre Company has been going for over 40 years travelling around the country in a narrow boat. The company gets to Aymestrey by mooring their boat in Kidderminster or Worcester and travelling here by road.

Tickets are £10 and on sale now.

Tel 01568 770367 - 770486 - 770224 - 709031.

Bodenham

BODENHAM ROMANIA SUPPORT GROUP – The group will be holding its regular knit-in at 14 Brockington Road today, Thursday, from 2-4pm. Wool can be supplied although donations are always welcome. New knitters are always welcome.

BODENHAM FLOOD SUPPORT GROUP – The support group will hold its AGM in the Siward James meeting room Tuesday at 7.30pm.

This is a public meeting with everyone invited to attend. Details from Babs Mitcheson on 01568 797170.

CORRESPONDENT – Martin Field, The Old School House, Burley Gate, Hereford, HR1 3QR.

01432 820074. martinfield@ymail.com.

Bishopstone

VILLAGE WALK – Saturday 10.15am. Meet at the Bridge Inn, Michaelchurch Escley, HR2 0JW.

Circular walk along quiet minor roads, track and footpaths, only one stile.

VILLAGE LOTTERY – Hazel Macklin won £25 with number 10 on August 9.

Bromyard

ST MICHAEL’S HOSPICE OPEN GARDENS – From Friday to Monday, Ralph Court Gardens, Edwyn Ralph, HR7 4LU will be open from 9am-6pm each day.

Admission: Adults £7.50, senior citizens £6.50, children (five to 16) £4, concessions £4, family tickets (two adults and up to three children) £20, children under five free.

Tea room with refreshments. 50% of entry goes to St Michael’s Hospice. No dogs allowed.

Accessible to wheelchair users.

Burghill

SUMMER FESTIVAL – Saturday, the copse leisure area, Burghill (opposite Burghill Golf club) 2pm to 8pm approximately. Community games with traditional races, gold, silver and bronze medals.

Registration for games from 1.30pm. Olympic torch parade at 2pm. Bouncy castle, terror slide and various stalls. First World War memorabilia. Live music from 5pm featuring acclaimed acoustic guitarist and songwriter, Bren Hayes plus supporting acts.

Refreshments, waffles and crepes, evening bar, barbecue and selection of curries. Fun for all the family. Free entry.

Credenhill

CREDENHILL CANTER – The villagers of Credenhill are making preparations for the annual Credenhill Canter that is taking place for the third year running on Sunday. The Canter is a 10k multi terrain race designed to raise funds for Hereford’s special care baby unit (SCBU). The main race will start at 3pm from the social club, but before that there will be a fun run, a children’s race and a walkers’ event at 2pm.

Immediately after the presentation of awards to runners at the social club, there will be live music and entertainment outside provided by Whisky River, courtesy of Credenhill Social Club. Followed by more live music inside the club.

A barbecue and children’s entertainment will be going on all day.

The run goes through the varied countryside surrounding Credenhill and goes along country lanes, bridle path, public footpaths, across fields, up the hill and through the woods. The route is popular with runners as well as supporters and spectators.

This year it is hoped to raise a record amount from the sponsored runners and supporters for the benefit of SCBU. For further details contact the main organiser of the event Ian Lancaster on 07754 056054 or from Credenhill Social and Sports Club 01432 760600.

Eardisland

RIVERSIDE OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND – Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. Open daily from 11am - 5pm and admission is £5. A wide variety of beautiful gardens in our multi award winning village, free parking at the village hall – Satnav HR6 9BP.

Refreshments and facilities also available at the village hall. We also have and exhibition and river of coins in our church.

Information on 01544 388226.

Eaton Bishop

SUMMER FETE – Do come along to the summer fete on August 30 which promises to be a great day out for all. The beautiful garden at The White House in Eaton Bishop is the venue again this year with gates opening at 12.30pm, free entry. Enjoy hotdogs and burgers from the barbecue with a cool drink from the bar, relax on the lawn or by the pond with a cream tea or an ice cream.

Browse the plant, cake, produce, toy and white elephant stalls, admire the classic cars and military vehicles, participate in the many games – skittles, golf, splat- a-rat, nearest to whisky, guess the name of the donkey, lucky dip – and enter the ‘treasure trail around the garden’ competition.

There is plenty of fun for the children with face painting between 12.30pm and 1.30pm and a children’s fancy dress competition at 1.30pm which will be judged by ‘the sheriff ’.

Bring your dog along to the fun dog show at 2pm (entries from 12.30pm onwards) with six classes, namely cutest puppy (six to 12 months), best rescue dog, prettiest bitch, most handsome dog, waggiest tail and junior handling (five to 13 years), and all the winners will receive rosettes and qualify for the best in show class.

The afternoon will culminate with the prize-giving and grand summer draw at 3.30pm.

Garway

VILLAGE FUN DAY – Come and enjoy the festivities at Garway fun day on Garway Common opposite the Garway Moon Inn (HR28RQ) – Saturday from 1pm.

Dog show, free circus skills workshop, bouncy castle, produce and handicraft marquee, skittles.

Stalls, coconut shy, throw the welly, raffles, strongest man competition, barbecue and drinks and cakes.

Hereford

SHORT COURSES – WEA Hereford will be holding short courses in the new academic year on topics ranging from Russian art, Renaissance art, Shakespeare’s Hamlet to calligraphy and beginners’ German. Also single sessions relating to First World War topics. Brochures are available from libraries, or email herefordbranch@wea.org.uk or phone 01432 851423.

BELMONT CHILDREN’S HEALTH – Starting on September 5 (2pm-6pm), a new children’s natural health clinic will take place in Belmont, Hereford, and continue on the first Friday of each month. These sessions are subsidised by Hereford centre for Natural Health (registered charity), and appointments will be just £10 a time - this clinic is to be accessible to everyone who wishes their child to be treated using natural therapies. Juliet Ablett, homeopath and flower remedies therapist is leading this clinic.

She emphasises that the clinic will treat children with any condition whether physical or emotional, as the treatment is a holistic approach. Appointments on 01432 279653.

Huntington

TALK – At the second event of the Friends of St Thomas a Becket Church, Huntington, Dr Philip Cleland, the well-known former doctor of Kington, held a packed audience listening in rapt attention. He talked of his 10 years of pilgrimages as medical support to the Royal British Legion and the Not Forgotten Association, when he accompanied veterans, their families and people affected by past and present day wars, to the battlefields and war graves of the First and Second World Wars. So many people wanted to attend, extra chairs filled the church and some were disappointed not to be admitted. In particular, the audience felt that the attendance of four former SAS soldiers, who had sometimes accompanied the doctor, was highly appropriate, in view of the significance two days later of the centenary of the beginning of the First World War.

Dr Cleland showed many pictures of his travels, which brought to life the stories which accompanied them. The audience stood in silence as Dr Cleland said the exhortation, “We will remember them.” A drinks and canapés party was held afterwards where friends met and the evening ended in a very happy mood.

Kington

KINGTON – Kington Horticultural society’s next meeting is tonight in the Masonic hall, Kington, at 7.30pm.

The speaker is Mr M Bracher on Clematis.

Doors open at 7pm, visitors welcome, £2.50.

Knighton

COMMUNITY MARKET – On August 23 Knighton Community Market celebrates bank holiday weekend with live music in the cafe from Out of the Blue, a five- piece band who mix a folk and blues sound with occasional jazz standards, playing guitar, bass, fiddle, whistles and bodhran to toe-tapping effect. As well as all the usual stalls of local produce and hand-crafted items there will be several interesting new ones and the local Labour party will be campaigning against the privatisation of the NHS. As usual the community centre is the venue, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

There will then be a three week gap before the September 13 market.

CHURCH SERVICES – For Sunday: St Edward’s church, Knighton 9.30am holy communion; St David’s church, Whitton no service; St Andrew’s church, Norton 11am, morning worship; St Mary’s church, Pilleth 3pm holy communion; Knighton Baptist church 11am; Knucklas Baptist church 6pm; Knighton Methodist church 11am; Knighton Catholic church 11am.

TOUR OF BRITAIN – The Tour of Britain cycle race is an important event on the cycle sporting calendar after the Tour de France.

Stage three of the tour will come through Knighton on September 8 from Newtown on its way to Abergavenny. It is programmed to arrive just a few minutes before midday and will travel through the town past the Offa’s Dyke Centre and the clock tower and race up the Presteigne road out of the town.

The television cameras will be following the tour and so Knighton and District Tourism group would like to take this opportunity to put Knighton on the map, as a place to visit and spend money. Bearing in mind that the coverage will be brief we are looking for ideas and help with this from residents and children alike. Knighton and District Tourism group member Marje Rickerby said “Perhaps the carnival costumes could be taken out again for another airing. We are looking for ideas so if you can help let us know.

KNIGHTON WALKING WEEKEND – The Knighton walking weekend will take place on September 12, 13 and 14. The walking weekend will give locals and visitors a chance to walk in the footsteps of King Offa and Owain Glyndwr, explore our historic market town with the town crier, join Rebecca Morris for a ‘long’ walk and hear about her 1,000 mile walk around Wales. Or they could visit Guinevere’s castle, Caradoc’s (Caractacus’s) stronghold, the site of a Roundhead siege, or try geocaching.

On the Saturday evening walkers will be able to put their feet up at a local B&B, hotel or pub and then join Knighton and District Rotary Club at Knighton Community Centre and listen to the world- famous Treorchy Male Voice Choir. For more information http://www.visitknighton.co.uk/ Places may be booked by phoning Offa’s Dyke Centre 01547 528753 or email oda@offasdyke.demon.co.uk. All walks £3.

100 CLUB DRAW – Knighton Town Silver Band 100 Club draw for August. 1st Paul Milward, Knighton, 2nd Lynn Rowlands, Beguildy and 3rd Grace Lewis, Knighton.

Leominster

MEMORIAL SERVICE – A memorial service celebrating the life of Geoffrey Wilkinson will be held in Leominster Priory Church on August 29 at 2pm. Geoff was one of the founders of the Leominster/Tengeru (Tanzania) Natural Resources Conservation Project, which touched the lives of many individuals, schools, hospitals and other organisations both here and in Tanzania. He was a resident of Risbury for many years, and latterly of Avenbury, near Bromyard. It is hoped that two of his former students from Tanzania will be present at the service, at which Bishop Michael Hooper, formerly Rector of Leominster, will officiate.

WALKING IN HEREFORDSHIRE – Speak to the experts at Leominster Library, Walking for Health, Leominster Ramblers, The Ramblers Association and Denis Downey on August 30, 10am-noon. Coffee and biscuits, sponsored by Friends of Leominster Library.

Lingen

ART AND CRAFTF EXHIBITION – Lingen Village Hall hosts the 14th Art and Craft Exhibition and Sale from Saturday to Monday, 11am to 6pm (Saturday and Sunday), 11am to 5pm (Monday).

Refreshments in aid of local charity Lingen Village Hall.

Free parking. No admission charge. Catalogue available.

LINGEN CHURCH – Hosts an exhibition of year work by sewing groups Lingen Stitchers and Needling Along from Saturday to Monday, 10am-5pm. Both sewing groups will be displaying their beautiful year work. Tombola – every go wins a prize.

Flower displays by church flower women. Free parking. No admission charge but donations welcome in aid of charity.

TEDDY TOTS – Pre-school playgroup will be running right the way through the summer holidays every Tuesday morning in August from 9.30am to 11.30am at the hall – there’s lots of toys and interesting things to do so if you have a youngster (or two) why not pop along, you’d be most welcome.

£2 per family.

NB – Drop-in coffee mornings take a break during August. For local news visit lingen.org.uk.

Llanbister

WHIST DRIVE – A whist drive was held in Llanbister community hall. Gwyn Morgan was MC for the evening and results were: Ladies – 1st Mervyn Thomas, 2nd Janice Davies and 3rd Edith Conway. Gents – 1st Allan Brick, 2nd Kath Hardwick and 3rd Gwyn Morgan.

Miniature – 1st Shirley Hammond and Hayden Morgan, 2nd Pam and June Pritchard. Raffle winners – John Bufton, Helen Hughes(2), Doreen Wilding, Margaret Groves, C Williams and Jenny Williams. Olwen Bowen thanked those who attended, the helpers and those who gave donations and prizes. The proceeds will go to the graveyard fund.

WI – At the July meeting Barbara Gayther welcomed 11 members with apologies from Anita, Jo Eunice and June. The AC meeting will be held on September 29 when Olwen Wilson will be the delegate and Anita Threadgold and Glyn Alley will sell raffle tickets. The speaker for the evening was Eric Rees who spoke about Francis Morgan the first British woman to become a doctor in 1867. Her life was very varied and she died in Brighton in 1914 at the age of 80. He was thanked by Barbara. The raffle was won by Lil Lewis, the competition for the best flowering pot plant was won by Carol Thomas, 2nd Wendy Ranson and 3rd Irene Goodman who was also hostess for the evening with Glyn Alley. There was no August meeting but 12 members went for afternoon tea at Llangreed Hall.

Madley

MADLEY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE – Tuesday, 10am- noon, mini-beast hunt – find mini-beasts on the nature reserve and make a seed bug to take home. 1pm-3pm, wacky water – play the leaky tubes and bottomless bucket games followed by parachute games to dry off - bring a towel and spare clothes.

Thursday, August 28, 10am - noon, crazy creatures – make wooden animals to take home using saws and hand drills. 1pm-3pm, float your boat – make and race bark boats and elastic band and balloon powered craft. £6/ session or £10 full day. Adults free, but must accompany children. Booking essential, call 01981 512561 or visit mesc.org.uk.

Mordiford

ST MICHAEL’S HOSPICE OPEN GARDENS – On Sunday, The Old Rectory Barn, Mordiford, HR1 4LW will be open from 2pm - 6pm.

Admission £3, children under 12 free. Refreshments will be available. Guide dogs only. Due to the terrain, access to these gardens is limited for some people with a mobility impairment and/ or wheelchair users.

MORDIFORD CHURCH – 200 Club Draw took place at the Moon Inn on August 1.

Winners were: 56 Bernie Williams £90, 97 Elaine Corbin £60, 82 Heather Jones £30, 93 Sian Edwards £15.

Much Cowan

MUCH COWARNE CHURCH FETE – Will be held on August 30 from 2pm. Dog show, barbecue, tea, games, fun for all the family.

Ocle Pychard and Much Cowarne

MUCH COWARNE AUTUMN FETE – The Much Cowarne autumn fete will be held at Tan House Farm from 2pm on August 30. There will be all the usual stalls and refreshments. Cris Hooper, 01531 640516, is making the regular annual appeal for items to be donated to the craft stall. They can either be sold with all proceeds going to St Mary’s Church at Much Cowarne, or the donors can return a percentage. Items can be dropped off at the stall on the day, or Cris can arrange for collection.

Orcop

ORCOP FETE – In Orcop parish hall on Bank Holiday Monday, at 2.30pm. To be opened by Mr Peter Davis (D Day Veteran and author).

Competition open to all, best decorated bicycle – to be staged by 3pm. Family entertainment by Ace Entertainments, home made cakes and preserves, tombolas, plants, skittles, raffles, games, books, light refreshments, ice cream. Display of vintage and classic vehicles. Free admission all welcome. Disabled access. Ample parking. For more 01981 580365.

Peterchurch

BANK HOLIDAY DASH – Peterchurch Grasstrack Club proudly presents on Bank Holiday Monday the Bank Holiday Dash at Stall House, Vowchurch Herefordshire, HR2 0QD. Practice at 1pm, first race at 2.30pm.

Grasstrack solo’s, side-cars, youth and MX. Admission adults £10, OAP £8, five to 16 £5, under fives free. Enquiries to Sheila Swain 01981 550621.

FRIENDS OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY DAY CENTRE – Would like to thank everyone who visited theFirst World War Exhibition it was a great success we had over 300 people through the doors. A huge thank you to everyone who helped especially John Slough for many of the exhibits, Martin Smith the British Legion Standard Bearer, Peterchurch Primary School, Fairfield High School and Mike Pullen from Hospice Angels. A special thanks goes to Jude Gaze who organised the exhibition she spent many hours researching the local men who gave their lives.

Yourgenerous donations raised £226.85 for the British Legion and £84.35 for St Michaels Hospice.

We must also thank everyone who entered the Produce Show it seemed to be a big hit and it was lovely to see so many entries. Our thanks go to the judges Mrs Hazel Price, Mrs Jean Wilcox, Mrs Hannah Morris and Mr David and Dennis Ruck. The Best in Show was won by Maggie Harmer.

We are holding our Annual Summer Fete on Bank Holiday Monday from 2pm - 5pm. We are always in need of volunteers, Muriel Howe on 01981 551973 if you can help. Open every Monday 10am -12pm and would love to see you, everyone is welcome.

ST PETER’S CENTRE FAMILY FUN DAY – Will be held on August 30 from 11am - 3pm.

A day of family fun with stalls, demonstrations and lots of free children’s activities, plus refreshments, barbecue and bar. Don’t miss this exciting day, with so many free activities, including Herefordshire’s Museum on the Move, Wildplay’s mud kitchen and water play for children, worm charming, children’s singing and story-telling, colouring and craft, yoga taster sessions and a youth drama workshop with the Courtyard Theatre, plus a bouncy castle and lots of stalls (tombola, bric a brac, name the teddy, guess the sweets in the jar, the egg game). Free entry.

SPIRE COMMMUNITY CAFÉ – Every Thursday, 12.30pm - 3.30pm – St Peter’s Centre, Peterchurch.

All proceeds go towards the sustainability of St Peter’s Centre and Church.

Presteigne

POPPY PICNIC – Pat Galliers is holding a Poppy Picnic for The Royal British Legion at her home at 16 Appletree Meadow this Saturday from 2 - 6pm. There will be an adult and children’s lucky dip, a raffle, whisky roll up, treasure hunt, cake stall, guess the teddy plus lots more. Picnics can be bought on the day to help raise money to help support our armed forces community. For further details call Pat on 262820.

MUSIC AND BEER FESTIVAL – The football club are holding their annual music and beer festival at Llanandras Park this Sunday from 4pm. The gates will open at 3.30pm. Music will be provided by Dave Luke, Steady Edd and The Boogie Men, Fight The Bear and The Lone Wolves. There will be a large selection of real ales and ciders along with a barbecue. The annual duck drop will also take place. Admission will be just £10 for adults with accompanied under 16s free. That’s four bands for only £10. For further details call 260485.

SERVICE – There is a Presteigne Festival Eucharist service at St Andrews Church this Sunday at 11am. Everyone is most welcome.

EXHIBITION – Lingen Stitchers and Needling Along are holding an exhibition at St Michaels Church in Lingen from Friday until Sunday from 10 - 5pm each d a y.

CREAM TEAS – Cream teas will be served every Sunday afternoon until September 14 at Pembridge Church from 3.30-5.30pm. You can enjoy the sunshine whilst sat in the ancient churchyard or if wet in the church. All welcome.

SHOW – The Annual Norton Show and Sports will take place on Saturday at Home Farm Lane in Norton. The show will be officially opened by Roger Williams MP at 12 noon. There will be loads going on including horse,pony and dog shows, show jumping, a bar, games, competitions, children’s races, vintage car and tractor run, Punch and Judy, bouncy castle, circus workshop, car boot, refreshments, horticultural show plus lots more. For more information call Dan on 07798928909.

GARDENS OPEN – The Whimble Gardens and Nursery are open on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday from 10.30-5.30pm each day. Admission to the nursery is free but the gardens is £4 for adults.

You can walk around the pools and pounds visit the nature reserve and toposcope. For further details visit whimblegardens.co.uk DRIVERS REQUIRED – Presteigne and Norton Community Support require volunteer drivers urgently. Can you spare a couple of hours a week to help take the needy to hospital appointments etc. If so please call in at the community support office at the Drill Hall in Hereford Street for details. Drivers are reimbursed their fuel expenses.

EXHIBITION – The 14th annual arts and crafts exhibition and sale takes place this Bank Holiday Weekend at Lingen Village Hall on Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11am - 5pm. Call Mary on 01568 770920.

FESTIVAL – The Annual Presteigne Festival continues over the Bank Holiday weekend until Tuesday evening. For more information call 267800.

Vowchurch

VOWCHURCH COUNTRY MARKET – Will be held August 30 from 10am to noon at Vowchurch Village Hall. Top seasonal produce from The Golden Valley including organic vegetables, cheeses, preserves, eggs, sausages and meat, cakes and Alex Gooch’s award winning bread.

Meet friends and catch up on local gossip over coffee and bacon butties in our welcoming cafe.

Breathe Easy Group Hereford

THE monthly meeting took place on July 29, at Hampton Bishop Hall, where a summer tea party had been arranged for those who had done the pulmonary rehabilitation course at the hospital, and Breathe Easy member.

The tea was prepared and served by Breathe Easy members using recipes from the Mary Berry cookbooks.

Margo Boore from the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team gave a talk about the course and its purpose and the follow-up role of the Breathe Easy Group.

A representative from the Expert Patient Programme described how this course could help those coping with chronic illnesses.

A demonstration of Tai-Chi from a member of the Bright Stripe team got everyone doing exercise before sitting down to a delicious tea.

The members were joined for the afternoon by the Helen Vereker Singers, a local group who, after enjoying their afternoon tea, entertained the group by singing some great songs, old and new.

A lovely end to a very pleasant afternoon.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, at Hampton Bishop Hall, at 2pm.

The speaker will be Robin Clifton, a local artist who will talk about getting “enjoyment from painting.”

All welcome.

For more details, ring 01432 850550.

Knighton and District Rotary Club

LAST month was another enjoyable one with a calendar full of activities for the Knighton and District Rotary Club.

On the first Wednesday, members welcomed Sheila Smith as the new president, with the following week’s meeting being the monthly lunch at Ffrydd House in Knighton to raise money for the many charities that the club supports.

On the third Wednesday, members enjoyed another lunch at Rotarian Dave Barwick’s home in Gladestry.

At the fourth Wednesday’s meeting, members shared Kim and Sheila Smith’s memories of their trip to the Rotary International Convention in Sydney.

Inspiring to discover what Rotarians are doing to support their own communities worldwide.

The month finished with a tasty Italian meal at Ian Graves’ home in Bucknell, this time raising money for Rotary’s polio eradication programme.

All the money members raise goes to their chosen charities, as the running costs are covered by club membership.

Treorchy Male Choir come to Knighton on September 13, so please go along and support this exciting event.

In addition, at the Knighton Show on August 30, the Rotary Club will have a stall where they will be running a Guess The Mileage competition on a classic car.

Cost will be £1 a go and the prize is a meal for two people, including a bottle of wine at Fishmore Hall in Ludlow.

Visit fishmorehall.co.uk to find out more about it.

All funds raised will be used to support local charities, including the air ambulances.

To find out more about the club, visit their website at knighton.

rotary1150.org.

If you want to enjoy the company of like-minded people, as well as possibly get involved in what the club does, come along to any of their Wednesday meetings.

You will be made most welcome.

For more details, you can contact the club through Norman Thorp on 01547 529666.

Or through Cathy Jones on 07813 733240, or at her e-mail cathleenj2 001@yahoo.co.uk.