Aymestrey and Leinthall Earls

CHURCH - There will be a service of holy communion (BCP) at Aymestrey on Sunday at 11am.

FILM CLUB - On Sunday Aymestrey Film Club will be showing Nebraska. Start time is 7pm.

Entry £5 per person.

For anyone who finds it difficult to get to the parish hall or has transport issues we may be able to arrange for someone to collect you and drop you home after the film.

Please email filmclub@aymestrey.org or call on 01568 770816 a few days before the showing.

Homemade ice cream and popcorn will be served.

Bircher

OPEN GARDEN - By permission of Peter and Sue Russell, who are opening their garden at Byecroft, Welshman’s Lane, Bircher Common, HR6 0BP, in support of St Michael’s Hospice. Sunday from 1pm-5.30pm.

Admission by donation please to St Michael’s Hospice.

Refreshments will be served, there will be a plant stall, and a quiz. Guide dogs only.

For further information and directions please contact the community fundraising team at St Michael’s Hospice on 01432 851000.

Bishopstone

VILLAGE LOTTERY - Joan Eldridge 46 won £25 on May 10, Heather Kennard 25 won £25 on May 17.

Bodenham

FLOOD PROTECTION GROUP - The Flood Protection Group will hold its next working party meeting at 6pm tomorrow (Friday), probably at Millcroft Farm, though this is yet to be confirmed.

Details from the group secretary Babs Mitcheson on 015687 797170.

QUIZ NIGHT - The Lugg Valley Friends – Cancer Research UK – will be holding a quiz night in the parish hall from 7.15pm on June 6.

Entry will cost just £6 per person and will include light refreshments and tea and coffee.

Teams of four to six will be welcome, but otherwise players can make up a team on the night.

Bookings through Jenny on 01568 797280 or Thelma on 797557.

CAFÉ @ THE CHAPEL - The Café at the Chapel provides an opportunity for anyone to call in for an informal chat over a cup of tea or coffee on Thursday mornings.

The café is open from 10.30am till noon but visitors can stay for as long or as little as they wish.

There is no charge but donations are welcome and are given to charity.

This is a joint venture between St Michael’s Church, Bodenham Christian Fellowship and local residents.

PARISH COUNCIL - The parish council will meet at 7.30pm on Monday at the Siward James Centre.

All parishioners are welcome to attend. Anyone with points they would like to raise is asked to contact the clerk, Dr Christopher Smith, on 01568 797132.

BODENHAM GARDENING CLUB - On Tuesday the club will meet in the parish hall to hear a talk on Salvias and Abutilons by Leila Jackson. There will be a sales table, raffle and refreshments, and new members or visitors are always welcome.

CORRESPONDENT - Martin Field, The Old School House, Burley Gate, Hereford, HR1 3QR,01432 820074, martinfield@ ymail.com.

Bredwardine and Brobury

JUNE 100 CLUB DRAW - The Friends of St Andrew 100 Club draw will take place on Thursday, June 5, at 8pm in the Red Lion Inn, which is serving a delicious curry buffet for anyone who wants to eat before the draw.

Organisers look forward to seeing you at the event and good luck to all ticket holders. Contact Jen Maddison on 01981 500048 for further information about the club.

OPEN GARDENS DAY - On June 7 the villages are hosting an open day of gardens. Ten gardens in Bredwardine and Brobury will be open from 11am until 5pm and you are cordially invited to stroll through them. Tickets are in the form of a map which will guide you around the villages, indicating the location of all open gardens. These can be obtained throughout the day from the orchard opposite The Red Lion in Bredwardine, price £5 for adults, children free; the ticket entitles you to entry to all gardens, some of which will be selling refreshments . All proceeds will go to St Andrew’s Church, Bredwardine, which is currently raising funds to install a new heating system.

For further information contact Charlotte Sellars on 01981 500281.

COFFEE, CAKE AND MARKET - There will be a coffee morning in Bredwardine village hall on June 13 from 10am until midday. This is a chance to meet up with old and new friends over coffee and cake.

Included in the market are a number of stalls selling fresh vegetables, home-baked cakes, jams and chutneys and organisers have regular visits from Noggins, a local pork butcher. Alongside this there are stalls selling arts and craft, music and films, knitwear and jewellery created by local artists. Bring along something to sell; it only costs £1 to rent a table for the market and everyone is welcome. Contact Philip Bauer on 01981 500398 with requests or queries.

FOOD DONATION BASKET - The Community Larder is Hereford’s Food Bank and provides bags of food to those in urgent need.

Every week this organisation gives emergency food parcels to families who find themselves in serious and sudden hardship.

There will be a basket for donations of tinned and dried food at the coffee cake and market events in the coming months. Please give generously. Contact Sarah Morgan on 01981 500501 for further details.

VILLAGE HALL TIDY-UP DAY - Volunteers are needed to lend a hand on June 14 when organisers work from 10am until 12 noon to give the village hall a spring clean, tidy and polish. The hall is used by many groups and for a wide range of functions and events so it is important to keep it looking its best. Please bring your own equipment and products as they don’t have enough for everyone. And of course, once the cleaning is done, relax with hot and cold refreshments, cake and biscuits. Contact Sarah Morgan on 01981 500501 for further details.

LOCAL CORRESPONDENT - If you have Bredwardine and Brobury news or events that you would like to appear in the County Times section of the Hereford Times, contact Kari Lawson on 01981 501077 or email karimlawson@ me.com.

Bridge Sollars

BONUS BALL – May 10 Malcolm Walker 46 won £25, May 17 Malcolm and Sheila Walker 25 won £25.

Coddington

NATIONAL GARDENS SCHEME – Local Garden. Phelps Cottage, Coddington, nr Ledbury. The garden will be open on Saturday and Sunday (1.30pm-5.30pm).

Plantsman’s 0.75acre cottage garden on different levels (some steps), mixed borders, terrace, wild areas, stream and bog garden, large fruit and vegetable potager with polytunnel. Teas and plants for sale.

Dymock

COMPANION DOG SHOW AND STRAWBERRY FAIR – Dymock’s annual companion dog show and strawberry fair will be held on the Wintour’s Green and in the parish hall on Sunday, from 1-5pm. The dog show commences at 2.30pm with entries on the green from 1.30pm. Entries are £1 per class with rosettes to sixth place.

As well as classes for pedigree dogs there are classes for dogs of any kind including the dog most like its owner and the dog with the waggiest tail. Skittles, tombola and other attractions will also be on the green.

Delicious strawberry teas, including the popular cream scones, will be available in the hall and jewellery, home-made cakes, second hand books and bric-a-brac will also be for sale. Enquiries call 01531 890453.

Hereford

CHURCH SERVICES – Tomorrow (Friday) 8.15am morning prayer and eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road; Sunday 9.30am parish mass at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate; 9:30am parish eucharist at St Michael’s Church, Breinton; 11am parish eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross; 1pm holy baptism at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross; 8am holy communion (BCP) at St Nicholas’ Church, Barton Road; 11am all age eucharist at St Nicholas’ Church, Barton Road; 6.30pm evensong at St Nicholas’ Church, Barton Road; Monday 8.15am morning prayer and eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road; Tuesday 8.15am morning prayer and eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road; 12.10pm low mass at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate; Wednesday 12.10pm mass with ashing at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate; 7.30pm mass with ashing at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate; 8.15am morning prayer and eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road; 7.30pm eucharist with ashing at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road; 7.30pm eucharist with ashing at St Nicholas’ Church, Barton Road; Thursday, June 5, 8.15am morning prayer and eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road; 10am holy communion at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road; 12.10pm low mass at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate.

HEARTSTART – Free two hour Heartstart Course (CPR etc) at The Starlite Rooms, Edgar Street, Hereford, June 24 from 7pm to 9pm.

Booking essential, to book your place e-mail info@herefordshireheartstart.co.uk or call 0845 60 60 654.

CROHN’S DANCE – Will be held on June 14 at Pengethley Manor Hotel from 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 and are available from Barclays Bank, Hereford. Cash only. Pig roast and live band Hot Climate.

All welcome. In aid of Crohn’s and Colitis UK Hereford Group.

Hope Under Dinmore

PLANT SALE – The plant sale on May 10 was very busy with plant lovers. Almost every plant was sold and it raised £105 for village hall upkeep. Many thanks to everyone who gave plants, especially Country Gardens of Wellington, whose colourful display brightened our stalls. Thanks also to Hampton Court for their very interesting contribution and to everyone who dug up plants from their garden or raised seeds.

Kimbolton

GRAND PLANT SALE - On Saturday at Kimbolton Church from 10.30am-4pm. There will be a wide variety of bedding, border, vegetable and herb plants for sale as well as tea, coffee and homemade cakes. All proceeds will be for church funds.

Kingsland

JENNY LEE TEA – At the Garden Tea Rooms Kingsland on Sunday from 3pm - 5pm. Marches Poets are hosting this fund raising event serving afternoon tea served with a poetry twist.

All money raised will be donated to the Jenny Lee Teas charity.

To book a seat or table phone 01544 267245 or e-mail mail@galliers.org.uk.

Kington

OPEN GARDEN – By permission of Mrs Srodzinski who is kindly opening her garden at Penrhos House, Kington, HR5 3LH, in support of St Michael’s Hospice.

Sunday from either 10.30am- 12.30pm or 1pm-3pm.

Entry strictly by ticket only, exclusively available from the community fundraising team at St Michael’s Hospice on 01432 851000.

Admission, adult £5 to include refreshments and children under 14 free.

Guide dogs only.

HEARTSTART – Free two hour Heartstart Course (CPR etc) at Kington Primary School at June 19 from 7pm to 9pm.

Booking essential, to book your place e-mail info@herefordshireheartstart.co.uk or call 0845 60 60 654.

KINGTON AND DISTRICT OPERATIC SOCIETY – Following a very successful panto production of Aladdin , KADOS is now busy with their summer concerts.

The Burton Hotel June 6 at 7.30pm, tickets £5 – Kington Past.

Llyswen and Boughrood community hall, June 21 at 7.30pm, tickets £5 – Summer Night at the Musicals.

St Michael’s Church, Discoed, June 27 at 7.30pm tickets £5.

For further information about the concerts for the summer, or if you would like to know more about KADOS, please contact Mrs Lynne Owens on telephone 01544 267253.

Knighton

PILGRIMAGE OF SONG 2014 - The 12th pilgrimage of song is taking place from tomorrow (Friday) to Sunday.

There will be some new pilgrims and many who have been coming for years.

Geoff Weaver from Knighton will prepare the singers who will then walk and sing informal acts of worship led by the Rev Annie Ballard at various locations along the way.

Some of the venues will be new this year and in Shropshire.

Everyone will be welcome to join the walkers at the services, which are followed by tea and cakes.

The weekends programme is as follows: Tomorrow (Friday), 11.30am, The Castle Mound, New Radnor.

12.30pm, St Mary’s church, New Radnor.

3.30pm The Hymns Farm Barn (between New and Old Radnor).

6.15pm St Stephen’s church, Old Radnor.

Saturday, 11.30am St Michael’s church, Stowe.

3.30pm, St Mary’s church, Chapel Lawn.

6pm, St Georges church, Clun.

Sunday, 10.30am, St Edward’s church, Knighton.

CHURCH SERVICES FOR SUNDAY - Knighton Methodist church 11am led by Mr W Dawson.

St Edward’s church, Knighton benefice service including holy communion led by the Revs Melia Cope and Petra Beresford-Webb.

Knighton Baptist church, 11am, all age worship with Traidcraft stall.

Knighton Catholic church, 11am, celebration of holy mass.

Llanbister

LLANBISTER WI - President Barbara Gayther welcomed 12 members to the May meeting.

Apologies were sent in and noted from Eunice, Marion and Olwen.

Barbara congratulated members who had entered exhibits in the WI open day held recently in Knighton.

The WI won the county shield for most points overall on the day and the millennium trophy for the table display.

Summer outings were then discussed.

The speaker for the evening was Peter Davies on the subject of glass engraving.

He explained how he put the design on to the glass and brought in many items he had done to show the members.

He was thanked by June Pettitt.

The raffle was won by Lil Lewis and competition results for a handmade card were: 1st Irene Goodman, 2nd Carol Thomas, 3rd Wendy Ranson.

Madley

MADLEY CLASSICS - June 21, Glebe Field, Madley, 10.30am - 4.30pm. It’s coming up to Classic Vehicle Show and Drive time again, to be held on June 21 in the Glebe Field by Madley Church.

Last year there was a circular drive up to the Castlefields Country Inn near Hay-on-Wye for lunch and back to the village in time for the church fete.

Tea and coffee will be available on arrival, and although there will be no entry fee, donations will be welcome and go towards village charities and the Midlands Air Ambulance.

If you have any queries, feel free to phone either Colin Barratt on 01981 250108 or Dave and Joan Williamson 01981 250436.

PARISH COUNCIL – The annual meeting was held on May 6, in the parish hall and Cllr Pete Hince was re-elected as chairman and Cllr Ian Clelland was re-elected as vice-chair.

There had again been problems with alcohol being consumed at the recreation field, which is an alcohol free zone.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday at 7.15pm in the parish hall. All welcome.

FOOTBALL – Madley parish council, in partnership with Herefordshire Football Association are organising some red V blue five-a-side community football matches on June 7, at Madley recreation field.

Anyone can play, whatever ability or age and you don’t have to be from Madley - all teams are welcome.

If you would like to enter a team, please contact Carla Boyles on clerk@madley.org.uk or 01432 271209.

Mansel Lacy

TABLE TOP SALE – There will be a table top sale in the community hall at Mansel Lacy on June 7, from 10am to 12pm.

If you would like to book a table, please contact Cal Edwards on 01981 590625, as soon as possible.

Mordiford

VOLUNTARY CLEANERS - At a Parochial Church Council meeting held in Mordiford Church on April 28, members felt that they may have been considered as both ageist and sexist when choosing the voluntary cleaners for the church.

This is definitely not the case and they would very much welcome both male and female younger members to join the team.

It is not arduous and involves no more than two hours for two people each week for a month on a roster system.

If you can spare the time do come and join the group.

You will be very welcome.

Contact one of the church wardens: E Moss on 01432 870629 or J Hereford on 01432 870268.

Much Birch

CHOIR PERFORMANCE - The Rhayader and District Male Voice Choir, with popular soloist Jayne Swann, is returning to Much Birch church once again to give an enjoyable concert in aid of Much Birch church funds.

Tickets are £8.50 to include refreshments and an afterglow of informal singing in the community hall afterwards.

Bar available. For tickets please ring 01981 540980 or 07787 532720.

Presteigne

FULL CIRCLE – There is a music festival - Full Circle at a stunning location that can only be reached on the free hourly run bus service from Presteigne on June 7 from midday until midnight.

There are a host of top bands playing including Moishes Bagel, The Destroyers, My Baby, Little Rumba, Your Dad, Black Rapids, Lori Campbell, Little Moon, Cloudier Skies plus many more.

Tickets for the event are £30 and can be purchased from The Workshop Gallery or from Courtyard Antiques in the High Street.

You can also purchase tickets from the website for £32 at http:// www.fullcirclefestival.co.uk/.

ANNIVERSARY – There is an illustrated presentation by Roger Curtis inspired by the personal diaries of a British officer and his “ducks” entitled To The Far Shore- Operation Overload, June 1944 at St Andrews Church on June 6 at 7.30pm.

The talk will cover how Hitler was fooled, how Rommel’s Atlantic wall was breached and how 91,000 fighting men led the battle for Europe. Admission will be £5 at the door with proceeds going to Disability Powys.

SERVICES – The following services will take place this Sunday.

Holy communion at St Andrews at 8am and a family service at 11am.

Morning prayer at 9.30am at Lingen and holy communion at Knill, also at 9.30am. Everyone is most welcome.

ARTS AND CRAFTS – The monthly arts and crafts will take place on Saturday at The Assembly Rooms from 9.30am – 3.30pm.

All the stalls are by local artists showing their own work.

Refreshments will be available.

For further details call Rosamund on 260777.

DRIVERS REQUIRED – Presteigne and Norton Community Support require volunteer drivers urgently to help local people with no alternative means to get to various health appointments. If you can spare a few hours a week please call 267961 or call in at The Drill Hall in Hereford Street.

AGM – Presteigne Football Club are holding their AGM at their clubhouse on June 10 at 7.30pm.

New and old faces are welcome.

This AGM will be followed by the social club AGM.

OPEN DAY – Presteigne Primary School are holding an open day for perspective and current parents and all members of the community. You are welcome next Thursday, June 5 from 10am - 12 noon or from 1.30pm – 3.30pm.

MARKET – The monthly farmers market takes place Saturday at the Memorial Hall from 9.30am – 1.30pm. All the usual stalls will be there for the bargains.

MUSIC – DJ Rockin Eddie will be playing at The Royal British Legion Club on June 7 from 8pm till late. Eddie will be playing 50s rock and roll and 60s and 70s music. Admission is free and everyone is most welcome.

VINTAGE SHOW – This year’s annual Presteigne and Norton Vintage Car and Motorcycle Show will take place on June 15 at Wentes Meadow from 10.30am - 4.30pm. Admission will be £3 for adults with children free. All the proceeds from the gate or any donations will go to the Air Ambulance.

There will be refreshments, auto jumble and refreshments plus lots more. For further details call David Critchley on 260777.

WAREHOUSE – The Presteigne Charity Warehouse is now well and truly up and running next to the old launderette in The High Street.

Your unwanted items of furniture are still needed. House clearances can be accommodated. Pick up of goods can also be done. For further details call Gordon on 267988.

MUSIC - Yvonne Milligan, female vocalist from Stars In Their Eyes and local guitarist/singer Mark Brown will be performing at Courthouse Farm in Byton on June 7 from 7.30pm.

Tickets are £15 and can be purchased from Winnies or by calling Ray/Di on 267833.

DRIVERS - Presteigne and Norton Community Support need volunteer drivers urgently to help local people with no alternative means to get to various health appointments. Drivers reimbursed at 45p a mile. Please ring 01544 267961 for more information.

Stoke Lacy

OPEN GARDENS – Nine very different village gardens in and around Stoke Lacy will be open to the public on June 7 and 8 from 12 noon till 5.30pm. Visitors are asked to start at the church, where there will be tea and cakes and a warm welcome accompanied by a garden location map and a guided tour of Netherwood – the village millenium wood. The cost will be £4 per head, with children admitted free. There will be a plant sale at the church (which will receive all the proceeds) and lunches can be purchased at the nearby Plough Inn.

CORRESPONDENT – Martin Field, The Old School House, Burley Gate, 01432 820074, commnews@ymail.com.

Thruxton

OPEN GARDEN – Saturday and Sunday, in aid of National Gardens Scheme. The Old Rectory, Thruxton, HR2 9AX. Home made teas, plants for sale. Entry £3.50, children welcome, and free.

KINGSTONE AND THRUXTON GROUP PARISH COUNCIL – The parish council has embarked on process of producing Neighbourhood Plan covering both parishes, assisted by Kirkwells, firm of planning consultants. One of the first steps is to establish a steering committee to oversee the production of this plan. Parish council are looking for volunteers from both villages.

Likely to take 18 months to complete the plan, including appropriate consultation with residents of both villages. If you are interested in joining steering committee or helping in other ways, contact Rachel Craine, parish clerk, rlcraine@tiscali.co.uk or e-mail kingpar@outlook.com

Wellington

MEETING – The annual parish meeting will take place next Thursday, May 29, at 7.30pm in the main hall at the school and community centre. The responses to the Community Led Parish Plan will be presented and everyone will have the opportunity to look at displays on these in detail after the meeting. The parish council will give a presentation on Neighbourhood Development Planning, the position in Wellington so far and outline some of the future ways of preparing the Wellington plan.

Woolhope

FARMERS’ MARKET – In the village hall on Saturday from 10am- 12.30pm. All the usual local providers will be attending, except blade sharpening. In the entrance of the hall is Fathers Shed Furniture and Upholstery along with Feird Objects of Desire specialising in bespoke upholstery, reworked vintage and antique furnishing, loose covers, curtains and blinds and individually designed lighting. Everything is designed and produced within their studios in the Forest of Dean and Monmouth. Both Jonathan and Andy take on commission work to, at very competitive prices and are very happy to pop out and give you a quote for your re-upholstery, curtaining or blinds. Flanfayre, run by Judi Whistance provides the market with delicious savoury flans each month. She has been attending the market for nearly seven years.

The flans consist of a selection of flavours changing with the seasons using home grown and locally sourced ingredients as much as possible. There are vegetarian and meat options to appeal to every taste. Small flans are available at the market, larger sizes can be ordered for parties and events.

Contact 07816 561768.

Refreshments. All welcome.

Bishopswood WI

TWENTY-FOUR members attended the May meeting at Bishopswood village hall on May 9. The meeting opened as usual with Jerusalem . This was followed by the business meeting. It was explained that as this meeting was to discuss the WI resolutions, there was to be no speaker, but members would have their annual quiz. President Ann Jones told of events that were coming up.

Cicely Symonds then read out the resolution which was that the WI were to encourage everyone to carry a donor card and to support organ donation as 3000 people die every year for want of organ donation. She also explained that Alison Kinder, one of the group’s members, was a recipient of a new kidney and had given a very good talk and insight into the problems faced by a person with a failing kidney. Members then voted on the resolution which was carried unanimously with two abstentions.

The minutes were confirmed as correct and signed. It was noted therein what a wonderful talk members had last month by speaker David Emerson on ‘A life in professional theatre’. Many people wanted to know if he had a sequel to the talk.

Tea was served and then members settled down for the quiz. This was devised by Julia and Malcolm Brain. There was much rivalry and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all participants. It was won by The Laughing Cavaliers, second were The Kernels.

The next meeting is on June 13 at 6.30pm. This will be an open meeting and all visitors are asked to attend at 7pm. Cost for visitors will be £2. The subject is Hospice Angels, tales of fund raising on motorbikes. It promises to be a very interesting talk and the charity is St Michael’s Hospice. All friends, partners are welcome – the more the merrier.

Leominster and District U3A

ENTHUSIASTIC gardeners snapped up bargains at the recent plant sale which raised £98 towards speakers’ fees and expenses. Chairman Anthea Lock announced several study groups to be held at Cirencester, Shrewsbury and Brecon during the summer. She paid tribute to Peter Ellis, retiring editor of the Knot newsletter, and appealed again to members for a volunteer replacement.

Deborah Jarman gave details of Leominster Museum’s forthcoming exhibition Rifles and Spades to commemorate the First World War. David Hughes then described the skills and hazards of the slate mining industry in North Wales.

Despite arduous travel and working conditions the miners were known for their sense of humour, comradeship and love of music.

Twenty five local quarry brass bands competed for prestige, travelling to competitions as far as Manchester and London, one band famously entertaining Queen Victoria during a royal visit. The few remaining quarries still produce slates for roofing and gutters, fencing, gravestones, hardcore and a range of ornaments, while powdered slate is used in some cosmetics.

At the next meeting on June 17 Joy Ardy will speak on My Life in Teaching. Visitors welcome - £2.

High sheriff speaks for Vaga Probus Club

AT Vaga Probus Club’s meeting on May 13, there was a talk by Major Patrick Darling on his role as the High Sheriff of Herefordshire.

Before explaining his role, Patrick gave a the membership and their wives a brief background to his earlier life and subsequent career in the Army and beyond. He was born in Perth, Western Australia, and raised in Northern Ireland, educated at Harrow, Edinburgh University and the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, where he was awarded the Silver Medal as the best potential farmer.

He served as an officer in the15th/19th The Kings Royal Hussars, later the Light Dragons from 1981 to 1998 before moving to Sellack, Carradoc Farm near Ross-on-Wye, where he now farms. His army career included tours of Bosnia in command of a squadron during the Civil War and a military adviser to the former Swedish prime minister and high representative of Bosnia after the war. Patrick’s interests are wide and varied and involve supporting a considerable variety of groups and organisations throughout Herefordshire.

He came across to the membership as a caring individual with strong Christian beliefs which manifested particularly while serving with the military in Bosnia where he did his best to create a path to peace between the Muslim/Croat/Serb populations.

Patrick continued by describing the history of the office of high sheriff, before answering the questions about his role as high sheriff. And indeed where do these fit in with the many other similar roles, for example, the police commissioner/lord lieutenant and members of the judiciary’s role in society, as it is only natural that the general public could be somewhat unclear on the relationships of these multiple functions. In fact, with some members of the public, perhaps on a more humorous note, conjuring up images of the Wild West with six gun-toting sheriffs enforcing the law, Patrick explained in detail how these different organisations all work in unison for the good of all Herefordians, but again this equally applies to all the 55 high sheriffs serving the counties of England and Wales. The duties include attendance at royal visits in the county and support for Her Majesty’s high court judges when on circuit, giving active support to the police and the emergency services, to the probation and prison services and to other agencies involved with crime prevention, particularly among young people.

The Probus Club president thanked Major Darling for his talk and all were most appreciative of the dedicated and demanding role he undertakes.