Kington

COMMON -- Consultation on events held recently in the Kington area, to consider common land at Hergest Ridge, Bradnor Hill, Herrock Hill and Rushock Common and Dingle, were a real success, says Common Heritage, the first news letter of the Community Commons Project. The project, a partnership led by the Herefordshire Nature Trust and English Nature, is exploring the value of local commons, the problems that face them and the practical ways in which it can help local people to protect and enhance the commons' wildlife.

CANCER -- A total of £8,187 has been raised last year by the efforts of members of Macmillan Cancer Relief's Kington and District Committee, and their friends and supporters. This was raised mainly at their annual autumn fayre, the Macmillan coffee mornings, a whist drive and a beetle drive, members were told at their annual meeting last week. After serving as treasurer for 15 years, Albert Smith stepped down and was thanked for giving his services to the committee over such a long period, and to great effect. Succeeding him to such an important post is Jill Allford. Officers elected: Major Bernard May, president; Win Dowdeswell, chairman; Jill Allford, treasurer; Dorothy Pritchard, secretary. The committee was re-elected en bloc, with the addition of new members Margaret Goode and Betty Williams.

WHIST -- The first whist drive in a series of three for the Harold Watkins cup was held at the Parish House, with Mr P. Watkins as MC. He thanked everyone for their support, especially Bryn and Eileen Thomas, and went on to win the highest score in the room prize.

CAVALRY -- Military historian and author Duncan Noble was the speaker at the February meeting of the Kington History Society, and the subject of his talk was the development of cavalry during the century between the Battle of Waterloo (1815) and the outbreak of the 1st world war (1914).