Abbeydore

ALMSHOUSE VACANCY – A single-bedroomed self-contained William Hoskyns almshouse in Kingstone will be available from March 1, 2015. The almshouse is for single occupancy by a person of retirement age with either a Kingstone or Abbeydore local connection. For more information, contact Malcolm Walker at Tryonor, 42 Green Lane, Kingstone, Hereford HR2 9EX.

Call 01981 259973 or email parishclerkmw@btinternet.com.

Aymestrey and Leinthall Earls

CHURCH SERVICES – On Christmas Day there will be Holy Communion service at Leinthall Earls at 8am and Family Communion at Aymestrey at 11am.

On Sunday there will be a Benefice Service at 11am at Kingsland.

On January 4 there will be a service of Holy Communion at 11am at Aymestrey.

FILM CLUB – On Sunday at 3pm there will be a free showing in Aymestrey Parish Hall of the Christmas family favourite It’s a Wonderful Life (PG). Home-made ice cream and popcorn will be served.

QUIZ NIGHT – The first quiz night of 2015 takes place on January 9 at 8pm. Teams of up to four members at £5 with a cash prize for the wining team.

Refreshments will be available in the interval and contestants are welcome to bring their own beverages.

Bishopstone

VILLAGE LOTTERY – Heather Kennard won £25 with number 36 on December 13.

POWER SUPPLY – Electricity power supply company men have been working in the village to try and solve a fluctuating power problem to properties in the centre of the village. After three days it is still not certain if they have been successful.

Bishopswood WI – Bishopswood WI met on December 12 at 2.30pm. Twenty five members were present. We opened the meeting with Jerusalem as usual, unaccompanied as the piano was hidden by the Christmas tree. The president, Ann Jones took the short business meeting, followed by tea.

Our speaker, Lena Dyche, a Swedish WI member living in Monmouth, woke us all up by introducing herself in Swedish, proving we all knew some Swedish words as there are some similarities. Sweden is almost double the size of the UK, but has a population of 9-10 million, the same as London. There they have no problems with snow clearance as in autumn all the farmers take their tractors to depots in the towns, keeping just one at the farm. When snow falls they report to the depots and the snow is cleared before anyone has to go to work in the morning. As Lena pointed out, they do know that snow will fall each year, unlike us.

She went on to describe Swedish Christmas customs, beginning with Advent which is very important there. Every house will have lights in all the triple-glazed windows and no curtains are drawn to hide them. The feast of St Lucia, who comes to brighten life, is celebrated on December 13. All schools, churches, towns and villages have their own Lucia who wears a crown of lit candles – no health and safety concerns there.

Christmas is celebrated on December 24 with a meal of pickled herring (up to 20 varieties), meatballs and the Swedish favourite, Janssen’s Temptation, layers of onions, potatoes and anchovies with cream. Father Christmas visits each house openly, not coming in the night down the chimney. It took Lena a long time to realise why he always came just after her father had to go out to fetch the newspaper. He always missed the great event.

Finally, one very strange custom – since the 1950s at 3pm on Christmas Eve everyone watches old Disney cartoons on TV. They are the same cartoons every year, except for one which is changed providing a subject for much guesswork.

Mrs Julie Eglinton thanked Lena for her very interesting talk. The competition winner was Sue Colwall, with Kathy Hargest and Sue Jackson second and third.

The meeting closed at 4.30pm.

The next meeting is the lunch at the ROFD college, Berry Hill on January 16 at 12 noon.

Bodenham

THE BODENHAM CHAPEL – On Christmas Day, instead of the regular Thursday morning Café at the Chapel in Chapel Lane, there will be a service of Christmas day prayer, starting at 10.30am.

Everyone is welcome. The next Café at The Chapel will be on January 8, at the normal time.

Details from Dave Hill by calling 01568 797531.

THE PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE – The committee will meet in the hall at 7.30pm on January 7.

Anyone wishing to attend or who would like to get involved in any of the activities held at the hall will be made very welcome.

Further details are available from the secretary, Mrs Bowden, by calling on 01568 797868.

PARISH COUNCIL – The next parish council meeting will be at the Siward James centre at 7.30pm on January 5. All parishioners are welcome to attend.

TRAVELS WITH A CAMERA – The next Travels with a Camera event will be on January 9 at 7.30pm and will feature A Tour of Two Towns.

CORRESPONDENT – Martin Field, The Old School House, Burley Gate, HR1 3QR. Call 01432 820074. Email commnews@ymail.com.

Breinton

PARISH COUNCIL – Ward councillor Bob Matthews advised the meeting that the planning application for 73 dwellings at Kings Acre Halt lies within the corridor for the proposed western relief road which is protected within the Core Strategy. There is further consultation with the agents of the applicant over this. The same applies for the planning application at the property at Veldifer.

Lorraine Lewis advised the meeting that the village hall management committee is seeking new volunteers to help in running the village hall. Please contact the village hall committee www.breintonhall.btck.co.uk if you are able to help.

Councillors agreed on Breinton Parish Council’s share of council tax for the year 2015/16. There are three significant issues that have impacted on a sizeable increase next year. The extended Lengthsman scheme means that the Parish Council can receive an extra grant from Herefordshire Council providing it matches these funds. The benefit of the scheme does mean that the Parish Council will assume the responsibility to repair some small potholes when they arise, rather than wait for Balfour Beatty to prioritise them within the needs of the rest of the county. It should mean quicker repairs and thereby prevent further deterioration in the potholes and road surface.

Another impact on the precept is the ending of the grant used to finance the Neighbourhood Plan.

Any unspent grant received from locality has to be returned at the end of December. This may be as much as £1000. The Parish Council have recently submitted the draft plan to Herefordshire Council for environmental consultation, before a formal six- week consultation with all residents and other stakeholders scheduled to start in February. If adopted, the Neighbourhood Plan will allow Breinton residents to have some control over the development within the parish.

Unfortunately, following withdrawal of the grant, funding to complete the plan will have to be met from the precept. As you know there will be national and parish elections in May 2015. The exact cost of this for Breinton Parish is as yet unknown, but could be in excess of £1,100.

Breinton councillors have built a small reserve to cover part of this expense, and will utilise this reserve and will meet any additional amounts necessary to cover the cost of the election from balances. Hopefully, the reserve can be rebuilt through the precept for the following years. The Parish Council’s share of the total council tax for the current year is £8,300. For 2015/16, it will be increased to £10,600, being an increase of some 27%. A Band D household in Breinton currently pays £20.43 per year for the precept, so this will increase to £26.20 per year, or about 48 pence a month. Local councillors believe that the benefits from this increase will be seen by all Breinton residents in the year ahead.

Bridge Sollars

BONUS BALL – Bon Morgan won £25 with number 36 on December 13.

Brockhampton

CAROL SERVICE – Christmas Eve, 6.30pm, All Saints Church.

Eardisley

WHIST DRIVE – At this months whist drive at the new strand the winners were the prize winners were: Peggy Lloyd, Jean Chant, Dot Doody, Mary Layton, Keith Horten, Elwyn Prosser, Janet Davies and Rona Jenkins.

The next whist drive is on Monday at 7.30pm. A merry Christmas and happy New Year to all our whist players.

Evenjobb

FLICKS IN THE STICKS – Gravity (12A), Monday 7.30pm, Evenjobb village hall. Tickets: adults £4, under 16s £3.

Refreshments will be available.

For more information telephone 01547 560021. Email christianne@kyreoak.co.uk

Hereford

CHURCH SERVICES – For Sunday, 11am Team Eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross.

Tuesday 12.10pm Low Mass at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate. New Year’s Eve 12.10pm Low Mass at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate.

Kingstone

ALMSHOUSE VACANCY – A single-bedroomed self-contained William Hoskyns almshouse in Kingstone will be available from March 1 2015. The almshouse is for single occupancy by a person of retirement age with either a Kingstone or Abbeydore local connection. For more information, contact Malcolm Walker at Tryonor, 42 Green Lane, Kingstone, Hereford HR2 9EX. Tel 01981 259973 or email parishclerkmw@btinternet.com

Knighton

ROTARY CLUB – Knighton and District Rotary Club had a quiet month in November with only two events – speaker Jeff Hobden, from our Rotary District, about the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) and one of our enjoyable quiz and supper nights at the Baron in Bucknell. Jeff was an inspiring speaker, explaining: “RYLA is based around a camp for young people 16-18 years old that teaches team working and leadership skills through a wide range of challenging activities.” Our Rotary Club will be offering places to two young local people for the 2015 camp, either from the Leintwardine Youth Group or from the Powys Young Carers group. You can read more about RYLA at District 1150 RYLA as well as about other youth activities Rotary is involved in. Your support is invaluable and we will continue to help our local community next year. And at this juncture we would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a successful and enjoyable 2015. More at knighton.rotary1150.org. Come to any of our Wednesday meetings.

For more contact Norman Thorp on (01547) 529666 or Cathy Jones on (07813) 733240 email cathleenj2001@yahoo.co.uk.

CHURCH SERVICES FOR SUNDAY – St David’s church, Whitton 10.30am benefice service with carols; Knighton Baptist church 11am; Knighton Catholic church 11am.

Much Dewchurch

NEW YEARS EVE PARTY – At Much Dewchurch village hall. £5 per adult, buffet supper and entertainment. Bring your own drink.

Margaret 01981 540688, Molly 01981 541332.

Ocle Pychard and Much Cowarne

MEN WANTED – The women who have cleaned up Much Cowarne Church on a rota basis for a number of years are now finding it difficult to continue. Any men who would be prepared to volunteer and join the cleaning team are asked to contact Stamford Cartright on 01531 0640608. Full training given and volunteers welcomed.

Presteigne

LIBRARY - The library is closed over the festive period and will re open on January 2. The staff wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

POLICE SURGERIES - From the new year the local police are to hold surgeries at the library on Saturdays. The first one will take place on January 10 from 10am - 11am. It will be an opportunity for you to come along along and speak to your local police team and discuss any views about your community or just have a chat.

FOOTBALL - If you are at a loose end on Boxing Day then why not pop down to Llanandras Park and watch Presteigne play Knighton in the local derby in The Spar Mid Wales League Division Two match. Kick off is 2.30pm and any support would be welcome. The bar will be open after the match.

NEW YEARS EVE - The New Years Eve party at The Assembly Rooms is sold out. Sorry!

MARKET - The first market of 2015 will take place on January 3 at The Memorial Hall from 9.30am - 1.30pm. All welcome.

SERVICE - The following services will take place this week.

Christmas Eve there is a crib service at St Andrews Church at 5pm and Holy Communion at 11pm.

There is also Holy Communion service in Lingen at 9.30pm. Then on Christmas day there is holy communion at Knill at 9am, a morning service at Discoed at 9.15am, Holy Communion at Kinsham at 10am and a short family service at St Andrews at 11.15am. Then on Sunday there is a group Holy Communion in St Andrews at 11am.

MUSIC - Local band Sons of Yoda will be playing at The Football Club on Saturday from 7.30pm.

Admission is free and everyone is most welcome.

DRIVERS REQUIRED - Presteigne and Norton Community Support are still in need of volunteer drivers. Can you spare a couple of hours a week to help take the needy to hospital appointments etc? If so please pop into the community support office or call 267961.

Ross-on-Wye

VAGA PROBUS CLUB - Peter Weeks, a member of Vaga, introduced this presentation with a selection of poems and verses and their meaning to our everyday life/existence. These were given by himself and other members who in turn read out extracts of poetry and verse in which they all felt and expressed the human understanding of regard for their fellow men.

Peter, himself an ex-soldier of Colonel rank in the Parachute Regiment, well understood this and wrote poetry as a form of expression.

The works of several well known poets including Wilfred Owen, William Yeates, Rudyard Kipling, Dylan Thomas, Marriott Edgar, Thomas Hood and John Masefield were read out and their interpretation by the participating members explained; for example, our Treasurer read out extracts from Rudyard Kipling in which he felt his writings inspired him to better understand human behaviour and the sanctity of human life.

Further readings from members on Dylan Thomas, a 100 year anniversary, ie Poems under Milkwood; and sonnets by our local poet laureate, John Masefield, who was happy to leave London in spite of the well known saying “When one is tired of London, one is tired of life.”

Another member read out a very amusing monologue of the works of Marriott Edgar, the Albert and the Lion performed years ago by Stanley Holloway. He did this in such a dedicated accentuated northern accent to bring out the pathos of the situation. This monologue is available in full on the web under Albert and the Lion.

This caused great hilarity and some members thought perhaps he had chosen the wrong path in life. Another member referred to comments by William Yeates, who though as a First World War fighter pilot stated that “Those I fight, I do not hate”. This led on to another incident in the Second World War, when a German pilot swooped in for the kill on a badly damaged American bomber, which was attempting to fly home on a wing and a prayer. But on observing the damaged bomber and the injured crew, looking helplessly at him, the German pilot decided in the course of humanity, to cease the attack, waved, saluted and turned away, allowing the crew to reach home base safely. Some years later the crew managed to identify the German pilot and a meeting of thanksgiving was arranged.

Peter then summed up the proceedings, thanking all for their contributions. Following this, rather hilariously, members recited their versions of Vaga Club anecdotes by laughing at themselves; eg “There was a man from Vaga, whilst talking to his father, said why not read Saga, whereupon the father replied I prefer a pint of lager,” which spurned many other such quips from members, until the president intervened and said: “Enough hilarity, gentlemen”. After this he warmly thanked Peter and the membership for rising to the occasion which provided the very entertaining presentations.

Stretton Sugwas

BREINTON RINGCRAFT SOCIETY - The final match of 2014 and Best Dog of the Year on December 10, was judged by Jacki Evans (Zaydah).

Jacki grew up with Airedales and dachshunds, and bought her first show dog, an Afghan hound, in the 1970s. Afghans were soon joined by Shelties and Briards. In 1978, the first Hungarian Puli joined the household and she has continued exclusively with Pulis until last year when she added one of their distant cousins, a Hungarian Pumi. She first gave CCs in Pulis in 1988 and had the honour of judging the breed at Crufts.

Jacki selected Carolyne Scott’s miniature smooth haired dachshund - Danton Mr Brown at Wolferlow for Best Puppy and Best in Match and Kathy George’s Glen of Imaal Terrier - Romainville Maggie May for Reserve Best Puppy. Best Veteran was Mary Hughes Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Jordanic Italia Evydal and Reserve Veteran was Amy Baranzeck’s long coated Chihuahua - Coltham Painted Rascal at Capevidle. Best Adult and was Mandy Devereux’s Lhasa Apso - Dimara Real Riot at Belazieth and Reserve Adult was Pam Wooden’s golden retriever - Salako Heart of Gold.

The match was followed by a Christmas buffet, raffle and a hotly contested fancy dress competition ranging from Christmas pudding pugs, angelic Chihuahuas and Santa dachshunds. The deserving winner was Val Jones’s rottweilers and terriers dressed as Snow White and the seven dwarves.

All the match winners throughout the year then competed for Best Dog of the Year. Jacki selected Christine Butler’s Gordon Setter - Yennadon Lochann at Rubymoon for Best Puppy of the Year and Best Dog of the Year.

Best Veteran of the Year was Christine Staff ’s flat coated retriever - Bonnyhilbrae True Sapphire and Best Adult of the Year was Mandy Devereux’s Lhasa Apso - Dimara Real Riot at Belazieth.

Photos of the winners from the night are on www.breintonringcraft.co.uk

Pam Wooden’s Golden Retriever - Salako Heart of Gold won 1st in Junior at the Midland Counties Show. Christine Butler’s Gordon Setter - Yennadon Lochan at Rubymoon won Best Puppy Dog at the Setter and Pointer Club Show.

At Stroud Open Show, Jeanette Shepherd’s golden retriever - Beaujean Ambassador was Best of Breed.

Ringcraft is each Wednesday at Stretton Sugwas village hall 7.45pm-9pm. Ringcraft will resume January 7 and the next match is on January 21. Call Jeanette Shepherd 01544 327117 or Anthony Brooks 01568 770476.

Christmas and New Year pharmacy opening hours

Asda Pharmacy, Belmont Road, Hereford, closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day 9am-6pm, New Year’s Day 10am-4pm.

Boots The Chemist, 12/13 High Street, Hereford, closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day 9am- 5pm, New Year’s Day 10am-4pm.

Hereford Pharmacy, 96 Grandstand Road, Hereford, Christmas Day 12 noon - 1pm, closed Boxing Day , closed New Year’s Day.

Sainsbury’s Pharmacy, Barton Yard, Hereford, closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day 10am-5pm, New Year’s Day 10am-5pm.

Boots The Chemist, 9 High Street, Ledbury, closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day 10am-4pm, closed New Year’s Day.

Westfield Walk Pharmacy, Westfield Walk, Leominster, Christmas Day 11am-12 noon, closed Boxing Day, New Year’s Day 11am-12 noon.

Leominster Pharmacy, 21/23 West Street, Leominster, closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day 11am - 12 noon, closed New Year’s Day.

Benjamin’s Pharmacy, The Community Hospital, Ross-on- Wye, Christmas Day 12 noon-1pm, closed Boxing Day, closed New Year’s Day.

Boots The Chemist, 5 Market Place, Ross-on-Wye, closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day 10am- 4pm, closed New Year’s Day.

Lloyds Pharmacy, Pendeen Surgery, Ross-on-Wye, closed Christmas Day, closed Boxing Day, New Year’s Day 12 noon - 1pm.

Correction

IN a recent County Times article about the presentation of a new defibrillator to Shobdon Aerodrome, Diane Pearson was reported as being from Herefordshire Heartstart, she is in fact a member of the West Midlands Ambulance Service.