Allensmore

CHRISTMAS LUNCH - The village Christmas lunch was held at the beginning of December with 52 people sitting down to a traditional Christmas roast dinner, a variety of desserts, followed by entertainment, coffee and mince pies. A grand total total of £630 was raised from this event for St Andrew’s Church. Many thanks and appreciation to all those who contributed to the dinner. We are extremely grateful to those who give, purchase, cook, serve, wash up, provide entertainment and attend the occasion. What a privilege to live in Allensmore.

Almeley

WHIST DRIVE - The next whist drive will be Tuesday at 7.30pm in the village hall.

VILLAGE LUNCH - January 11, 12.30 for 1pm, £9.50 for three courses, including tea or coffee. Booking essential by January 7 on 01544 340658. Bar available.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - Will be showing Chewing the Cud, memories from Hereford’s old livestock market, in the village hall at 4pm on January 17, followed by a curry supper. Film ticket £4, but please book for curry supper which will be £4 on 01544 327195 or 01544 340658. Bar available.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - Presents Belle (12A), 7.30pm in the village hall on January 22. Ticket £4, bar available, cabaret seating, warm hall, ample parking.

Belle is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Gugu Mbatha- Raw), the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Captain.

Raised by her aristocratic great- uncle Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife (Emily Watson), Belle’s lineage affords her certain privileges, yet the colour of her skin prevents her from fully participating in the traditions of her social standing. Left to wonder if she will ever find love, Belle falls for an idealistic young vicar’s son bent on change who, with her help, shapes Lord Mansfield’s role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England.

Aymestrey and Leinthall Earls

CHURCH SERVICES - On Sunday there will be a service of Holy Communion at 11am at Aymestrey.

January 11 is Plough Sunday and there will be a special service at Aymestrey Church at 9.30am. You are invited to come and join in this ancient service which traditionally marks the start of the farming year to include the blessing of the plough.

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.

FILM CLUB - Aymestrey Film Club starts the 2015 season on January 11 with a showing of the popular film Pride (15) starring Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West. Start time is 7pm and home-made ice creams and popcorn will be served.

Bartestree

BIG CAT TALK - Herefordshire Mammal Group will be hosting a talk by Rick Minter on feral cats in and around Herefordshire. Rick is the author of Big Cats - Facing Britain’s Wild Predators and works with the Big Cat Study at the Royal Agricultural University.

At least two witnesses will also be present to explain their encounter with a presumed big cat in Herefordshire. January 9, 7.30pm, Bartestree village hall, HR1 4BY.

Admission: members £4, non- members £5, including refreshments.

Bishops Frome and Fromes Hill

PARISH COUNCIL - Bishop’s Frome and Fromes Hill parish council will meet in the village centre at 7.30pm on January 13. All parishioners are welcome to attend.

Bishopstone

PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of Bishopstone Group Parish Council will take place at the New Bridge Community Centre on Thursday, January 8 at 7.30pm. Residents of the five parishes that make up the group are welcome to attend and to raise matters of local concern.

Bodenham

CAFÉ @ THE CHAPEL - The regular Thursday morning ‘Café at the Chapel’ in Chapel Lane will return on Thursday, January 8 from 10.30am to 12 noon. The café provides an opportunity for anyone to call in for an informal chat over a cup of tea, coffee etc on Thursday mornings. Everyone is welcome to stay for as long or as short a time as they wish. No charge is made for refreshments though donations are welcome and are given to a charity at the end of each year.

This is a joint venture between St Michael’s Church, Bodenham and Bodenham Christian Fellowship and is hosted by members from both churches (and other local residents). Details from Dave Hill on 01568 797531.

THE PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - The committee will meet in the Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday.

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 on 01568 797868.

PARISH COUNCIL - The next parish council meeting will be at the Siward James Centre at 7.30pm on Monday. 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’ (Tenby and Southwold) as presented by Brian Skinner. The presentation is in support of the Hope Carrier Trust. Further information from 01432 274724 or from art.

etheridge@gmail.com THE LEISURE CLUB - The Bodenham Leisure Club will meet in the parish hall at 1pm on January 12 when members will be served a soup and sweet lunch.

Bridge Sollars

COMMUNITY CENTRE FILM CLUB - The next film is The Love Punch (PG), a comedy set on the Cote d’Azur starring Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson. At New Bridge Community centre.

Centre, Saturday at 7.15pm, admission £5 to include draw and light refreshments. For further details contact John on 01981 590620.

Dinedor

DINEDOR HERITAGE GROUP – Will be giving an illustrated talk entitled The Credenhill Roman Families Project by Chris Atkinson. This is funded by the MOD Armed Forces Community Covenant. At Dinedor Village Hall on Tuesday commencing at 7.30pm. Admission: members £3, non-members £5.

Hay-on-Wye

BELL BANK CLUB - Maddie is in excellent form and has entered the festive spirit by attending the grandson’s Christmas concert in Hay Primary School. She has an MOT at the vet’s this month, so fingers crossed.

We welcomed David Bennet a member of the Hay Historical Group recently when he reminded what has always been a well known feature of the town the amount of public houses there had been many years ago. He told what the group did and how he had done a lot of research into the town by old newspapers etc. Gas light was turned on in the town in 1841 and the population was then 1,603 and there were 18 public houses. Jones the ironmongers now was the office for the Treasury in the 18th century and premises for cock fighting and a public house too. When illegitimate babies died, their inquests would be held in one of the many public houses. He told of a man arrested in 1834 for drinking who was put into St John’s with a pig!

Several people from the town were transported to Australia and David is researching into 10 people regarding this. It was a very interesting and enlightening afternoon and he will visit again.

On November 11 members were invited to a lunch held in the Rugby Club Brecon to commemorate the 100 years of the War by Terry Otterwell himself as a comrade. The Rev David Jenkins commenced with a prayer. As we remembered, we joined together in a meal where we gave thanks.

Terry asked everyone to close their eyes and go on a journey with him over the Welsh border travelling down the Thames Valley across London Bridge and past the Tower of London surrounded by 16 acres of red poppies, the last of which was planted that morning at 11am. Terry gave a wonderful speech and gave everyone something to think about.

Members one afternoon went on a trip to the Hop Pocket with Margaret MIller who is secretary for Llanigon WI. It was a damp but warm day in August and was a new venue for her as she had not visited this shopping village before. It is situated in the Hereford to Worcester road and, apart from the shops it has a restaurant.

It has been nicknamed Aladdin’s cave or Little Harrods as it has lots of items and I wish I could write more as it sounds a very worthwhile place to visit.

The Bell Bank Club offers an opportunity for blind and partially-sighted people to get together and support each other.

They meet every Thursday from 2pm - 4pm in the parish hall, Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye.

Call Eileen on 01497 820897.

Hereford

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT - John Jones, Leader of BID looks at improving our city.

January 15, 7pm refreshments for a 7.30pm start. Kindle Centre, by ASDA, Belmont, Hereford, HR2 7JE.

SERVICES FROM THE WEST HEREFORD TEAM OF CHURCHES - Sunday, 9.30am Parish Mass at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate, Hereford; 9.30am Parish Eucharist at St Michael’s Church, Breinton; 11am Parish Eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross, Hereford; 8am Holy Communion (BCP) at St Nicholas’ Church, Hereford; 11am All Age Eucharist at St Nicholas’ Church, Hereford.

Monday, 8.15am Morning Prayer and Eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road, Hereford.

Tuesday, January 6, 8.15am Morning Prayer and Eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road, Hereford; 12.10pm Low Mass at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate, Hereford.

January 7, 8.15am Morning Prayer and Eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road, Hereford; 12.10pm Low Mass at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate, Hereford.

January 8, 8.15am Morning Prayer and Eucharist at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road, Hereford; 10am Holy Communion at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Road, Hereford; 12.10pm Low Mass at All Saints’ Church, Eign Gate, Hereford.

Ledbury

LEDBURY ROTARY - John Greedy received the highest honour from the Ledbury Rotary Club when president Mark Waller presented him with a sapphire Paul Harris jewel for his outstanding work in connection with the tackling diabetes through the Footcare Project.

It was during a trip to the island of Tobago that John learned the terrible effects of diabetes and its negative impact on family, work, the community and the economy.

Put simply, if someone is suffering from diabetes with foot ulcers that become gangrenous, this often leads to limb amputation which means the breadwinner loses a foot, leg, and life, the family are destitute, there is no work and no contribution to the wider economy, so the knock on effect is dramatic. John returned to Ledbury deeply concerned about the plight of the people of Tobago who had shown him such warm hospitality. He discovered that the apparent lack of awareness about the effects of untreated foot ulcers that can lead to amputation and there was a growing need for health education in the field of diabetes. The immediate need to focus on preventative care, reduce suffering and implementing a footcare ‘Step by Step’ programme creating a framework for training medical staff. The undoubted success of the ‘Step by Step’ programmes in the Caribbean resulting in a massive reduction in limb amputation and subsequent saving in humanitarian costs has been recognised worldwide with clinics established on most Caribbean islands and in South America, Africa, India and Pakistan. Diabetes is a major problem in the world. The Rotary Club of Ledbury are aware of the disastrous effect of diabetes such as amputation, blindness, heart disease and liver failure. Sir Michael Hirst, head of the International Diabetes Foundation commented: “John Greedy could not have known what an incredible difference he and his colleagues in the Rotary Club of Ledbury would make to people with diabetes in the Caribbean. The diabetes awareness and footcare projects coupled with the ‘Step by Step’ programme ensured that providing new and improved skills to healthcare professionals has reduced amputations of toes and limbs through better care for people with diabetes. As president of the International Diabetes Federation, I salute the huge achievement of John and his fellow Rotarians in Ledbury. It is nothing short of marvellous that such a dedicated group has achieved so much by their vision, determination and generosity.

There are many in the Caribbean whose quality of life has been immeasurably improved by the foot programmes held in the Caribbean, and the success of this programme is a fitting tribute to the great work of John Greedy.”

In presenting the jewel, president Mark Waller said: “Diabetes is a major problem in the world. The Rotary Club of Ledbury are aware of the disastrous effect of diabetes such as amputation, blindness, heart disease and liver failure. The success of work that John Greedy has undertaken in so many countries shows his tireless dedication and is the very best example of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things and I am delighted to give John this Rotary Award”

Presteigne

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - The film Non Stop (PG13) will be shown in Lingen village hall on January 9 at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome. For further details visit lingen.org.uk.

COFFEE MORNING - There is a coffee morning at St Andrew’s Church hall on January 10 from 10.30am to 12 noon. There will be a cake stall, bric-a-brac and a raffle.

All welcome.

FLORAL ARTS - The next meeting of Presteigne and Borders Floral Arts Society will take place on January 14 at the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. The session will be a practical class with Jean Wilcox, to make cakes from plant materials. For further details call Sue on 01547 822702.

MARKET - There is no local food market in January. The next market will be on February 7.

SERVICES - This Sunday the following services will take place: in St Andrew’s there is Holy Communion at 8am and a special Epiphany service at 6.30pm.

There is also Holy Communion at Lingen at 9.30am and at Knill, also at 9.30am. Everyone is welcome.

Stoke Lacy

PARISH COUNCIL - Stoke Lacy parish council will meet in the village hall at 7.30pm on January 12 and councillors will be setting their precept for the coming year.

All residents are welcome.

New year pharmacy opening hours

Asda Pharmacy, Belmont Road, Hereford, New Year’s Day 10am- 4pm.

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

Hereford Pharmacy, 96 Grandstand Road, Hereford, closed New Year’s Day.

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

Boots The Chemist, 9 High Street, Ledbury, closed New Year’s Day.

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

Leominster Pharmacy, 21/23 West Street, Leominster, closed New Year’s Day.

Benjamin’s Pharmacy, The Community Hospital, Ross-on- Wye, closed New Year’s Day.

Boots The Chemist, 5 Market Place, Ross-on-Wye, closed New Year’s Day.

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