Allensmore

DRAW WINNERS - Allensmore Church 100 club draw winners for October are 1st - 90 Diane Evans, 2nd - 74 Stephen Williams, 3rd - 23 Debbie Mumford, 4th - 61 Brian Watkins.

Ashperton

COFFEE MORNING - At Pride Wood, November 15, 11am- 12.30pm. Cake stall, raffle etc. To raise funds for St Bartholomew’s Church, Ashperton. Please come and support this fundraising event.

Aymestrey and Leinthall Earls

AUTUMN FAIR - The annual autumn fair in aid of Aymestrey and Leinthall Earls churches will take place in the parish hall on Saturday at 2pm. The stalls will include bric-a-brac, produce, bottles, and children’s goods. There will also be an auction.

Contributions will be gratefully received at the hall tomorrow from 10am to mid-day.

REMEMBRANCE AND ARMISTICE SERVICES - Aymestrey and Leinthall congregations will join with Kingsland on Remembrance Sunday, at 10.50am. There will be a special Armistice Day Service at Aymestrey Church starting at 10.50am on theTuesday to remember those from Aymestrey parish who fell in the first and second world wars, to include reading the names of those who fell and the laying of poppies. There will also be the opportunity after the service to view the excellent First World War exhibition in the Lady Chapel.

QUIZ NIGHT - The November quiz will be held in the parish hall on November 14. Start time is 8pm. A charge of £5 per team of up to four members is made.

Refreshments will be available.

Cash prize for the winning team.

RACE NIGHT - A race night is to be held in the parish hall on November 22. There will be a total of nine races and admission will be £5 (including race card). First race 7.30pm. There will be a licensed bar and refreshments will be available. Come along and join the fun for a very exciting evening.

Bishopstone

VILLAGE LOTTERY - Roger Thrupp won £25 with number 3 on October 25.

Bodenham

QUIZ NIGHT - November 14 at 7.30pm at Bodenham Parish Hall.

Prizes for the winning table.

Tables of six. Entry £6 per person.

Refreshments available. Bring your own drink. Glasses available. Raffle – all proceeds to the Bodenham Flood Protection Group. For more details or to book a table, please ring Anita Griffiths on 01568 797929.

Bredwardine and Brobury

BELLY DANCING – A great way to get trim and fit and have fun at the same time. Belly dancing classes with Nancy are starting Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. The class is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness so come along and give it a go. No equipment needed, just wear comfortable clothing. Further information about venue, dates and cost, call Nancy on 01981 500113.

CALENDARS 2015 - The 2015 Bredwardine and Brobury calendars are now available, £5 each, including envelope. As in previous years, we have selected some beautiful photographs of local scenes, taken by local people throughout the year. This lovely calendar would make a perfect Christmas present to send abroad or as a present for yourself, to have at home. They will be on sale at the Bredwardine markets on second Friday of each month in the village hall, and also at the 100 Club draw on the first Thursday of each month at The Red Lion in Bredwardine. You can also place an order by calling 01981 500281.

100 CLUB TICKETS - Now is the time to renew your tickets for 2015 or buy one if you are not already in the 100 Club. Tickets cost £20 each and can be obtained from Jen Maddison. Contact her on 01981 500048 for details and further information about the club.

NOVEMBER MARKET - Our November market will be held on November 14, from 10am until noon, in the Bredwardine and Brobury village hall. Age UK is scheduled to attend. Two representatives will be available to answer any questions and just have a chat. The cafetiere coffee continues to be the popular drink to accompany the yummy cakes which are on sale. Philip’s fruit and veg, Alison’s scones, Welsh cakes, sponge cakes and eggs are aplenty for purchase. Knitted items by Hazel. Andrea and Bill have tie-dyed T-shirts as well as cosmetics for purchase. Di and Chris always have a lovely, colourful display of aprons, pillows and decorations to choose from.

Honey from Sarah’s bees. And who knows what else will be on offer. £1 fee to sellers for a table.

We continue to attract around 30 people to each market. Always a good social atmosphere.

If you would like to help, please bring along donations for the Hereford Food Bank. Your contributions help working families as well as unemployed to put food on the table. There will be a table for donations of non-perishable foods to include tins of meat, tinned potatoes, tins of rice pudding, custard, packets of dried milk, sugar, bathroom necessities and pet foods for the food bank.

COMMITTEE OF TASTE, THE PARSON AND THE PUBLICAN - November 21 at 7.30pm in the Bredwardine and Brobury village hall. You are invited to join local authors, Rev Ian Charlesworth and Richard Stockton Esq in casual conversation. Adults £6, children £3. Includes light supper of local delicacies and beverages.

Proceeds in aid of the BBVH Disabled Access Project. For more details, contact Sarah (01981 500155) or Kari (01981 501077).

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

LOCAL NEWS - 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 - Sue Johnson won £25 with number 3 on October 25.

Brilley

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING - Tuesday 7.30pm – all are welcome.

Neighbourhood Development Plan meeting on Thursday, November 13, at 7.30pm.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - Twenty Feet from Stardom (12A), Brilley village hall tonight at 7.30pm. An exuberant tribute to the fabulous backing singers who worked on classic albums through the 1960s and 1970s. Adults £4, children £2.50. Bring your own refreshments.

LIVE SHOW - Rabbit Theatre presents Great Expectations at Brilley village hall on November 15 at 7.30pm. A one-man tour de force. This unique version of Great Expectations , billed as “Deft, daft, delightful and definitely Dickens” is both mesmerising and joyful. Adults £8.50, children £5. Contact 01544 327227.

Dinedor

NEW BOOK - Dinedor Heritage Group will be holding a public launch of their new book Dinedor and Rotherwas Explored . This will take place at Rotherwas Chapel on Saturday, 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Free admission and refreshments.

Further details from Chris Over 01432 870320.

Dorstone

PHOTOGRAPHY IN YOUR GARDEN - Come along to discover how to capture the pleasure, plants and produce of the garden.

A talk and presentation by local photographer Colin Lawrence.

Dorstone village hall, November 7, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 from Dorstone Front Room or 01981 550451.

Fownhope

PETITION HANDOVER - Bill Wiggin MP handed over a petition against the removal of Fownhope phone mast recently. The MP for North Herefordshire met the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, secretary of state at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, on October 21 about mobile phone signal and the removal of a proposed phone mast for Fownhope.

During the meeting, Mr Wiggin handed over a petition, with over 300 signatures, to the secretary of state about the cancellation of plans for a mobile phone mast in Fownhope.

Mr Wiggin said: “I had a very positive meeting with the secretary of state. As a result he has asked Ofcom to specifically go to Fownhope to check the strength of the mobile signal, rather than relying on data maps provided by the phone operators.

“Although this does not necessarily mean a Fownhope mast will be approved, it does mean that the decision on whether to proceed will instead be based on accurate data, which I very much welcome,” he added.

His department is also going to tackle roaming in areas where the signal is poor. At the moment someone from France holidaying in Herefordshire, whose phone is set to roam while they are abroad, will have a better mobile signal than a Herefordian with a UK mobile phone.

Wiggin said: “It was a very successful meeting yesterday and I will keep up the fight for Fownhope and improved mobile phone signal in Herefordshire.”

Hampton Bishop

DEER TALK - Herefordshire Mammal Group will be holding a series of talks again this winter.

The first will be on Wednesday at 7.30pm at the Bunch of Carrots Inn, Hampton Bishop, Hereford.

Graham Riminton from The Deer Initiative will be giving a talk on the deer of Herefordshire. The talk will cover identification features, local populations, ecological impacts on our woodlands, control and disease.

Hereford

HEREFORD HEARTSTART - Free two hour Heartstart Course (CPR and more) at Axon Enterprises Ltd, 8a/8b St Martins Street, Hereford on November 18 from 10am to noon. Booking is essential, to book your place email herefordshireheartstart@btconnect.com or call 0845 6060654.

CHRISTMAS FAYRE - The Scout Hut, Westfaling Street, Whitecross, Wednesday, 6pm-9pm.

Please support 30 local businesses. Proceeds from the fayre go to Count The Kicks.

WAR STORIES - A Peace Perspective: stories and thoughts from World War One, including stories of life in Herefordshire during the First World War. All Saints Church, Hereford from Tuesday, November 11, to November 14, from 10am-4pm.

The following week, from November 17-21, the exhibition will be in Leominster community centre.

HEREFORDSHIRE HEALTH SERVICE RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP - The next meeting for the Herefordshire Health Services Retirement Fellowship (HHSRF) will be held on November 17, at 2pm in the St John’s Methodist Hall, St Owen Street, Hereford. A reminder that the Christmas shopping trip to Cardiff is on November 19, and the Christmas lunch will be held at Burghill Valley Golf Club on December 1, at 12.30pm.

The guest speaker this month is the Rev Iain Skinner, who will be giving his talk on A Celtic Pilgrimage. Members are looking forward to his presentation of a fascinating personal journey that he made on one of his travels.

New members are always welcome to come along and join in at the meetings, which are held on the third Monday of the month, between 2pm-4pm in the St John’s Methodist Hall, St Owen Street, Hereford HR1 2PR. Contact Mrs Helen Taylor, chairman, 01432 344078.

HEREFORD ARTS APPRECIATION SOCIETY - At the WRVS Riverside Centre, Vicarage Road, St James, November 21 at 2.30pm. Dr Joy Roderick helps us celebrate the centenary of Dylan Thomas.

Kings Caple

SCHOOL - It has been a busy first half term, with interesting outings and hard work in the classroom learning about electricity, the Victorians, solving mathematical problems and improving reading and writing skills. A literacy day at The Courtyard stimulated interest in books. Time spent in a Victorian classroom contrasted with life in school today. A soft fruit growing enterprise, walks seeking autumnal items and a visit to a sculpture garden have been informative.

Kingsland

REMEMBRANCE - An evening of Words and Music for Remembrance Day will be performed by pupils of Lucton School in Kingsland Church on Tuesday 7pm. Tickets available either from Kingsland Post Office or Lucton School, priced £5.

Kingstone

KINGSTONE FLOWER CLUB - Meetings are held the second Monday in the month, at 7.45pm in Kingstone village hall. Monday is a practice session entitled lest we forget – exhibit to commemorate 100 years since the First World War. The arrangements are judged. Cost £3 per session to include tea/coffee and biscuits. At each meeting there is a raffle and a sales table which has all the basics you need at a reasonable price.

BINGO - There will be prize bingo in the village hall at 8pm tomorrow in aid of church funds, and again at the same time on November 21.

Knighton

LIGHT UP A LIFE - There will be an opportunity to remember all those loved and lost in this life at the Light up a life service at Knighton Catholic Church on tomorrow at 6pm. The service will be led by Father Michael and there will be a speaker from St Michael’s Hospice. A collection will take place for the hospice.

COFFEE MORNING AND TABLE SALE - There will be a coffee morning and table sale at the church hall, Knighton on Saturday from 10am till noon.

There will be a large variety of items for sale and a raffle with lots of prizes. £1 entry with tea or coffee. Proceeds to the Poppy Appeal.

ARMISTICE PARADE - The parade will meet in the car park behind the Knighton Hotel at around 10.30am. At 11am the service will take place by the Cenotaph. Roll of honour, last post, a minute’s silence followed by Reveille will only be performed at the Cenotaph service and not repeated at the church service as in previous years.

This has been brought about by the branch opting for a more relevant order of service which reflects today’s conflicts and suffering, rather than just reflecting on the two world wars.

CHURCH SERVICES - For Remembrance Sunday: St Edward’s church, Knighton 11.15am; St David’s Church, Whitton 10am; St Andrew’s Church, Norton 11am.

TEME VALLEY GARDENERS CLUB - The next meeting of the club will be at Knucklas community hall on Monday at 7.30pm.

The speaker for the evening will be Robin Pearce on the subject of Hostas and Companion plants.

SINGING GROUP - Charlotte Bulley has been running the community choir in Leintwardine since 2006 and has been a member of the Natural Voice Practitioner Network since 2003. She is now hoping to start another singing group in Knighton and is holding a taster session at 7.30pm at Knighton community centre on Thursday. The session will be free of charge, although any donations towards the room hire will be gratefully received. At her singing groups Charlotte uses many different songs and styles of music including blues, gospel, Georgian, African, folk, medieval and pop. For details call 01547 540603 or email charlotte@naturalvoice.net.

MOUSE RACE - There will be a mouse race at the George and Dragon, Knighton on November 14, starting at 7.30pm. The event will fundraise for Knighton show and carnival committee and is sponsored by The George and Dragon, McCartney’s, PCB Solicitors, The Horse and Jockey, NFU Mutual, Philip Price, Sugar Woo Woo, Francis Thomas, Rebe Brick, Bob Price and Anthony Rowlands.

Leominster

LEOMINSTER U3A – In October, Richard Jordan told of his experiences growing up in London during the Blitz, illustrating his talk with an extensive and well- researched photographic archive and music of the period, which brought back vivid memories to many in the audience.

On November 18, Elizabeth Sweeney, a civil servant working in the European Parliament Information Office, will talk about the structure and history of the European Parliament, how EU laws are made and the role of MPs and MEPs.

This will be a purely factual and non-political introduction, but should help us all to understand better Britain’s current role in Europe and to make wise decisions in any future referendum.

Visitors are welcome at the meeting which will be at the Royal Oak at 2pm.

WIDDICOMBE LUNCH – Ann Widdicombe, star of Strictly Come Dancing and well known author, will be speaking at a luncheon at Luctonians Rugby Club on November 14.

Luctonians Rugby Club is a lovely venue for lunch and the cost for a two-course lunch with coffee and a personal encounter with Ann will be £25.

Please contact North Hereford Conservative Association on 01568 612565 or office@nhca.org.uk for tickets and further information.

WAR STORIES – A Peace Perspective: stories and thoughts from World War One, including stories of life in Herefordshire during the First World War. Leominster community centre, November 17-21.

WAR FILM – Shortlisted for three international film festival awards, a locally-made short documentary about the First World War is to be screened in Leominster this November.

Directed and edited by Herefordshire filmmakers Joe Jenkins and Nick Thomson, The Racket has been nominated for best directing at the St Tropez International Film Festival, best editing at the Portsmouth Film Festival and best documentary at the Tolpuddle Radical Film Festival.

Based on the revelations of the most decorated soldier in American history – a war- hero turned whistle-blower – The Racket shockingly discloses that, as a result of the First World War, 21,000 new millionaires and billionaires were created in America alone.

The Racket will be screened on November 18, at the community centre, School Road, Leominster, at 7.30pm, alongside two other films directed by Joe Jenkins.

Admission is free, but donations to Campaign Against Arms Trade are invited.

For more information, contact Ann on 01885 410473.

FAIRTRADE CAFE – Second Saturday of every month, Fairtrade Cafe, The Forbury, Church Street, Leominster, 10am-2pm.

Serving drinks and snacks made with Fairtrade and local ingredients.

Wide selection of Traidcraft produce for sale.

November: Christmas craft stall.

Contact: Margaret Wilkerson at 01568 611708 or margaret@ pve.co.uk.

VICTORIAN MARKET – Leominster’s popular Victorian street market will take place on December 13.

Many of the popular, regular stallholders and attractions, along with exciting new ones, will be selling local and handcrafted gifts, foods and bespoke products, while in Victorian dress.

‘Queen Victoria’ will open the market at 10am.

The farmers’ market, stalls and entertainment occupy Corn Square and Broad Street until 4pm.

The free park and ride will again run from Brightwells on the A44.

Car parks in Leominster will be free for the event. All welcome.

Please contact Helen Griffiths 01568 613316 for further details.

Lingen

COFFEE MORNING - This morning at the hall 11am-12.30pm.

Further info call 01544 267736.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - Tomorrow, 7.30pm, Belle (12A), £5 on the door. Refreshments will be available including tea/coffee, homemade cakes and the obligatory ice cream. Join the flicks mailing list and keep up to date with our showings including Borderlines Film Festival 2015 screenings. For further information call 01544 267736 or visit www.lingen.org.uk.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - Monday 7.30pm, Lingen village hall in the main hall.

Hall officer elections will take place again at the AGM on Monday when new candidates are very welcome to stand. If you wish to stand please advise by phoning 01568 770636 or simply notifying the hall secretary before the meeting on the night. All welcome.

BRIDGE EVENING - Wednesday, play starts at 6.30pm, at the hall in aid of the Samaritans, with light supper. For more information call 01544 267202.

LINGEN HISTORY GROUP - A presentation of the First World War on Film, November 18, 7.30pm.

This is a compilation of rare original archive film brought together by Flicks in the Sticks and the Huntley Archive in Ewyas Harold, and it contains fragments showing the Herefordshire Regiment in 1914.

Funding for this project came through the National Lottery Fund.

For this one evening there will be a memorabilia table, so please bring items along if you wish.

A roll of honour will be read by Rev’Preb Stephen Hollinghurst to commemorate Lingen parish war dead who gave their lives in the 1914-18 war. The loan of any relevant items to add to the collection is welcomed. Tickets are £4.50 (pay at the door).

For any further information please contact 01544 260865 or visit www.lingen.org.uk.

For more information on all of the above events, as well as news and views, log on to www.lingen.org.uk.

Little Dewchurch

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - Presents Grow Your Own (PG) tomorrow at the village hall. Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm screening.

Refreshments available. Tickets £4 adults, £2.50 children. Further information from Jan Bailey on 01432 840760.

Marden

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING - On Monday at 7pm. The final report for Sutton Walls will be given at the meeting, all welcome to attend.

MARDEN HISTORY SOCIETY - The November meeting of the Marden History Society will be on November 17, at 7 45pm, at the Marden Community Centre. It will be a general subject quiz as on previous occasions. The quiz master will be Mr Brian Read who comes with a challenging reputation. The charge will be £3 per person (in groups of four), to include a ploughmans supper at the mid-session interval. Prizes will be awarded to the winners and wooden spoons to the lowest score.

Entries should be notified to Mrs Sandra Watkins on 01432 880258 by Monday .

Marden limited edition 2015 calendars will also be available, costing £5 each.

Monkland

SERVICE - All Saints Church Monkland will be holding a service of remembrance on Tuesday with a two-minute silence. Please be seated by 10.50am.

BINGO - Prize bingo at Monkland village hall Friday evenings.

Doors open 7pm, eyes down 8pm.

No children under six please.

Mordiford

BONFIRE AND FIREWORKS NIGHT - Mordiford School PTFA present their annual fireworks night tomorrow. The gates open and hot food will be served from 6pm. There will be a Guy Fawkes procession at 6.15pm followed by the lighting of the bonfire at 6.30pm. Fireworks will commence at 7pm.

There will be a bar, hot drinks, hot dogs, hamburgers and glow-sticks available. Everyone is welcome to this fun filled family evening featuring music, a procession and a firework display. Tickets available on the gate – Family (2 adults and 2 children) £15, adult £6, child £3 (under threes free).

Advance tickets available school office/playground – Family £10, adult £5, child £2. Parking in field above school subject to weather.

No parking in Moon pub and no sparklers.

POST OFFICE - Local people are urged to use the post office service or it will disappear. The technical difficulties seem to have been resolved. Open on Tuesday afternoon only from 2.30pm until 4.30pm.

Much Birch

HEARTSTART - Free two hour Heartstart Course at Much Birch Village Hall on November 20, 7pm to 9pm.

To book please email info@ herefordshireheartstart.co.uk or call 0845 60 60 654.

Orcop

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR - The Christmas bazaar this year will be held on November 29 at 2pm in the parish hall. All proceeds will go to the maintenance of the hall. Entry free to buyers, all welcome. Tables are available to sellers for £6, supplied by the hall.

Please ring Jane to book 01981 241310 .

The hall has good parking, disabled access and light refreshments will be available. Stalls include bric-a- brac, raffles, tombolas, homemade dog and cat treats, preserves and cakes, games and two local authors will be signing their books.

ORCOP EVERGREEN CLUB - (formerly Orcop Age Concern), are holding a coffee morning on Monday, at 10.45am, at Orcop parish hall. Stalls to include crafts, cakes, raffle and refreshments.

Everyone welcome. Ample parking and disabled access. For more information call 01981 580491.

Pencombe

YFC BONFIRE - Young Farmers’ bonfire and fireworks, this Saturday.

Opposite Kings Equestrian, Pencombe Lane, Bromyard, HR7 4SR. By kind permission of Mr and Mrs Henry Lewis. Gates open 5pm, bonfire lit 6pm, fireworks 6.30pm. Adults £6, children under 14 £4. There will also be a licensed bar, food and a raffle. Proceeds to Pencombe Young Farmers’ Club.

Peterchurch

CRAFTS AND MORE AT ST PETER’S - Will be happening at St Peter’s Church and Centre, Peterchurch on November 15, from 10am through to 4pm. (It’s on the B4348 Golden Valley, Ross to Hay-on-Wye road). There will be handmade baby clothes and also waistcoats, border spinners, Fair Trade, Golden Valley Crafts, Bob’s Woodcraft, Sally, Gill and Barbara’s Photography and Cards, jewellery, papercrafts, Cornish crafts, raffle, pocket-money toys for the youngsters and lots more for Christmas to browse and buy. Refreshments will be available throughout the day, with homemade soup lunches from 12 noon-2pm.

Details are available from Enid or Eva on 01981 550683 or 550282. All proceeds from the event go to St Peter’s Church, Peterchurch.

Presteigne

BAPTIST CHURCH - Presteigne Baptist Church, Sunday morning service on November 9. Joining with St Andrew’s Church, Broad Street, for their service of remembrance for 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENING - This year’s Claire’s Christmas shopping evening in memory of the late Claire Barlow will take place on November 21 at The Royal British Legion Club from 7pm. The organisers are in need of raffle prizes or cakes for the cake stalls. Also any help on the evening would be gratefully received. More details of the event will be issued closer to the date. To donate please call Claire’s mum, Elaine on 267115. Please support this event.

MUSIC - The Sunday Session is back at The No 46 Wine Bar with Jack Brett on Sunday from 5.30pm.

SERVICES - This Sunday there is a service of holy communion at St Andrews, 11am.

FURNITURE GARAGE - The Presteigne and Norton Community Support Furniture Warehouse need reusable furniture and household goods to sell in the warehouse at The Posting House in the High Street. The charity also do house clearances and accept most donations of furniture. Call Chris on 07528 570695.

HEARING AID CLINIC - There is a drop-in Hearing Aid Clinic on the fourth Tuesday of the month at The Youth Centre from 1.30- 3pm. All types of help with your hearing aids will be done.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - The film Belle (12A) will be shown at Lingen village hall this Friday at 7.30pm. Admission is £5 for adults and £3.50 for children. There will be refreshments available.

EVERGREENS - The Evergreens are running a coach trip to Worcester on Wednesday leaving The Bowling Club at 9.15am. The cost will be £10 per person. Call Judi Charlton on 267420.

FIREWORKS - Sheep Music supported by Presteigne and Norton Town Council are holding this year’s fireworks display at Wentes Meadow on Saturday. The procession will leave The Recycling Centre at 6.30pm and will be followed by a grand fireworks display. Admission is free. The organisers would like you to know that there will be no parking at Wentes Meadow. Refreshments will be available.

MUSIC - There is a Hallowe’en rock evening at The Royal British Legion Club on Friday evening from 8.30pm. Fancy dress is optional. Admission is £4 on the door or £3 with a ticket, which can be purchased from The Legion Club in advance or from The Oak or Lorna’s Sandwich Shop.

BINGO - In aid of The Bowling Club will take place on November 15, 22 and 29, and December 6 at The Memorial Hall with eyes down at 7.45pm. Doors will open at 6.30pm.

FILM - Presteigne Screen will show The Patience Stone (15) at The Assembly Rooms this Friday at 8pm. Admission is £4.50 for adults and £3 for students. Call Pete on 370202 or Alex on 260577.

CARDIFF SHOPPING - The Little People’s Playgroup is running a Christmas shopping trip to Cardiff on November 15, leaving The Recycling Centre at 8am and leaving Cardiff at 5.30pm. The cost will be £12 per person with £5 of that being payable when booking. To book or reserve a seat call Julie Gardner on 07946 081384 or call into the playgroup at the primary school.

Ross-on-Wye

VAGA PROBUS CLUB - Talk by Nigel Vandyke on art in history.

Nigel opened our eyes to the significance of art in human society with a wide range of digital slides. His examples of painting and sculpture dated from 25,000 BCE to the second Gulf War, and demonstrated the concerns that stimulated contemporary artistic patronage, and showed how the French Revolution replaced hitherto autocratic control of artistic practice with democratic freedom of expression.

Universal “primitive” art was replaced by control of artistic practice by Greek, Roman and then Christian religious authorities, culminating in the High Renaissance led by Michael Angelo, Raphael and others. The Age of Enlightenment then began the gradual extension of sponsorship to a more secular audience.

From around the 17th century national academies encouraged the highest standards of artistic skill for historical, portrait, still life and landscape genre painting to satisfy those enlightened patrons, until the outcome of the French Revolution in turn encouraged increasingly independent artistic thought and practice.

Soon the Industrial Revolution provided wealthy patrons who encouraged artists to “do their own thing”. As the 20th century dawned, wealthy American, European and Russian patronage and international collecting began to encourage an increasingly international oeuvre.

Despite or because of national revolutions, two world wars and more, artists developed their ideas of what art should represent and how it should be presented. Picasso, Matisse, Magritte and many others dominated the 20th century until the Cold War petered out when new forms of western art were encouraged.

“Ready mades” and “installations” are but two examples. The public flocked to galleries in their millions. Although artistic initiative has achieved considerable wealth, artists continue to reflect contemporary society whether we like it or not.

After many questions and debate regarding the purpose of art in society, it was agreed by the members that art in its many forms will always be appreciated by society including the somewhat abstract works by Picasso etc.

However, the membership warmly thanked Nigel for this most interesting and informative talk.

St Weonards

BAZAAR - St Weonards Church and village hall committees have joined together to arrange a bazaar in the hall on December 6 between 11am and 1pm. If you are interested in having a stall please contact Isobelle on 01981 580367 after 5pm.

Wellington

PARISH COUNCIL - The November parish council meeting will take place tonight at 7.30pm in the community centre. The agenda includes updates on the recently published Community Led Plan which can now be viewed online at www.wellingtonplan.com and work on the Neighbourhood Development Plan which is ongoing.

Weobley

BONFIRE AND FIREWORKS – The parish council will be holding this event tomorrow at Hopelands, Weobley village hall.

Torchlight processions from the village centre and Burtonwood Community Centre from 6pm, bonfire lit at 6.30pm and the professional firework display starts at 7pm. Refreshments and free parking. Entrance: adults £4, children £2.

SALON REOPENING - Hair @ No1 will be reopening today after complete renovations. We will be celebrating the reopening along with Rena’s retirement after 42 years serving our community with coffee and cake from 3pm and fizz and nibbles from 5pm.

For details or appointments please phone 01544 318447, 1 Broad Street, Weobley.

Whitney-on-Wye

AUTUMN FAIR - The annual autumn fair in aid of Whitney Church and village hall, will take place on Saturday in the village hall. It starts at 2pm with all the usual stalls, clothes, cakes, produce, preserves,apple pressing and lots more.

Admission is free.

Whitton

PLAYGROUP - There will be an open morning at Whitton Playgroup on Wednesday from 9.45am till 11.45am. The event will take place in Whitton community hall where there will be lots of games and activities to see and do.

Call 01547 560206.

Withington

QUIZ NIGHT - Come and enjoy a fantastic fun quiz evening at Withington village hall (HR1 3PP) on Saturday at 7.30pm. Teams of up to six can be pre-booked, or made up on the night. Family teams welcome. Tickets are £6 each, including a ploughman’s supper. (Under 16s £3). Bring your own drinks. Tel 01432 850074 for more information. Proceeds go to St Peter’s Church, Withington.

MUSIC - HowdenJones, a fun acoustic duo performing wonderful songs, gentle anecdotes and delicious leg pulling – a gem of an evening. December 5, 7.30pm.

Tickets £12 (including a hot supper) from the village post office or 07837 984377. Bar available. Visit www.howdenjones.co.uk for more information.

Yarpole

REMEMBRANCE - To coincide with Remembrance Day this year Yarpole Living History Group are displaying the results, so far, of their ongoing research into all the villagers who died in the First World War. There will also be artefacts and other items connected with the First World War. It will take place in the church/community building in Yarpole from now until November 15, and will be open when the building is open.

It will not be manned at all times, but if you wish to know more or have further information about anyone who served in either world war, please contact Ron Shaw on 01568 780770 or Rhianon Turrell on rhianonturrell@btinternet.com, or leave your name and contact details in the shop in the community building.