RUSSIAN ORPHANS -- Mr and Mrs Richard Archer will be opening their riverside home and garden - Ty-Lon-y-Felin, West Wall - for a Coffee Morning on Saturday, July 12, in aid of the Presteigne-based charity 'RUSSEDUCAID'. This registered charity helps to improve the educational standards and opportunities of children in various Russian Children's Homes. Most Russians live on very meagre salaries - if they have jobs at all - and the whole Russian economy is in a very poor state. This means that the authorities have little money to fund the orphanages and Children's Homes. In turn this means the standard of teaching is often low, and further educational openings are beyond the pocket of children from these homes, even if they have the academic ability. RUSSEDUCAID aims to help with these educational costs as well as in other ways. This year will see several children from Russia coming over to spend part of the summer in this area, and the charity is presently funding a 20-year-old girl, Anna Yerohina, to study at Hereford College of Technology. Anna came from the Children's Home in Solotcha, about 100 miles south-east of Moscow, which Kate and Noel Doubleday, founders of RUSSEDUCAID, have been helping for the past 10 years. Anna did extremely well in her first year on the Hospitality and Catering Course, obtaining her NVQ1, has progressed to working on her NVQ2, and her command of English has improved dramatically. On July 12 there will be a number of stalls - in the garden, weather permitting! - selling Russian and other craft objects, cakes and many other items kindly donated by local people and businesses. If you would like to help and support underprivileged orphans in Russia please get in touch with Kate or Noel on 01544 267471.

ASSEMBLY ROOMS -- On Saturday evening, June 28, the 'Tutti Frutti Theatre Company', in association with Mid Border Arts, presents 'The Princess and the Pea', 'A delightful, if slightly bonkers performance for adults... and children of any age'. The performance starts at 7.30 pm, with tickets available for booking on 01544 267163, £5 for adults and £3 for children.

SHEEP MUSIC IS COMING! -- The middle of July (18/19/20) sees the arrival of 'Sheep Music 2003' in Wentes Meadow, with three days of world and local music, including acts from India, Africa and South America, workshops and a children's show sponsored by the MBA. Be there!

PRESTEIGNE RACES -- Broadheath Common is the venue for Presteigne Races on Saturday, June 28. The first race is at 1.30 pm, with admission costing £5 per person, which includes the programme. Under 14s admitted free. Call 01497 847603 for information.

DAY CENTRE -- The East Radnorshire Day Centre in Scottleton Street held its Annual General Meeting on June 10, when Kirsty Williams AM was the Guest Speaker. Councillor Evelyn Davies, chairman of the trustees of the day centre, reported on the events and developments of the past year. A new management structure had been put into place, with a part-time company secretary, but it had soon become apparent that the volume of work required a full-time worker. The trustees had decided to enhance and increase the responsibilities of the care manager, Vicki Ball, to include the post of company secretary, and Beverley Baynham's role, as administrative secretary, would include fundraising. This arrangement is working very well. A new office has been provided by the purchase and installation of a temporary building and furnishings to replace the previously cramped conditions. Funding of the centre remains an ever-present concern of the trustees, particularly in the light of the current economic situation, where falling share values mean that trusts have less money to disperse. The day centre has received an increased grant of £40,000 from Powys Social Services, much of which will be consumed by price increases of services and products which have to be 'bought-in' and the add-on costs of new legislation and compliance requirements. Mrs Davies thanked treasurer Ioan Davies, care manager Vicki and fundraiser Beverley: "For all their work, and all the other staff - both salaried and voluntary - who work with such great enthusiasm to give respite to our elderly and disadvantaged clients from East Radnorshire and the Borders." Mrs Davies also expressed the centre's appreciation for two of the trust's longstanding members, Evelyn Armitstead - former chairman and president - and Sue Wilson, both of whom have resigned during the past year. Thanks were also expressed for all the other trustees, and a welcome extended to two new trustees, Terry Southall and Tony Smith. The guest speaker, Kirsty Williams spoke of the problems of rural isolation and deprivation, which voluntary organisations, like the day centre, seek to mitigate. She emphasised the need for a fully integrated car and transport service, without the division of responsibility between Health Services and Social Services. The new co-operative arrangements, recently set in place, should go some way to removing the barrier to access that the former arrangements had created. Margaret Morgan thanked Ms Williams for her on-going interest in the day centre.