BOWLING CLUB -- A rather special presentation was made at the annual dinner of Kington Bowling Club, held at the Burton Hotel, when Doreen Sergeant received an inscribed rose bowl in recognition of her 30 years as the club's fixture secretary. Understandably she is now hoping to retire, said club president Margaret Price, who made the presentation and spoke appreciatively of Mrs Sergeant's long service. Mrs Price also welcomed three special guests to the dinner - Vera Ashcroft, president of the Hereford County Women's Bowling Association, and John Pedlingham, senior vice-president, Hereford County Bowling Association, and his wife Val. She also thanked club captains Ken and Margaret Edwards for all the hard work they had put into a very successful and busy season and Ken Jones for his stalwart work as greenkeeper. Mrs Price congratulated captain Margaret Edwards, champion of champions, and Paula Turner, four-wood singles champion. Similar sentiments were also expressed to Matthew Bithell on winning the under-25 singles title as well as becoming the champion of champions, and she also congratulated the club on winning the Nash Rocks League title. Mrs Price, who responded to the toast of the club proposed by Mr Pedlingham, said it gave her special pleasure to see club treasurer Ken Ham at the dinner, following his recent illness. The toast to the guests was proposed by club captain Ken Edwards, and the response came from Miss Ashcroft, and the MC was Brynley Powell.

COMMUNITY CHEST -- Kington and the surrounding parishes are to get their own community chest as a result of new funding obtained by the Kington Area Regeneration Partnership chaired by Bob Widdowson. To be called 'Community Pride', the new fund will offer grants of up to £600 to properly constituted groups for environmental projects or for economic or social activities. Mr Widdowson commented that the concept is to provide a small 'community chest' type fund where a larger organisation is the holder of a pot of money to offer grants to smaller organisations in a simple, accessible way without the usual complexities that many groups face in trying to fund their projects. The sort of projects might be clearing a piece of land or making other environmental improvements or for projects which contribute to social and economic regeneration. The funding has been made available by a combination of funders including community led regeneration, Small Scale Project Fund, Empowering Enterprise and Voluntary Action. Grants can be applied for by any group within the partnership's area, which would include the parishes of Kington Town, Kington rural, Lower Harpton, Brilley, Titley, Almeley, Lyonshall, Pembridge, Eardisley and Huntington. Further details and application forms are available from the relevant parish councils, Marches Credit Union, the regeneration partnership's Kington office, the town library and KC3. Mr Widdowson added they were very grateful to the Herefordshire Council and Voluntary Action for their support for this project and expect the result of the bid under the Market Towns Initiative within the next month that will bring further benefits to the area. 'Community pride' is a good start to our plans for regenerating the area.

WHIST DRIVE -- At a whist drive held at Kington's Parish House for the benefit of the town's bowling club, with Bryn Thomas as MC, prizes were presented by Sylvia Turner to : gents, Roy Corbett, Miss S Hughes, Mrs C Pearce, Mrs V Williams (consolation); ladies: Dot Nichols, Mrs L Watkins, Bryn Thomas, Mrs C Hughes (consolation). Refreshments were served by Eileen Thomas.