EASTER PROGRAMME -- The town's churches announced their full pro-grammes of Holy Week and Easter Services. The Council of Churches will hold the traditional Walk of Witness on Good Fri-day, when they meet outside the Baptist Church at 11.15am and the Cross will be carried along Hereford Street and High Street to the Methodist Church. It will remain there until Easter Day, to be carried back decorated with flowers after the mid morning service, while Easter hymns are sung by those following. Full de-tails of services at the churches are posted on their notice boards and newsletters.

FOOTBALL FUND-RAISER -- Presteigne Football Club plan a summer Balloon Race, the date to be announced later. Tickets for the event are already on sale from the chairman Alan Randall on 267485. First prize will be a weekend break for two at one of the South Wales sister hotels of Presteigne's Radnorshire Arms.

FLOWER ARRANGING -- The May meeting of the club will feature 'Delightful Discoveries' by demonstrator Pat Crane on Wednesday, May 9.

MEMORIAL SERVICE -- The date of the Memorial Mass for the late Father Bonaventure Welsford, to be held at Presteigne Catholic Church, will be April 21 at 7pm, the Saturday after Easter, and not on April 28. Bishop Daniel Mullins will officiate. Local church leaders and their members have been invited to attend, together with the Mayors of Presteigne and Knighton. Members of the public will be welcome.

DAY CENTRE -- A very successful Spring Sale was held at the East Radnorshire Day Centre in aid of the Comfort Fund. Staff and members had worked busily to provide an array of attractive stalls and all wore specially trimmed Easter Bonnets. There was an excellent attendance and at the end of an enjoyable afternoon the raffle was drawn and the attractive prizes presented to the winners; the names of the baby dolls in lovely hand-knitted clothes were announced as Francis and Mary. Day Centre manager Vicki Ball thanked everyone very much for their hard work towards the success of the event, and to all who had generously supported. The total raised was £398.75, which will be a valuable help towards the cost of the summer outing.

THIRD WORLD AID -- The Lent Lunch held at the Catholic Church raised just over £80, the proceeds going to CAFOD, which funds overseas development in very poor countries. Father Conleth O'Hara announced that donations to CAFOD including those resulting from Family Fast Day in the parish, Lent donations, and the Lent Lunch, had reached a total of £384.75. This had now been sent to CAFOD for the relief of hunger.

CRICKET CLUB -- Presteigne Cricket Club holds its Easter Bingo at the Royal British Legion Club on Monday, April 16, at 8pm. Excellent prizes including cash. Members of the cricket club are eagerly watching the progress of their long awaited pavilion, which is now under construction on the same site as their former one, which sadly burned down some years ago. The contractors are McColvilles.

HISTORIC TREE -- Norton's 12 Wellingtonia trees have sadly begun to show their age. The plaque beside them relates that they were planted by the 12 children of Sir Richard Green-Price in honour of their father, and they have become a famous landmark beside the main road between Presteigne and Knighton as it approaches the village of Norton. Now it has been learned by the town council that the tree nearest to the Ackhill Lane turning is dying and must be felled.

MID BORDER ARTS -- The April programme of Mid Border Arts shows a pleasing variety of cultural events for patrons to choose from. The regular sessions of Bandamania, directed by Sue Harris, continue on Monday evenings -- details from 267632 -- throughout April and at least until May 14. A lecture on 'The Forbidden City' will be given at the Assembly Rooms on Sunday, April 22, at 3pm by Rose Kerr. She is keeper of the Far Eastern Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum and is one of the UK's best-known Chinese ceramic experts. Details from 260577. Looking ahead to May, a performance of Haydn's 'Nelson Mass' will be given at St Andrew's Church on Saturday, May 12, at 7pm, with a choral workshop from 10am. Inquiries from those interested in taking part should be made to Marion Rowlatt on 260466.

FUNERAL -- The funeral took place at Presteigne Baptist Church of Edna May Bufton, aged 79, who died on March 26. The service was conducted by the Rev. Suzanne Roberts, assisted by the Rev. G Price Stephens and Pastor David Pritchard, son-in-law of Mrs Bufton. In his address, the Rev. Price Stephens recalled Mrs Bufton had been a member of Presteigne Baptist Church for 60 years, and she and her late husband Jim had been married there. During his many years as secretary to the Baptist Church she had given valuable support.

LEISURE CENTRE -- During the Easter holiday weeks, East Radnor Leisure Centre is offering a large range of activities with special appeal for youngsters. Morning Mayhem starts at 9am daily. Details from 01544 260302.

GLASSES -- Sheila Arnold from Link Line in Presteigne has put out an appeal for old glasses, which will be taken to Africa by her brother, John Whatmore, when he travels to the country with a team of Optometrists later in the year. Books have already been sent to the country, but quite a few people suffer from eye problems and can not see to read, many of these are children. Sheila has already received lots of pairs of old glasses including nearly twenty pairs collected by Baptist Minister, Stephen Wood from Knighton. Anyone who has any old pairs of glasses they no longer use can take them to Sheila at her home in Knucklas, or Link Line at John Beddoes School, Presteigne (after Easter), or Stephen at The Baptist Manse, Victoria Road, Knighton. For further information telephone Link Line on 01544 260004.

HOPES AND DREAMS -- Rehearsals for the musical production, 'Hopes and Dreams', due to be performed in Presteigne and Knighton at the beginning of May, have continued regularly since January, musical director Marion Rowlatt has reported. The large choir has been 'brilliant' and its rehearsal attendance excellent. The singers will take a break over Easter and the first full rehearsal with the entire cast of performers takes place on April 18 at St Andrews.