COUNCIL - The annual parish council meeting is on Wednesday at 8pm in Aymestrey Village Hall.

JUBILEE - The organising committee for the Aymestrey parish Diamond Jubilee celebration will meet at Corner Cottage on Tuesday at 10.30am. This will be the last meeting before the event at Gatley on June 4.

Committee members will be extremely pleased to receive offers of help in setting up and preparing for the celebrations. Call Marion on 770498, Mary on 709042 or Meg on 780384.

CELEBRATION - A weekend of events starts on June 3 when the Holy Communion service at Aymestrey Church at 11am will include the dedication of the Diamond Jubilee banner.

On June 4, Aymestrey Parish Council plans to celebrate the jubilee in style, inviting every parishioner to a pig roast at Gatley Park Barns courtesy of Phillip and Domenica Dunne. The evening will start with a service at St Andrew’s Church, Leinthall Earls, at 6pm. Following the service a tractor and trailer will be available for those who need a lift up to Gatley Park where the main event will commence at 7.30pm. Everyone attending, children and adults alike, are encouraged to make and wear a crown which will be judged by Phillip and Domenica. Prizes will be awarded for the best efforts in three age classes. The council has commissioned special mugs, designed by local artist Jonathan Heale, to be given to children of the parish. There will also be mugs available to buy. Entertainment will be provided by local folk group Loxley – who are to sing for the Queen on her visit to Hereford on July 19 – and also by local singers. The evening will finish with the lighting of the beacon at 10.15pm as part of the network of over 4,000 to be lit by communities throughout the UK and Commonwealth. Gatley Park Barns are at one of the highest points in the county and can be seen for miles.

DEBUSSY AT 150 - As part of the Leominster Festival Roger Nicholls, biographer, historian, pianist and broadcaster will give a talk with music at St Andrew’s Church, Leinthall Earls, on June 17. This will start at 3pm and will be followed by afternoon tea at Manor Farm. This event will be in aid of Leinthall Earls and Aymestrey churches’ ongoing restoration programme. Tickets are £10 (including afternoon tea) from Leominster Festival Box Office or Chrissie Lawson on 01568 770431.