CONGRESBURY OVER 60s CLUB:

Members enjoyed had an enjoyable afternoon when Richard Ballinger kept them well entertained with a variety of tricks and number puzzles. Many of his tricks required the assistance of various members and at times the results produced much hilarity. All members present were highly impressed by the clever tricks performed and look forward to Richard’s return at a later date. At the next meeting vocalist Val Ross will provide the entertainment and final bookings will be taken for the coach trip to Swansea and the Mumbles. For further details of the club’s programme please telephone 01934 832004.

WRINGTON FRIENDSHIP CLUB:

At the first meeting in April Chris Cudlipp gave a fascinating talk on bees and beekeeping. He underlined how important it is to have bees in our gardens and the countryside and how we should try to have bee-attracting plants in our gardens to encourage them to pollinate the flowers. The statistics of how many miles they fly to collect pollen and the sheer hard work it takes to produce honey were amazing and members agreed that they had enjoyed a most interesting afternoon. At the meeting on April 24 vocalist Chris Rainbow gave a most impressive performance and evoked memories of the past as he played and sang a varied programme of hits and members look forward to his next visit. The club meets at Wrington Village Hall at 2.30pm and has vacancies for members aged 50 and upwards, so why not come along and enjoy a warm welcome and make some new friends. Contact Fred Parsons on 01934 863562 for further information

RAFA CONCERT BAND - BLAKEHAY RESIDENT BAND:

Rehearsals have been focusing on music for the next round of engagements. There are some very high profile engagements this year including Wells Cathedral on August 21 with guests Cheddar Male Choir; Poppy Appeal Launch onboard the replica of the Matthew; National Indoor Arena, Birmingham to name just a few of our future jobs. If you want to know more about the band and joining please visit our website rafaconcertband.org.uk or ring 01934 820205 for more details.

Future engagements include: June 6 - Poppy Picnic in Grove Park; June 19 - Concert, National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas; July 5 – Grove Park Bandstand; July 12 – small band – 90th birthday at Tortworth Court; July 14 – Five Piece Ensemble Reception, Cardiff.

PROBUS WESTON:

At our last meeting our programme secretary, Colin Yorke, stepped in at the eleventh hour to give a talk on the Battle of Waterloo and the associated campaigns.

Our next meeting is on May 21 when Elizabeth Rhodes will present ‘Keep the home fires burning’.

New members are always welcome to join us at our new venue at Worlebury Golf Club.

We have a varied programme of talks and outings arranged for this year.

If you are interested or would like further information, telephone 01934 514857 or check out our website www.probusweston.com

WORLEWIND BAND:

Following a fabulous concert at Wick St Lawrence last Saturday the band is now turning its attention to the forthcoming summer engagements. The first of which will be at Ivy Clad Hall in Brent Knoll on July 5. The band is very fortunate to have a large number of hugely talented musicians and has recently welcomed another alto saxophone and another trombone meaning that they now have five of each – a luxury indeed. For details on how to join or book the band please contact Julia Ractliffe on 01934 517719 or visit the website at www.worlewindband.co.uk

THE NOTABLE CLUB:

Club members welcomed Duncan Massey for a PowerPoint presentation about Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue. This was an enjoyable, interesting and informative insight of this emergency charity service staffed by volunteers who are on call 24/7, 365 days a year.

Members enjoyed an outing to the Steam Museum and Swindon designer outlet housed in the buildings of the Great Western Railway works. Next week volunteer helper David Elsey will give a presentation ‘Saints and sinners in Eastern Europe’

The Notable Club is a weekly, socially active lunchtime club for physically disabled people aged 16 to 60 years. Contact Dina on 07845 220349 for further information.

WRINGTON VALE INNER WHEEL CLUB:

Fourteen members attended the Inner Wheel Annual Conference in Bournemouth. Over two thousand members from Great Britain and Ireland attended and was followed by a variety of speakers including Pru Leith CBE, who gave a passionate plea for supporting Euthanasia, followed by an account of her life as a broadcaster, novelist and television presenter. This was followed by Malcolm Wells MBE who spoke about the charity Canine Partners that train dogs to assist people with disabilities so that they can enjoy greater independence. Profoundly deaf Dr Paul Whittaker OBE founded the charity Music and the Deaf to help people access music and performing arts, his talk was so moving there was hardly a dry eye and he deservedly had a standing ovation. The last speaker was Ann Widdecombe who gave a hilarious talk about her life and in particular her time on Strictly Come Dancing. A delightful children’s choir closed the proceedings.

WEST WOODSPRING INNER WHEEL:

Members of West Woodspring Inner Wheel, joined by Weston Rotarians, gathered in the quarry at Uphill on a blustery Saturday morning to support and encourage their intrepid President, Lovina, as she prepared to abseil down Uphill Quarry in aid of her chosen charity, Young Carers. ‘Petrified, but determined to have a go’, is how Lovina described feeling as she went over the edge. Following the four Rotarians who also abseiled the quarry for local charities and having been buffeted by a typical Weston wind, ‘exhilarated’, is how Lovina said she felt by the time she’d reached the bottom safely, to be greeted by her proud granddaughter Lonni and her cheering friends, and fellow Inner Wheel club members.

WESTON FLOWER CLUB:

Our next meeting is on Monday and the club is pleased to welcome Jackie Beard, who will demonstrate for us, usually eight beautiful designs, her interpretation of ‘What Next’. We meet at 2 for 2.30pm at St George’s Hall.

Following the demonstration tea and biscuits will be served and the designs raffled. Come and spend a relaxing afternoon with us, visitors are always welcome and if you would like further information please contact Pauline on 01934 413140.

BLEADON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY:

David Burgess gave a fascinating insight into the designs and ideas behind Japanese gardens.

The next meeting of the society will take place in the Coronation Hall on Tuesday at 7.30pm when David Bryant will be the guest speaker on the subject of old and new roses. This is open to anyone at £1 admission.

WAVES OF HARMONY:

Waves of Harmony ladies close harmony chorus welcomed the Gospelvoices from Hildesheim. They will be accompanying them on a visit to some of Somerset’s historic towns and countryside and make sure that during their visit they see and visit Weston’s many attractions. On Saturday both groups will be performing in a concert at St Paul’s Church, Walliscote Road at 7.30pm. Free entrance with a collection with all proceeds going to the mayor’s charities.

WESTON TANGENT CLUB:

At the annual Chairman’s Dinner, Ruth Lamb the outgoing chairman handed over to Carole Lohmann, who is taking on the role for the second time. Carole’s husband Ken, who is also chairman of 41 Club this year, interrupted the proceedings to present flowers to Carole from himself and also a bouquet from 41 Club. Weston Tangent honorary president Di Harper had come to the end of her two years in office and she passed the chain to fellow Tangent member Janice Chantrell. 40 members and guests from other clubs gathered at Batch Country Hotel to enjoy a delicious meal and to wish the new chairman and honorary president of Weston Tangent good luck.

WESTON YOUTH ORCHESTRA:

Are you a young musician aged 21 or under and interested to join an orchestra? If so Weston Youth Orchestra would love to hear from you. We rehearse every Friday at the Boulevard United Reformed Church, Weston and have both a junior and a senior orchestra to cater for a wide scope of age and ability. We perform a number of concerts each year and our members are given the opportunity to experience a varied range of musical repertoire ranging from Mozart to the film scores of John Williams. If you would like to arrange to come along to one of our rehearsals please contact our director, Dennis Cole on 01934 623787 or 07787 520230.

Further information about the orchestra can also be found on www.westonyouthorchestra.org.uk

CHURCHILL SINGERS:

Our spring concert is on June 6 at St Leonard’s Parish Church in Shipham at 7.30pm. This will be a joint concert when we welcome back our exchange choir Im Takt from Koln (Cologne) in Germany. The Churchill Singers will be led by their conductor and musical director Michael Taylor with accompanist Alison Blundell. The Im Takt Choir will perform a selection of German traditional songs, gospel songs in English and swing and pop songs from across the world. They will be accompanied by their three soloists on flute, piano and double bass and will be conducted by their musical director Gerd Jansen from the keyboard.

There will be wine and refreshments during the interval and tickets priced £8 may be purchased on the door. Both choirs produced a splendid concert together at Shipham in July 2012, so this is a concert not to be missed. Further details may be obtained from 01934 843388 or 01934 852005.

WESTON ROTARY CLUB:

Weston Rotarians are helping to provide emergency shelter and equipment for survivors of the earthquake disaster in Nepal. The Rotary Club of Weston and the Inner Wheel Club of West Woodspring collected a total of £964 from the public at Waitrose on May 10 for ShelterBox. The money raised will enable emergency shelter and repair kits that are needed for survival to be sent to Nepal.

For more information about Rotary activities and membership see www.westonrotaryclub.org.uk and www.facebook.com/westonrotaryclub or telephone secretary Bernard Land on 07970 184301.