WESTON & DISTRICT NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION: Lectures in October are: Yvonne Bell –‘The Edwardian home’ on October 6 at 2.15pm and Simon Larkins –‘National Trust gardens of south Somerset’ on October 14 at 7.30pm. Both are in Corpus Christi Church hall.

Also in the hall we have Teas and Teasers on October 28 at 2-4pm.

An outing has been planned to Tetbury where we shall enjoy a cream tea at the Close Hotel before continuing to Chavenage - a fascinating Elizabethan house, for a guided tour.

We shall visit on November 23 - contact Mrs B Butcher 01934 647815. The popular autumn lunch is arranged for November 20 at The Commodore Hotel, Kewstoke at 12noon for 1pm.

The cost is �14.25 and booking forms were included with the newsletter.

RAFA CONCERT BAND: The band travelled to the Tacchi-Morris Centre for a RAFA concert with special guest Mandy Starr, comedienne and singer. The near capacity crowd were treated to an evening of humour and excellent entertainment. Our Night at the Oscars concert is building up nicely and I would advise getting your tickets booked to avoid disappointment.

Look out for our future concert adverts in the Mercury.

The search for competent players on brass and woodwind continues especially on oboe and trombone, gives us a call if you are interested.

Future engagements include: October 8 - A Night at The Oscars concert, Blakehay, Wadham Street, Weston at 7.30pm. October 15 - RAFA concert and two Welsh choirs, Barry Comprehensive School, Barry at 7.30pm. October 23 - German band - private gig. October 25 - Small ensemble playing outside the Promenade Caf�, Winter Gardens.

Visit our website on www.rafaswconcertband.org.uk or ring 01934 820205 for more details

WESTON BRASS: The final engagement of the season in Grove Park was one of the most enjoyable of the season. It was a lovely warm September afternoon, with a large and receptive audience as the band played, just as right across the country, hundreds of other bands were doing the same thing, as part of the Brass Band Marathon.

Conductor Tony Osborne, is now keen for the band to concentrate on their next concert at Victoria Methodist Church and the contest in Torquay on October 5, when the band will compete in two sections. To help the band in their endeavours conductor and international tuba player Steve Sykes will take a brass workshop on October 29.

The band is currently looking to recruit two cornet players and would welcome competent players for these positions.

For more details regarding the band regarding contact Colin on 01934 514960 or visit our website www.westonbrass.com

CONSERVATIVE LADIES LUNCHEON CLUB: The first meeting of the clubs new year was well attended. The speaker, Ann Northy-Baker gave an amusing talk on life on and back stage with the Bleadon Players. The next meeting will be on October 14 when Chris Cudlipp will talk about bee keeping. Contact Christine Gamble on 811709 for reservations by October 10.

WESTON FILM SOCIETY: The new season at the Blakehay Theatre will start on October 5 with the screening of True Grit (15) at 7.45pm. This will be followed on November 2 with Skeletons (15), members �3/�4.50 for non-members.

The aim of the society is to provide a varied and interesting programme of films and occasional talks and involve members in the choice of films to be shown.

If you would like to know more contact George 01934 834866.

THE ‘EATING BETTER, PAYING LESS’ VEGETARIAN COOKERY CLUB: Meetings recommence on October 6 at 6.45pm in the church hall, Seventh-day Adventist Church, 500 Locking Road, Weston. Plenty of car parking space and new members very welcome.

WESTON PROBUS CLUB: Forty one members and their wives recently enjoyed an excellent afternoon visit to the American Museum in Claverham, Bath, and our thanks to John Pedley for organising this event.

Our first meeting in October will be held on the 6th at Weston Football Club when Brian Fish will be giving a talk entitled ‘Audio vision presentation’.

On October 20 Mike Rowland will be talking on ‘I K Brunel -The little giant’. The annual lunch will be held at Batch Country Hotel on October 27.

We are still looking out for new members and any retired gentlemen can contact our secretary Alan Bateman on 01934 514857.

WESTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: Members enjoyed their first meeting of the autumn when National Trust speaker Dawn Collins gave a talk on ‘Stourhead - The path to paradise’.

Dawn told us that Stourhead first belonged to Richard Hoare in the 18th century and the garden is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world.

Our next meeting is on October 13 at St Peter’s Church Hall, Baytree Road, at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm.

A representative from Park Garden Centre will be giving a talk on ‘Planting for spring’ including bulb planting and forcing.

They will be bringing along plants and bulbs for sale and also supplying prizes for the raffle.

There will be refreshments following the talk. Admission is free for members and �1 for visitors.

The Trading Hut at Clarke’s Field Allotments, Rector’s Way, is open for members every weekend from 9.30am-12.30pm.

Our membership secretary is always there and would be pleased to enrol new members.

For further details contact Cynthia Filer on 01934 514057.

PROBUS MILTON: The club meets on the second and fourth Thursday mornings at Hornets Rugby Club.

There is a wide range of outside speakers on specialist subjects.

Occasionally the club uses its own members drawing upon their work/life experiences and hobbies.

At the last meeting the speaker was Roy Ackrill. Originally trained as a metallurgist, he subsequently became a safety inspector travelling the country in various roles with the Health and Safety Inspectorate.

A most interesting presentation.

New members welcome. For more information visit www.probusmilton.org.uk or email secretary@probusmilton.org.uk

WESTON-SUPER-MARE ROTARY CLUB: President of Weston Rotary Club Richard Purgas welcomed the district governor Eric Sambell to our meeting at Worlebury Golf Club.

Eric is a member of Chippenham Rotary Club and he talked about keeping Rotary simple and the importance of good communications.

He congratulated Weston Rotary on their 90 years of service to the local community and their recent efforts to contribute towards Rotary’s international campaign to rid the world of Polio. Amongst other fundraising efforts the club had held another successful collection at Sedgemoor Services.

The District Governor said he was looking forward to attending the club’s big 90th Birthday Celebration on The Grand Pier on October 21.

For more information about Rotary please see www.westonrotaryclub.org.uk

CONGRESBURY OVER 60’S CLUB: Members enjoyed a talk by their favourite garden expert, Don Everitt, whose wonderful slides encompassed the whole spectrum of which plants to use to add colour to the garden in winter. The wide range of plants meant that there is plenty of choice available ranging from berried bushes to cyclamen to winter jasmine, mahonia and the sweetly scented Christmas box and stems such as those of dogwood, acer and cherry give colour to the barest garden.

The variety of colour and size in the range of hellebores are most attractive and the early snowdrops are the first welcome sign of spring.

Moving on towards spring the early crocuses give plenty of colour and the foliage of bergenia and pulmonaria give a welcome sign of the flowering season to come.

The club meets every other Tuesday at the War Memorial Hall from 2.30 to 4pm.

Entertainment is provided at each meeting and on Tuesday the entertainment will be provided by popular singer Tony Romney.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION: The Congresbury branch will meet on October 3 in the War Memorial Hall at 7.30pm and new members are always welcome.

The Poppy Appeal starts on October 29 and more helpers are needed to collect house-to-house and at Cadbury and Roundtrees garden centres.

If you can spare even an hour or two for this most worthy cause and are able to help please telephone the Poppy Appeal organiser, Irving Prowse, on 01934 832004.

THE FRIENDS OF SANDFORD WI: Members held a coffee morning last Saturday in aid of Macmillan Nursing and we were so thrilled to see so many people support us. We all enjoyed the morning and we were able to send a cheque for �539.

Thank you all for helping us support this wonderful organisation.

SANDFORD VILLAGE HALL: On October 19 is our autumn lunch. Tickets are �5 and we hope to see you all there. This is a great way to meet with old friends and make new friends and enjoy a steaming hot soup and delicious fruit pies.

Following on from this on October 28 is an evening with Mick Aston.

He is often on Time Team and is so interesting to listen to, he digs literally all around the area exposing history on our villages.

This should be a great evening and tickets are �7.50 to include a light supper.

All tickets for both events are available from Margretta Bailey on 852431 or Shirley Hobson on 852623.

UPHILL WI: Brain Saunders, a maker of theatrical props with a wide experience of work in professional and amateur productions, was the speaker at our October meeting. Accompanied by props and a ‘behind the scenes’ look at theatrical life, Brian’s audience was captivated.

The next bi-monthly lunch will be on October 19 – venue to be announced at the next meeting.

Uphill Autumn Fair will be held on October 8 in the Victory Hall.

Several members volunteered to help.

At our next meeting on October 12 John Gingell will talk on the history and making of chocolate – a must for all chocoholics.

Our meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 2.15pm in the Victory Hall, Uphill. Visitors are always welcome.

WOMEN OF WESTON – WOW: Our first meeting is on Monday at 10.30am for coffee.

We will meet again on October 27 at 7pm for evening drinks at The Imperial Brasserie, South Parade.

Contact Margs on 01934 413627 or email margs-smith@tiscali.co.uk

HUNTSPILL ART GROUP: Members will meet on Wednesday and October 19 at the Village Hall, East Huntspill, thereafter every two weeks.

All are welcome, charge �3.50 per session including refreshments. There will be a visiting tutor and doors open 1.30pm to set up. For more details contact Kay Bennett on 01278 789678.