BISHOP'S CERTIFICATE: Eight people who had been studying together in Eckington for the past year met with three other groups from all over the diocese to receive their awards from Bishop Peter Selby. The Bishop's certificate course is designed to broaden understanding of the Christian faith, by studying the Bible, its history, the development of the Anglican Communion and how these affect the way we worship.

Those receiving the awards were Kalantha Brewis, Lylah Goodwin, Angela Lancelot, Margaret Putnam, Vicki Ardran, Beate Atter and Patricia Steel, and Roger Palmer.

CLINIC CLOSES: After 52 years the village baby clinic will be closing its doors in February for the last time, due to lack of support.

THURSDAY CLUB: Meeting in the village hall today at 2.15pm. This will be a get-together for a chat and refreshments. January 19 is the first outing this year, to the March Hare for a carvery followed by a visit to Worcester Garden Centre, depart from Eckington at 11.30am, coach £6, carvery £4.25. Non-members welcome. For information call Janet on 750066 or Margaret on 750316.

CAROL SINGING: FOES and friends enjoyed an evening of singing on December 16, and raised £80 for the Joss Parkes Hope Trust.

POPPY APPEAL: Eckington and District branch of the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal this year was well supported and raised £7,154, almost £1,400 up on 2004's total.

The Strensham Motorway collection amounted to about 75 per cent of the total.

The branch has only 29 members but hopes to get more soon in order to be able to keep the branch open, as it has been since the 1950s.

New members Mrs Nancy Beacon and Mr Philip Higgins attended the AGM.