MORE about the parish plan. The first meeting of the steering group will be on Monday, January 17 at 8pm at Old Mill House, Hollow Lane, Staplow. The agenda will include prioritising the various tasks involved in producing the plan, especially the questionnaires and funding. All parish residents are welcome. Meanwhile, the model makers are making progress with the contoured model of the village.

Carrie-Ann and Andrew Squires were so moved by the situation in south-east Asia following the tsunami that they decided to organise a village collection through the Red Cross. They had anticipated that people might turn out loose change but in the end the money they collected from Wellington Heath came to the astonishing sum of £820.52.

The collection for the service at Christ Church last Sunday will also be given to help the survivors of this dreadful disaster and this has enabled the church to donate £180 to the Christian Aid tsunami fund. Well done, everybody!

The Wellington Heath Bridge Club is participating in a world-wide simultaneous pairs competition in aid of the people in south-east Asia. This will take place in the Memorial Hall on Tuesday, January 18 from 2-5pm. Anyone who plays standard Acol (including non-members) will be very welcome - and a partner is guaranteed! The normal weekly fee of £1.50 will be charged but additional personal donations can be made and all proceeds will be passed to the International Disaster Fund.

The event will be played in countries all over the world and the results processed through the internet. Although there will be no prizes for winning, it is hoped that there will be a good turn out for such a worthy cause.