Eckington

If so, you will need to apply for a place at the First School shortly.

For details of the application process phone 01386 750666.

THAT TOPS IT: Last month villagers were asked to remove plastic milk bottle tops before recycling bottles. Now there is a better use for them than the bin. A handicapped boy in Cornwall has been offered a powered wheelchair if his church can collect his weight in milk and squash bottle tops. These are then recycled along with similar plastics.

If you would like to help, please leave your tops in Caroly Gemson's post-box (the bread oven in the wall) and she will pass them on.

BAZAAR: The Christmas Bazaar, will be at 2pm on Saturday, November 29 in the village hall. Stalls will include books, cakes, sweets, tombola, jewellery, raffles, novelties and refreshments.

Organisers are in need of small boxes suitable for jewellery, please contact Di Singleton if you can help.

WASSAIL INVITATION: Come wassailing at Holy Trinity Church with PODS on Friday, December 12 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 to include punch and mince pies. To book tickets contact Joan Green on 750396.

PARISH PLAN: The Countryside Commission has sponsored the development of a parish plan in Eckington which will provide a statement of what is important to the parish and a vision of how the community would like to see the parish develop and improve over the next five to 10 years. Once complete, the plan will be distributed to all households in the parish and held as a blueprint for development.

A small team of volunteers have been busy over the last few months gathering information on a wide range of issues about the parish. A questionnaire has now been based on the findings and this will be delivered with the magazine next month, to every house in the parish. The completed forms will be collected over the weekend of December 13 and 14.

The findings will be analysed after Christmas. If you would be interested in this temporary position and have some previous experience of this kind of work, phone Phil Sagar on 750401.

FOOTBALL CLUB: The club has decided to run an adults team, under 16 team, under 12 team boys and under 12 team girls, The aims for this season are: To form a committee; to arrange as many friendly matches as possible; apply for grants to help build changing rooms; build changing rooms ready for September, 2004, season; carry on training nights during midweek.

If you would like to play for Eckington Football Club, or just be involved on the committee, phone Martyn Poytress, 01386 751159.

FOES AUCTION OF PROMISES: Took place on Friday and was a great success once again. Thanks to everyone that donated promises, came along on the evening, sold catalogues, and helped on Friday. It raised £5,400 for the village school, £440 for the school's charity this year, SENSE, and £1300 for the new recreation centre build.

INFANT WELFARE CLINIC: Tomorrow, 2pm to 4pm in the village hall, with children from birth to five years old. All newcomers to the village are very welcome, please come along every month and support your baby clinic. Second Friday in every month.

MUMS AND MINNOWS: Meet in the Upper Room at church for a short service, toys, making and refreshments. All pre-school children with parents/carers welcome. The collection goes to the Children's Society, 2pm to 3pm, Thursday, November 20.

80s DISCO: Thanks to everyone that helped with or came along to this night last month when £275 was raised, half going to the village playgroup and half the new recreation centre building fund.

ECKINGTON SCHOOL: The week before half term was Art Week. Organised by Alexandra Symondson, all the children and staff enjoyed a week based around Diwali celebrations. As well as all the different art topics (masks, collage, cards, paintings etc) Divas were made, Indian food cooked, and prayers and dances learned.