DURING the past year Redmarley Citizens were taken on two theatre trips to Tewkesbury and Malvern and visited Lechlade and the Garden Centre and about 70 people enjoyed a special roast lunch in the village hall.

On June 18 there will be a coach trip to the Avoncroft Museum and Webbs Garden Centre at Worcester and a coffee evening will be held as a fundraiser at Larksmere on July 11.

For years a group of ladies have organised various events throughout the year for people of retirement age in the village. The chairman is Mary Humphreys. It is not a club as such, it all began with Miss Hilda Rouse, one of the longest serving parish clerks in the county, if not the country, who believed in helping the elderly and became a founder member of the committee which has continued ever since. Sadly Miss Rouse died last year but in her will left a bequest which has been or is being used for their enjoyment as she would have wished.

A very enjoyable coffee morning was held at Hanover House, Redmarley on Tuesday, May 20. It was held by kind invitation of Dee Humphries supported by her husband Bob, and her mother, Eileen Hullis.

All the stalls and competitions were well supported. There was a bring and buy stall with various and numerous items. Cakes, produce and plants were all very popular. The weather was so mixed that guests were unable to go into the garden but that did not deter people from socialising. It was nice to see members of Ledbury Indoor Bowling Club present. They were able to chat with Eileen, who until her recent illness was a keen member.

During the morning it was good to be able to see the board of cuttings about the Richard Gordon Scholarship Fund for which the morning's proceeds were devoted. This fund was started by Doris Gordon in 2000 after her husband Richard died following an accident in Cheltenham. The fund helps to educate orphans in Bangalore, India. Richard was himself for a short time an orphan in India until a relative rescued him and brought him to England.

As well as all the other attractions a box was placed by Dee's door for paper, pens ad pencils for Doris to take to the orphans in India later this year. This as well filled and greatly appreciated.

The raffle had many winners. One prize was a book entitled Farewell Thrush Green and was donated by the author Miss Read, in real life Dora Saint. The book was won by a Redmarley resident Hazel Farmer. Other winners were Mary Humphrys, Sue Harding, Jean Clack, Rene Brown, Laverne Williams, Betty Bullock, Noreen Todd, Win Downing, Neil Farmer, Bob Humphries, Peter Newing and Clive Bond.

Dee and family wish to thank everyone who supported the morning in any way and helped to raise the excellent sum of £200 for the Richard Gordon Scholarship Fund. This is a valuable addition to the £11,000 already raised.