THIS month everyone attending the Castlemorton Gardening Club lecture will have a special treat. No worrying about planting seeds, pruning, slugs or snails, we shall just sit back and enjoy the fruits of someone else's labours. We are delighted to welcome Judy Berrow, who is the Worcestershire organiser of the National Gardens Scheme. She will be talking about Private Gardens for Public Enjoyment. So come along and plan your summer outings to these wonderful gardens. The lecture starts at 7.45pm on Thursday, March 20 in Castlemorton Parish Hall. Visitors are welcome.

For those fortunate enough to be present at St Gregory's Church last Saturday, a welcoming peal of the newly restored bells preceded a wonderful concert given by the talented pupils and staff of Malvern College Chamber Choir and Orchestra. Iain Sloan, director of music at the college, led the choir in a variety of musical genres from Purcell's Bell Anthem to Siyahamba, a traditional Zulu song which the choir has sung on many occasions, including one trip to Brussels and Amsterdam, when they rehearsed it whilst travelling on trains and canal boats! The quality of singing was consistently excellent throughout the evening and two members of the choir, Camilla Darlow (soprano) and Caroline Blomyeyer (mezzo soprano), offered solo items equally of a high standard.

The Chamber Orchestra, directed by Stephen McDade, presented Purcell's Chaconne, showing well their skills in good ensemble playing without a conductor. Miranda Jones (flute) performed the Presto from Bach's B Minor Sonata and members of the Chamber Orchestra presented other solo items: Alice Howick (violin), Kreisler's Variations on a Theme by Corelli, Edward Nesbit (viola), his own Theme and Variations, and Ros Powell (cello), Sicilienne by von Paradis. All were performed with appropriate style and expertise with some well balanced accompaniment by Michael Phillips and Mari Spanyol on organ and piano.

Many thanks to the band of volunteers who made the delicious refreshments which were served in the church afterwards. The event raised in excess of £500 in aid of the Jubilee Bells appeal.