ROYAL BRITISH LEGION WOMENS SECTION: Held their May meeting in the Betteridge Room, Village Hall. After the business and delegates reports from Mrs Kearsey on National Conference, Mrs Betty Foster gave a talk on 'Small Holdings' she was unable to give her original talk 'A Fools Guide to Gardening'. Mrs Foster was thanked by Mrs P Holder. Hostesses were Mrs M Dicken and Mrs M Gregg. Monthly prize was won by Mrs S Bull. Next meeting June 6 when the speaker will be envoy Susan Walters 'Salvation Army Work in Great Britain'. Hostesses for June Mrs D Harris, Mrs J Lampitt and Mrs T Holder. Monthly prize Mrs I Brazier.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION: The Sedgeberrow branch of the Royal British Legion held its annual dinner at the Beckford Hotel on Thursday last attended by over 70 members and guests and a number of members from neighbouring branches. The Exhortation was given by branch chairman Mervyn Kearsey and Grace was said by the branch chaplain Rev Clifford Johnston-Hubbold. The chairman welcomed guests and reported on the branch activities for the past year. The branch had retained the Taffy Matthews Cup for the efficiency of small branches within the county and in the sports field the branch won the county six-a-side skittles competition and was runners-up in the 12-a-side skittles and whist competitions. He reported that the poppy appeal total was a record figure of £1,226 and that the women's section had also donated £450 to county and benevolent funds. He also stated that the year 2002 would be the 50th anniversary of the formation of the branch and that they would then be entitled to receive the 50-year pennant to carry with the branch standard.

A church service would be arranged for this occasion and this would include the presentation in church of the plaque of the names of the founder members of the branch at present kindly being framed by Colin Angell. Emma Kearsey was congratulated on retaining the women's section county standard bearer's title and going on to retain the West Midland Regional title.

She competed against nine other regional winners in the National Competition in Bournemouth two weeks ago where she was placed fourth, only six points behind the winner.Mr Kearsey welcomed the newly appointed county chaplain, John Champion. He recalled that on his 41,000 mile tour of duty as padre to HMS Birmingham in the 1950s he took with him a tape recording of the Hinton-on-the-Green Church Bells which he used to introduce Sunday Services worldwide. Canon Champion spoke of his activities as a padre in the Royal Navy and his other duties within the church. He was proud to be appointed county chaplain and was looking forward to his term of office. He proposed the toast to the branch. Unfortunately Mrs Champion was unable to attend the dinner and on behalf of the branch women's section president Pauline Holder presented the Canon with an orchid to take to her with our best wishes for a speedy recovery.