ST JAMES' CHURCH: At the annual meeting held on Sunday evening last, the chair was taken by Ken Rowlands, one of the churchwardens, the new rector the Rev Richard Thorniley, not yet having been inducted. Mr Rowlands, together with Mr Mervyn Huggins, were confirmed in their terms of office as wardens the former to serve another year, the latter two more years. Two retiring members of the Parochial Church Council, Mrs Cathy May and Mr Alan Hirst, were thanked in their absence for their long years of devoted service to the church and, in the case of Mr Hirst for his sterling work as treasurer. The vacancy for this post was filled by Mr Clive Allen. Two new members were added to the PCC, Mrs Ann Dolphin and Mrs Sue Bullard. Among the reports presented by various members of the congregation responsible for organising different aspects of church life, was one given by Neil Dunlop, the leader of the village Youth Project. Explaining that 4/5 age groups totalling 80 children or young people now meet at different times and places each week, he paid tribute to the help he receives from a number of volunteers who assist him in running the groups and who look forward, as he does, to adding to these numbers in the forthcoming weeks. Most of the groups meet in the Baptist chapel, but one all-boys' group, newly formed, meets regularly in St James' church. An all-girls' group is planned for the near future. Neil spoke warmly of the help and encouragement he has received from both churches and from many individuals, including Mrs Palmer and the staff of the school, and said he looks forward to increasingly good relations between residents of all ages. The churchwardens' report included information about the fabric of the church. Immediate work on the roof has been completed but further work has to be done on the cladding of the spire. A faculty for improved lighting in the church had been granted and work will begin on this project in the very near future. The application for permission to remove the pews at the rear end of the church nave so as to provide an open space where meetings could be held or displays mounted has received what is known as a re-ordering approval. This means that the pews can be removed (though not disposed of at this stage) which will enable a thorough inspection to be made of the deterioration under the flooring. The chiming of the clock absent since the re-structuring of the tower to house the bells has proved a difficult problem to solve, the reason being that the geared winding motor is no longer being manufactured. Advice of experts is being sought and the possibility of a radio-controlled clock is being considered. The meeting closed with thanks to the many people who work hard in a variety of ways to keep the church alive and active and to maintain the ancient building which is so much a part of the village and its history.

LONDON MARATHON: It is hoped that readers will be aware that Mervyn Huggins, mentioned in the foregoing as one of the churchwardens, was not present at the annual meeting - he was in London where he had run the marathon to raise money for the Youth Project. It is a pleasure to report that he achieved this in a very creditable time of three hours 39 minutes, that he enjoyed the experience enormously and that his sponsorship money will add up to over £1,700. He has earned our congratulations and our thanks!