GARDENING CLUB OUTING: Members and friends of the Gardening Club joined the coach on August 13 for their outing to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses at Edgbaston. As the weather was dry and fine, on reaching the gardens coffee was obtained before the party set off to visit the gardens with their herbaceous borders, rock garden, the Cottage Museum and Theme Gardens, before enjoying lunch. As the afternoon turned to summer rain the glasshouses were visited with the exotic variety of tropical plants and birds and to relax and listen to the Newhall Brass band from Bourton-on-Trent. Afternoon tea was served, which was much appreciated, then it was homeward bound down the M5. Appreciation was accorded to the officers of the club for organising the outing and to the coach driver for his care and interest. The club's next meeting will be held at the Eckington Village Hall and the speaker will be Mr B Harris, who will talk about "September in your garden".

THURSDAY CLUB: At the meeting of the Thursday Club held at the village hall, Mr J Mole, Club Chairman, welcomed members to a "Fun Meeting". Supervised by Mrs M Draper and Mr Mole an exciting game of "Horse Race" was devised and adjudicated by Mrs O Newbury and all members were able to partake in the games or elect their own substitute. Competitors were reminded that the must wind the model horses and jockeys. After hilarious heats, the winners were Mrs M Draper and Mrs M Berwick. Refreshments were organised by Mrs R Andrews and Mrs J Vaughan. Mrs A Mole, the club's organising secretary, took names of members wishing to join the club's outing to Witley Court and Stourport. The outing is being held on August 31 and the coach will leave the village at 9.30 a.m. Club raffles were organised by Mrs G Allen and raised £26 for club funds. Winners were: Mr J Mole, Mrs M Berwick, Mrs M Stephens, Mrs E Jones, Mrs K Welch, Mrs D Edwards, Mrs A Mole, Mrs J Vaughan, Mrs M Draper, Mrs W Palmer, Mrs J Perrett and Mrs N Beacon. To end the afternoon's entertainment, Mr J Mole read about "The Angel of The North", poem, and Church Bulletins.

WHIST DRIVE: At the weekly whist drive, held at the Eckington Village Hall, 14 tables were in play. The event was organised by Mrs B Hodges and Miss E Ricketts to raise funds for the County Air Ambulance Service. Mr John Chester was MC, Mr C Bromfield, Drawmaster. Whist, raffles and mystery prizes were won by Mrs E Edwards, Mr P Macarthy, Mrs P Griffin, Mr K Bulmer, Mrs C Evans, Mr L Gunter, Mrs G Brian, Mr G Errington, Mrs G Crook, Mrs M Owen, Mrs J Kusiak, Mrs F Williams, Mr G Quiney, Mrs P Wallis, Mrs B Hodges, Mr T Jeynes, Mrs E Yarwood, Mrs E Haynes, Mrs E Warner, Mrs J Crowley, Mr T Grinnell, Mrs J Bainbridge, Mrs T Stamp, Mrs B Bromfield, Mrs O Wells, Mr B Jones, Mr J Whitehouse. And Mrs H Archer. Refreshments were organised by the Lady Whist Drive.