Bourton

TABLE TOP SALE: There will be another table top sale on Saturday in the Royal British Legion Hall between 11am and 3pm. Refreshments available and free parking. Tables can be booked on 01451-820608.

FLOWER FESTIVAL: Over the weekend, St Lawrence's Church is holding a flower festival and will feature the Four Shires Guild of Handbell Ringers during the event.

AUTUMN SHOW: Bourton Vale Horticultural Society is holding its Autumn Show in the Royal British Legion hall between 2 and 5pm on Saturday. Admission is 50p for adults, 10p for children.

LIONS SALE: Also on Saturday, Northleach Lions Club are holding a sale to raise money for the charities which they support. It takes place between 10am and 5pm in the Victoria Hall.

ROVERS FETE: On Bank Holiday Monday, Bourton Rovers Football and Social Club are holding their annual fete on the Green between 11am and 4pm. Attractions include tombola, duck racing and stalls. Football in the river starts at 4pm.

MODEL RAILWAY SHOW: Also on Bank Holiday Monday, there is a model railway exhibition at the Victoria Hall between 10am and 5pm

NOTGROVE SHOW: Finally, on Bank Holiday Monday, the Notgrove Village and District Produce Show and Fete starts in the village hall at 2pm. Lots of stalls, tombola, dog show and teas. For show entries contact 01451-820274.

ANNUAL CAKE DAY: On Tuesday, Kate's Carers, the group that provides nursing care for the terminally ill in the North Cotswolds, is holding their third annual Cotswold Cake Day at the Victoria Hall starting at 10am. Lots of home baked cakes, bookstall, tombola and a chance to have a slice of cake and a cuppa. If you would like to bake a cake for the event, ring Val Milford on 01451-810167.

WHIST DRIVE: On Wednesday, at 7.15pm, there will be a whist drive at Market Close. All welcome.

WORKSHOP AT RISSINGTON: Also Wednesday, there is a children's holiday workshop in the village hall at Upper Rissington between 10.30am and 12.30pm. For children aged 8 to 12, about everyday life during World War Two. Please pre-book on 01608-650881.

CANCER CASH: Over £1,500 was raised by the sale at Victoria Hall last week for Cancer Unit in Cheltenham General Hospital. Organiser, Sue Cowen, expresses appreciation of support by all in raising this sum.

PASSION PLAY VISIT: A small group from St Lawrence's parish church joined up with a party from St Cyr's in Stonehouse for a visit to Oberammergau to see the Passion Play which is performed each decade. "A great and emotional experience" was how one of the party described the play.

A FORMER rector of Bourton and rural dean for the Cotswolds celebrated his golden wedding recently. Canon Charles Pickthorn became the rector of Bourton in 1960 and also served as chaplain at the RAF Central Flying School before he became rural dean in 1967. Ten years later he became an honorary canon of Gloucester Cathedral. Mr Pickthorn, who comes from Hereford, and his wife, Patricia, were married in July 1950 at Eastnor, Mrs Pickthorn's home village, before taking a honeymoon on the Isle of Wight. Later that year Mr Pickthorn was ordained as a clergyman and the couple moved to Harrogate for four years. Next stop was six years as priest-in-charge of a parish in Surrey, where their daughter, Suzanne, was born in 1958. They moved to Bourton in 1960 and during their time in the village Mrs Pickthorn was heavily involved in the Mother's Union and with the village Guides. She also helped with various parish organisations and charities, such as Barnardo's. Her husband, who also served as honorary chaplain to the Royal Irish Rangers from 1975 to 1979, became a governor of several schools, including Bourton Primary School from which he recently retired as chairman after 40 years of service. The couple moved to Prestbury, near Cheltenham, when Mr Pickthorn retired in 1991 and they celebrated their golden wedding with a lunch for 110 friends and family at the Cheltenham Park Hotel.