ARTS THEATRE CLUB: At the meeting on December 10 the speaker was Hamish Dawson, who delighted members with a seasonal talk entitled Greetings from the Grotto, being reminiscences of his time as Father Christmas over many years in department stores in Cheltenham and in Clearwell Caverns in the Forest of Dean.

Mrs June Warner gave the vote of thanks and reminded members about the trip to Symphony Hall on January 22. She would shortly be sending out details of a visit to Malvern Theatre in March to see the Siberian Russian Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty.

The next evening meeting will be on Friday, February 18, when the speaker will be Tony Davis on the subject of Shakespeare on Film. Meetings take place in the Courtyard Room at Number 8 Community Centre for the Arts at 7.30pm. Visitors and prospective new members are welcome. Contact Mrs Dot Chapman on 01386 552989 for further details.

INNER WHEEL: December is for celebrating and Pershore Inner Wheel has certainly been doing that this Christmas season. A visit to the Waitrose store in Cheltenham was to start the season, where members were treated to a demonstration of new ideas for Christmas food and drink, and were allowed to sample at the end of the morning. The monthly meeting was in the form of a Christmas lunch and everyone enjoyed the informal get-together. Sunday brought a drinks and nibbles party at the home of the president, Jacqui Cravos. A visit to the Roses pantomime Mother Goose at Tewkesbury has been arranged.

RBL WOMEN'S SECTION: At the December meeting members enjoyed a Christmas party. After a short business meeting Laura Joyce, who was delegate at the county conference, gave her report. The conference was attended by Pershore's standard bearer and eight members. The delegate received on members' behalf a cup for regular attendance, a certificate for service to the community and one for progress and proficiency in the branch.

A meal prepared and served by the committee was enjoyed. After this followed a Christmas quiz. The meeting closed after carols were sung. The next meeting will be on February 1.