I HAVE been asked on behalf of the members of the Severnside Senior Citizens Club to thank the parishioners of Forthampton for their gifts and support for the club's christmas table top sale held at Apperley Village Hall on Saturday, November 24, where a total of £300 was raised.

Music in Anticipation of Christmas was the theme for the concert held in the parish church of St Mary the Virgin on Saturday, December 1. The concert, given by Chorus Felum and instrumentalists from the Denmark Road Barogue Group, was a great success and was well supported. The first half of the concert consisted of pieces from Handel's Messiah ending with the "Hallelujah! Chorus". During the interval wine and nibbles were served. The second half of the concert was in a lighter vein. Two duets played brilliantly on flugel horn by Amy Bowman and Steve Harper raised the church roof. This was followed by Lizzie Lawrence on keyboard with her own composition Tanus' Death. Next another composition by Sophie Coles called Variations on O Little Town of Bethlehem this time performed on violins and the cello. The concert ended with a lively rendering by the singers of The Christmas Alphabet. A most enjoyable evening was had by all. The concert, which had been organised by Arthur and Cath Lawrence, raised a grand total of £96 towards the Flower Festival Funds 2002.

On Sunday an Advent Songs of Praise was held in the church. This consisted of hymns and readings on an Advent theme. The choir led the singing accompanied by the resident organist Arthur Lawrence. The readers were Rev David Bowers, Margaret Moss, Charlotte Moreland, and Mary-Ann Preece. Before the service the Rev David Bowers thanked the organist Arthur Lawrence once again for organising the enjoyable and successful concert on the previous evening and for the money raised towards the flower festival funds.