ON Sunday next, September 24, the service of Harvest Festival will be held in the parish church of St James, Staunton at 10.30am.

A ploughman's type lunch will be held in the church following the service, when it is hoped members of the congregation will join in. There is no charge (though donations are always gratefully received) Canon John Evans will conduct the service, the well-loved harvest hymns will be sung and the church will be decorated.

Two films were shown by Don Humphrey the County Secretary of Gloucestershire Royal British Legion, when he visited Staunton and district women's branch at their last meeting. The first film showed highlights right from the legion's formation and on through the war. The second film featured the war graves and was a very poignant reminder.

The branch expressed their sympathy to the family of Mrs Joan Bates a very popular and respected member who had died recently, some members had attended her funeral.

The new standard bearer Sgt Lorraine Tomlinson, a serving member of the WAAF, will be carrying the branch standard at the service of re-dedication at Gloucester Cath-edral and it is hoped at Staunton Remem-brance service on November 12 at the war memorial and church. Advance notice, the poppy sale will be held on Saturday November 4.

A silent tribute was paid to the memory of Mrs Mabel Parham, who had died suddenly at her home at Hartpury, when the first meeting of Hartpury, Corse and Staunton MU was held at The Oaks, Hartpury, by kind invitation of Lillian Brewer. Mabel was branch secretary and she will be greatly missed both as a member and as a friend. Most attended the thanksgiving service, several guests were welcomed by the branch leader Ursula Groves-Smith who led the service of prayer. Annie Hanby was welcomed as the new secretary. Ursula gave a short account of the small part she and Lillian Brewer had played in the Gloucester Cathedral Flower Festival for the MU in the dioceses by arranging the flowers.

The next meeting will be on Monday, October 9 at The Oaks and the opening service for the branch will be in Hartpury church on Sunday October 22.