VELO CLUB DE PERSHORE: Next Wednesday - training ride, 20 miles, leader Malcolm Benning, meet 7pm Broad Street, Pershore, destination The Mill, Elmley Castle, lights required.

HERITAGE AND HISTORY SOCIETY: Brian Hoggard, author of the recent knowledgeable book on Bredon Hill, will speak on The Archaeology of Folk Magic with Particular Reference to Worcestershire, at St Wulstan's Hall, Priest Lane, tonight (Thursday), at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome - members free, visitors £1.

The visit to Blenheim Palace has been postponed for a week and will now take place on September 17.

For details please contact Julian Palfrey 01386 561198.

HERITAGE CENTRE: September is the last chance this year to see the interesting exhibitions at 5, Bridge Street and enjoy a taste of local history.

Open 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 4.30pm, Wednesdays to Saturdays. Admission free.

The centre closes on September 30 until next April.

MONDAY CLUB: At which over 50s are welcome. Members meet next Monday and enjoy the company of the friends they have known for years.

They also have a different programme for each meeting. The meetings are held fortnightly on Mondays, from 2-4pm at St Agatha's Hall, Head Street.

Members, new members and friends are also welcome, just pop in.

PERSHORE ABBEY: Is holding its annual festival of friends of the abbey, on Saturday, beginning at 3pm.

The festival service, at which the preacher will be the Rt Reverend Dr Peter Selby, Bishop of Worcester, will be followed by a buffet tea in St Andrew's Parish Centre, and the AGM will start at 4.45pm.

Also in the abbey, the flower festival will be on from tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday, with some outstanding displays. It depicts Through the Ages 972 - 2000AD and is open between 9am and 6pm, Friday and Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Admission is by souvenir programme and light refreshments will be available. All telephone enquiries to 01386 552071 or 553676.

GARDENING CLUB: The July meeting was well attended - almost 50 members were welcomed by chairman George Featonby.

The speaker was Brenda Jones who talked about the use of colour in the garden.

Samples of a very wide variety of perennials, annuals, and foliage plants were used to illustrate an interesting and informative talk.

The competition for the month: A Bouquet of Herbs - won by Angela Points, with Betty Loach second and Marian Hill third.

n The second trip of the summer took place on August 10, when we visited the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

The weather was kind and it was a most enjoyable day with plenty of walking for the energetic and loads of seats to sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

The next meeting is on September 28, when the principal of Pershore College, Dr David Hall, will give a talk entitled Gardening Hints and Wrinkles, and the competition will be 'A plant you have propagated this year'.

As always, new members and guests will be welcome.

PERSHORE HARVESTERS: Are holding a coffee morning on September 16 in St Andrew's Parish Centre, at 10am.

There will be tea, coffee, cakes, jams, pickles, tombola and lemon curd. Entrance is £1.

PERSHORE COLLEGE FAMILY OPEN DAY: On September 16, 10am to 4pm, as part of Pershore College celebrations to open the Centre of Excellence for the Cider, Food and Drinks Industries, the college opens its doors to the whole family.

The star attraction will be chef Paul Rankin (as seen on Ready Steady Cook and Masterchef) who will conduct two cookery demonstrations during the day.

There will also be a barbecue, food and drink marquee, beer and cider festival, tasting and sales, tour of the new core food and drink building, Pershore plant sales, Pershore nursery sales, careers information, RHS membership, face painting and a children's treasure hunt.

Admission (which includes entry into the raffle) is £5 per car or £1.50 per person, children up to 16, 75p each, with under 10s free.