Residents would be reassured by the fairly minimal crime figures quoted by our police beat manager, WPC Wendy Saunders, at the annual parish meeting, which were reported in last week's Gazette.

Even so, there are times when we need to contact the police, and with Malvern's police station being much reduced these days, people may be uncertain how to get in touch. Wendy clarified these issues, explaining that while in real emergencies 999 is still the number to ring, rather than attempt to ring Malvern, all other incidents should be reported to the call centre at Police HQ on 08457 444888.

Calls are graded according to their perceived urgency, with target response times as follows: Grade 1, 10 minutes; Grade 2, 4 hours; Grade 3, a 'reasonable time'; while Grade 4 is classified 'information only'. You will be given an incident number which can be quoted if you want to follow up later. Although Wendy is not always immediately available, messages can be left for her - ask for PC2202 Wendy Saunders' voicemail.

Wendy's patch covers not just West Malvern but also much of the urban area on the other side of the hill. Nevertheless she has already made a mark in the village, responding to a number of residents' report and concerns on various issues.

Thanks to the sterling efforts of a small group of volunteers in recent years, St James's Churchyard is looking lovely at present, full of spring flowers. Particularly charming are the masses of primroses blooming over the site of West Malvern's first church, which stood for only 30 years in the mid-19th Century, and the stones from which were 'recycled' to expand the village school across the road.

Congratulations to allotment holder Catherine Bower, who with only a little help has completed the erection and glazing of the greenhouse kindly given to the Allotment Association more than a year ago by Peter and Kate Cross of Zetland Road. Allotment holders who would like to use the greenhouse could contact her on 891650. She has also suggested that people who have grown too many seedlings for their own needs could put them in the greenhouse for other allotment holders to plant out. Incidentally Phil Probert, who was elected chairman of the association at its recent annual meeting, has decided to step down, and former chairman Malcolm White is once again at the helm.