West Malvern's present and future will come under scrutiny at the annual parish meeting at the village hall on April 6.

As well as short reports on current issues from the parish council, district and county councillors, the Hills Conservators and local police beat manager WPC Wendy Saunders, the meeting will sound out residents' views on whether West Malvern would benefit from a Parish Plan. This is a formal document drawn up by residents themselves which sets out aims for the future of a community. Opinions vary as to the likely value of these plans, which are encouraged by Government. The discussion will be opened by Madeline Sumner, of Community First, which has wide experience of Parish Plans, and Ann Canham, clerk to Hanley Castle Parish Council, which has recently completed its own plan. Everyone will be welcome to attend and state their views. The meeting will start at 7pm and finish at 8.30pm to be followed by the monthly parish council meeting.

Last Friday's programme of Music and Song for Spring at the Oakdene Centre, presented by Susan Black, featured a delightful blend of youth and maturity, underlining yet again the wealth of talent in and around Malvern. The heads of music from both St James's School and Malvern College were joined by active local musicians Tim Cranmore and Peter Yeadon, together with five young performers, all locally based and under 21. In different combinations they blended their vocal and instrumental skills in songs and solos by composers from Stravinsky to Sullivan and Handel to Flanders & Swann for the enjoyment of a good-sized audience.

A reminder of the annual meeting of the Friends of St James's Church this coming Wednesday, March 31, at Orange Grove House, 7.30pm, which will be followed by the ever-popular show of slides of old West Malvern.