CONGRATULATIONS to Lin Snook of Old Malvern Road, in gaining a performer's certificate (from Trinity Board) for voice.

As a member of Malvern Singers, Lin along with Jenny Hill of Colletts Green took part in Massed Choirs from the Midlands at the International Tattoo at the NEC Birmingham recently. Congratulations to Lin's husband Roy Snook on gaining Grade 7 in tenor saxophone (teacher, Stuart Corbett of Bromyard).

Lin and Ray helped organise a concert with Worcester Jazz Orchestra in which Roy played tenor saxophone (with John McKeane of the Chase VI form on trombone) at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. The concert in aid of NACC raised £900 towards research into colitis and Crohn's disease and was supported by a number of Powick parishioners.

The family service at St Peter's, Powick, last Sunday morning was led by Rosemary Wells, the two Advent candles were lit by Thomas Nichol who read from the Bible, along with Jenny Hill. The poem Greetings from The Big Issue, on homelessness, was read by Joan Roper and the poem The Innkeeper's Wife written by Clive Sansom was read by Meg Allsopp. Lin Snook led the Intercessions and Lin Brown played the organ.

Last Sunday afternoon a delightful concert of Christmas carols, both traditional and less well known, was performed in St Peter's Church by 'Just Good Friends'. The fourteen singers who are members of large choral societies in the area also enjoy performing unaccompanied in a small group. The large congregation joined in four carols and seasonal readings were interspersed, including 'Christmas' written by John Betjeman, and a humorous version of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' both read by Kris Quatermass. A total of £147 was raised in aid of St Peter's Restoration Fund.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the church at Powick will be decorated in readiness for the Christmas season. Any offers of help, foliage and flowers would be welcome from 9.30am onwards, and also next Friday (December 22). For further details ring Jenny Hill on 01905 830672.

This Sunday, there will not be an 11am service at St Peter's, instead a carol service with the combined choirs of St Peter's, Madresfield and Guarlford, will take place at Guarlford Church at 11am. The traditional carol service at Powick will be at the later time of 6.30pm on Sunday again with the combined choir leading the service.

1st Powick brownies welcomed four new girls, who took their Brownie Promise, last Friday. They were Alice Pickworth and Gemma Collins of Powick, Amelia Peden of St Peter's and Juliet Wilkes of Callow End. Millennium badges were awarded and the brownies said goodbye to Lauri James and Jasmine Page who are going on to guides. A reminder that the last meeting before Christmas today (Friday) is a disco held at St John's scout hut, as guests of the 4th Worcester brownies, from 5.45-7.15pm. After Christmas the next brownie meeting will be on Friday January 12 in Powick Parish Hall at 5pm. Any girl aged seven years is welcome to join. Please ring guider Meg Allsopp on 01905 830746 for details.

Recent events for Christmas have been held at Powick Primary School including a Christmas bazaar. A cake sale takes place in the school today (Friday) in aid of school funds.

The children's Nativity Play took place this week in the school hall. In January the junior school children will be presenting their play 'Babushka'. The school made the news headlines recently when construction workers digging foundations for two new classrooms unearthed the shaft of a 19th century well. Headteacher Richard Drewett called in the county archaeologist Malcolm Atkin to inspect the well and its bricks dating back to 1871 when the school was built. The children now have a special interest in archaeology the school's past and its place in local history.