THE Coad’s Green group, Women on Wednesdays, held the highly anticipated and well attended December meeting in the village hall. Member, Barbara Sleep, led the evening and advised the group on festive arrangements, including Christmas wreaths.

The meeting was a great success with every member producing a wreath to grace a table or door. Christine Walters thanked Barbara, Daphne Tucker and Janet Ham for their planning and preparation. Anne Parsons and Jackie Stephens were thanked for serving the refreshments. There was a delicious shared supper. Truly a seasonal treat!

Women on Wednesdays, (WoW), is proving to be a great success. New members are always welcome. There is no annual subscription, just a nominal charge for each meeting attended.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 14, at 7.30pm, in the chapel parlour. Member, Julie Freeman, will be demonstrating and leading a workshop on card making.

'HOME By another Way' by Lois Anne DeLong and Barbara Antonucci was presented by a cast of local adults and children at Morwenstow Methodist Chapel at Shop on Sunday, December 7.

Barry Bryne welcomed everyone to Morwenstow Methodist Chapel at Shop on the second Sunday of Advent to the annual all-age Nativity service.

Janet Ash lit the first two candles on the Advent Wreath and led in prayer.

The congregational carol Come and join the celebration was sung and after prayers from Barry, the Nativity play 'Home By Another Way' by Lois Anne DeLong and Barbara Antonucci was presented after many weeks of rehearsals at the Chapel.

Those taking part were: Narrator, Freda Olde; Wise man 1, John Cleave; Wise man 2, Debbie French; Wise man 3, Celia Cleave; Servant 1, Kate Payne; Servant 2, Jill Johns; Servant 3, Catherine Mc Brinn; Shepherd 1, Jennifer Vanstone; Shepherd 2, Alison Cleave; Angel and Angel Choir, Edie Payne; Mary, Elsie Inch; Joseph, Finley McBrinn; Merchant Caravan, Edie Payne and Elsie Inch; Dream Narrator, Ken Boundy; Organist for congregational Carols, Colin Tape; Keyboard, Edith Cleave; Bass Guitar, Bill Cleave; Projection, Stuart Ash.

A vote of thanks to all was given by Barry, the congregation sang ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ and Barry closed in prayer.

Special thanks were given to our friends at Chilsworthy Methodist Chapel and St Mark's C of E School for allowing the use of such splendid costumes.

The Chapel had been beautifully decorated for the Advent and Christmas season with a star-topped Christmas Tree and with each Chapel window having a blanket of ivy as a backdrop for the red candles, red and white poinsettias, red bows, pine cones and red berries.

Savoury and sweet refreshments were served after the service, which included beef and ham on yeast splits, mince pies, biscuits and non-alcoholic mulled wine.

A large congregation attended despite such weather.

BUDE Freemason's held a very successful distillery tour and BBQ hosted by Richard and Fiona Harding at Norton Barton in September.

As a result they were pleased to present cheques to Bude Food Bank and Cornwall Air Ambulance.

On Thursday, November 27, the Lodge Charity Steward, John Weller, had the pleasure of presenting a cheque for £200 along with food collected in the Lodge to Sue at Bude Food Bank.

A spokesperson from the Bude Food Bank team said: “Any donation that you’re able to give will make a massive difference to the individuals and families we support. Food poverty, debt problems and mental health issues are sadly things that we see on a day-to-day basis in Bude and the surrounding area. With your support, we can continue to step in and make a positive change to our community.”

On the same day, a cheque for £200 was presented to the Cornwall Air Ambulance on behalf of the Lodge.

Cornwall Air Ambulance provide critical care to seriously sick and injured people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Responding to over 1,000 missions annually, the crew is there at a critical time when every second matters. Operating with no direct government support towards running costs, it relies on the generosity of people to keep the air ambulance flying 365 days a year.

Taking to the skies in 1987, Cornwall Air Ambulance was the very first air ambulance in the UK. We have since completed more than 32,000 missions, with that number increasing every day. Given the county’s isolated beaches, rural settlements and challenging road networks, our service is vital to the residents that live here and the tourists that visit Cornwall.

On Saturday, December 13, John and his wife Denise hosted a charity Christmas Candlelit Dinner which enabled a donation of £820 to Crisis at Christmas being the proceeds from the evening along with other generous donations including Elm Tree Council who donated £100.

THE Seriously AwEful Symphonia celebrated Christmas in style at St Thomas’ Church in Camelford last evening (December 15).

Audience and musicians alike battled the wet and windy weather to . gather together to celebrate Christmas with music, mince pies and merriment. Traditional carols were sung very ably and with gusto by the audience and the orchestra played Christmas favourites including Walking in the Air by Howard Blake and Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Pie Jesu (not strictly ‘Christmassy’ but we like it!)

Everyone enjoyed the evening - at least there were no complaints.

Thanks were expressed to St Thomas’ for welcoming the group to the lovely church and to Fergal Donnelon, hte symphonia’s enthusiastic and patient musical director.

THE December meeting of Launceston Stamp Club was held recently at the Methodist Church Schoolroom, Ladycross.

The chairman welcomed the dealer for the evening Kevin Webb and then introduced the speaker, club member Viv Sandercock.

Viv’s subject was Yemen which he said he began collecting more or less by accident when he bought an auction lot for its Aden content but which also contained some Yemen which wetted his appetite to the extent that he had prepared 128 pages for this display.

He outlined some of the history of Yemen which reputedly had links with the Queen of Sheba and the Three Wise Men and was a source of frankincense and myrhh. In the days of the Romans Yemen was referred to as ‘Happy Arabia’. Later there was Ottoman and then British influence when Britain annexed Aden in 1839 and examples of Turkish and Indian stamps used in Yemen were shown.

After the Ottoman empire ceased to exist after World War I Yemen was ruled for the next 44 years by two powerful Imams and a representative selection of stamps issued during this period was shown. A revolution in 1962 deposed the Imam and the Yemen Arab Republic was declared.

Almost immediately civil war broke out between the republicans and the royalists both factions issuing stamps showing topics such as space, olympic games, famous people or works of art all of which had little connection with the country.

The display went on to show the stamps of the Federation of South Arabia after the British withdrew in 1967, the People’s republic of Southern Yemen, the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen and finally the unified Republic of Yemen.

But alas since the revolution in 1962, Yemen has been plagued by almost continual civil war and unfortunately the Yemeni people have been the losers.

The chairman thanked Viv for his display and presented him with the Club’s certificate of appreciation. At the interval members enjoyed tea, coffee and mince pies with clotted cream.

The next meeting of the club will be held on January 8 at Yeolmbridge Methodist Church Schoolroom at Ladycross at 2.30pm. New members and visitors always welcome.

EAGER to get onto the matter of the Christmas party, business was brief, but did include reports on various activities attended by members during the month.

On display were items made at two events: A craft day where bracelets, crochet chocolate orange covers and knitted roses were made and a day at Cowslip creating handmade decorations. A Pensilva WI team was entered into the county quiz and they moved up a place on last time – great progress.

Several ladies had also enjoyed carol service at St Columb accompanied by an organist and singers. Over 40 members and family attended our Christmas dinner, this year held at Great Trethew – everyone enjoyed delicious food and good company.

Posies were given to those celebrating a birthday this month: Pat Bates and Tina Tubby.

There was a huge spread of food, there was a quiz to complete and crackers to pull. We welcomed back the amazing singer Rachel Best, who sang her way through a lovely selection of Christmas favourites and assorted popular songs. Santa made an arrival with two elves to help and gave out presents to members and their guests.

Next meeting is on Wednesday, January 14, 7.15pm, and will be crafting with Alison.

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