WRINGTON VALE ROTARY CLUB: Members raised more than �1,400 for Children’s Hospice South West at Wraxall from carol singing.

A street collection on the Saturday before Christmas in the centre of Winscombe saw shoppers contribute in excess of �492.

On Thursday and Friday before Christmas the Rotarians and their wives sung carols at various pubs and over the two nights more than �908 was raised.

This week the club was pleased to pass on the funds which were rounded up to �1,500.

A volunteer from the Children’s Hospice, Nicky Leeson, supported by head of fundraising, Karen Edgington, gave a talk on the tremendous work and facilities at the hospice before accepting a cheque.

If you would like to be involved please call Karen Edgington on 01275 866600.

The club meets weekly at the Burrington Inn, Burrington.

Please contact president Ivor Metherell on 01761 462607 for more details.

WESTON CHESS CLUB: Weston was away to Sedgemoor in division 2 of the Somerset leagues last week.

The bottom four boards resulted in two wins each with Mike Cooper and Kerry Kyriacou successful for Weston.

With the second time control approaching attention was centred on the top two boards. Peter Chaplin on top board sacrificed material but could only force a draw but, in an exciting time scramble, Stan Guziewicz finished a rook ahead to secure the match 3.5 – 2.5. With three matches to play Weston has now won five, drawn two and lost two.

RAFA CONCERT BAND (BLAKEHAY RESIDENT BAND): The audience at the Armstrong Hall concert, in Thornbury last Saturday were treated to an entertaining programme of music.

Guest artists included Lucy Whittingham on piano and Piper Glenford Bishop Highland Cathedral.

We still have vacancies for competent players on brass and woodwind, especially on oboe and trombone.

Please call or email if you are interested in playing. Visit www.rafqswconcertband.org.uk or telephone 01934 820205.

Future engagements include: March 11, RAFA AGM concert, Swansea; March 15, small dinner band, guest night, Chippenham; March 18, ensemble playing at the Winter Gardens, times to be confirmed; April 21, A Titanic, Jubilee Concert, A Night to Remember, in the Blakehay.

WESTON AND MENDIP ADVANCED MOTORISTS: Last Tuesday the guest speaker was Colin Bailey from Axe Vale coaches, who gave a history of the firm and how things have changed during the last few years.

If you are interested in saving money on fuel, insurance costs and other benefits then why not telephone 07020 934714, and arrange a free assessed drive with one of our qualified observers.

WESTON OSTEOPOROSIS GROUP: The meeting planned for March 12 has been cancelled.

There will now be a meeting on March 5 at the Churchill Unit, Weston General Hospital.

Doors open at 6pm, entry is �1 plus 50p for tea and biscuits.

At 6.30pm there will be a talk by Dr Vasta Bhauisha on ‘Vitamin D and bone health’.

De Bhauisha is a registrar in rheumatology at Weston General Hospital. Everyone is welcome.

WOODSPRING SCRABBLE CLUB: Lost for words? Visit Woodspring Scrabble Club - we have plenty of them.

We meet at The United Reformed Church, opposite The Mercury Office on Wednesday afternoons at 1.45pm and beginners are welcome.

For enquiries please telephone Madge on 01934 815358.

WESTON FILM SOCIETY: A late change of date and venue for the film ‘Loose Cannons’ - An amusing comic tale set in southern Italy about gay brothers trying to come out to their conservative family.

The screening will now be on March 13 at the Winter Gardens, commencing at 7.45pm. Entry is �4.50 or �3 for society members.

RAF ASSOCIATION (RAFA), Weston Branch/Club: Members played host to 290 Squadron ATC last Friday with a disco which included presentations to a number of cadets, while on Saturday John and Rose tested our general knowledge at our monthly quiz night.

This month our area conference is being held in Swansea between March 9 and 11

St Patrick’s Night celebrations are on the 17th and a steak night on the 24th.

Zumba dancing is now held each Monday from 12.30-1.30pm.

More entertainment details are displayed on the club noticeboard and a programme of planned events over the next three months is featured on our website www.rafa-weston-super-mare.co.uk

Call in at Eagle House in Alexandra Parade for details of the association.

CONSERVATIVE LADIES LUNCHEON CLUB: The next meeting is on March 9 in the Winter Gardens at 12.30pm. The speaker will be Col Bob Homeshaw talking about the ‘Taunton Flower Show’. Bookings to Christine Gamble on 811709 by Monday please.

LOCKING GREEN WI: Tickets were available for the next Roman Way Group meeting, to be held at Winscombe on March 23 at 7pm.

Two volunteers came forward for the competition for two painted flower pots and a delegate was chosen for the next federation spring meeting at the Winter Gardens, on March 28. The guest speaker will be Miranda Krestovnikoff with ‘A whistle stop tour of the coast’.

Once our business was complete, we sat back and enjoyed an evening with Peter Lea. Peter worked in theatre at Cardiff for many years and had a wonderful collection of photos of stage stars, all with their own hilarious stories.

We meet on the second Tuesday of the month in the village hall at 7.30pm and visitors are most welcome.

BURNHAM RNLI: Burnham RNLI announces its annual meeting will be taking place on March 16 at 7.30pm.

The meeting will be hosted by the Burnham Motor Boat and Sailing Club, at the end of the South Esplanade, and interested members of the general public, plus invited VIP guests, who wish to attend the meeting, are asked to arrive shortly before 7.30pm. The meeting agenda will include a short talk by an invited guest speaker.

Burnham RNLI Station chairman Graham Wills said: “This is an excellent chance to keep up with RNLI local and national news.”

For further information and directions to the sailing club, please ring Mike Lang on 07889 815860.

PROBUS MILTON: The club meets on the second and fourth Thursday mornings at Hornets Rugby Club

A wide range of outside speakers on specialist subjects and occasionally club members drawing on work/life experiences provide lectures/presentations.

Peter Lamb gave an interesting talk on bygone electrical appliances.

His slides gave an insight into the early development of the electrical industry supported by his own research and industrial background.

For further information telephone David Arnold on 01934 626270 or visit www.probusmilton.org.uk or email the secretary at secretary@probusmilton.org.uk

WESTON PROBUS: Our March programme starts on the 1st with an electrifying talk by Peter Lamb, entitled ‘Early electricity supplies in the South West’.

On March 15 we will be learning all about ‘Flanders and Swan’ as told to us by Tim Lewis.

Members and their ladies will gather at Bach County Hotel on March 29 for the annual spring coffee morning.

We are still looking for retired gentlemen to join our club and anybody interested can telephone 01934 625330 for details.

THE NOTABLE CLUB (NOT ABLE): Members enjoyed the annual dinner held once again at the Commodore, Sand Bay.

Cyril Routely was welcomed to give an enjoyable and interesting slide presentation ‘From pillar to post’. The following week lunch at Catherine’s Inn, Bleadon was well supported and enjoyed by the members.

A return visit by Dave Fry kept us all awake with his interesting and entertaining talk on being a town crier.

The Notable Club is a weekly, socially active lunchtime club for physically disabled people aged 16 to 60 years.

Contact Dina on 07845220349 for further information.

CONGRESBURY OVER 60s CLUB: Members gave an extremely enthusiastic response to the talk given by the well known traveller Bernard Tapp on his trip to Annapurna when he travelled to Nepal.

The slides used to illustrate the talk were outstanding and illustrated the wild beauty of the entire region.

At the next meeting on Tuesday the entertainment will be provided by singer Perry and his keyboard and on March 20 Ian Parsons will make a welcome return when he gives a talk on ‘Orchids as houseplants’.

New members are welcome and for further details of the club’s activities please contact the chairman, Irving Prowse on 01934 832004.

WESTON SOROPTIMISTS: At a recent meeting Weston Soroptimists were treated to a very entertaining and informative talk from John Thatcher of Thatcher’s Cider.

We learned how the business at Myrtle Farm has grown over the years until it now employs close to 100 people and produces around seven million gallons of cider each year, whilst still remaining essentially a family business.

This was followed by a tasting when we enjoyed a range of ciders with names such as ‘Green Goblin’, ‘Katy’ and ‘Cox’s’.

Our next speaker, on March 15, will be Ann Widdecombe.

Tickets for the evening which starts at 7.30pm are available from the Winter Gardens box office, cost �10 to include a finger buffet. All welcome.

WESTON RADIO SOCIETY: The chairman Dave Dyer informed members that the club would be starting some construction evenings.

These would be conducted on club natter nights by Graham Jones and the first project will be a small oscillator and amplifier.

The speaker at February’s main meeting was club member Neil Lambert.

Neil’s expertise is using radio transceivers in conjunction with computers and the internet.

After outlining the principles and showing a video about the equipment available he set his equipment up and put out a general call to show us all how easy it is to talk to amateur radio enthusiasts anywhere in the world.

Club members were astonished when after one brief call a ham station on board the American aircraft carrier USS Midway replied.

We learnt from the operator that this famous ship is now a museum and is tied up alongside a quay in San Diego, California.

The club holds its main meeting on the third Monday of the month but meets every Monday for a natter night at the social club.

The club can be contacted at info@wsm-ars.co.uk

WESTON FRIENDS GROUP OF CHILDREN’S HOSPICE SOUTH WEST: Forthcoming events include on March 31 a Cabaret Evening ‘Two blokes and a Piano’ to be held in the Victory Hall, Uphill. Supper is included and tickets are priced at �10 each.

Contact Sandra on 416432 or Ruth on 425070 for further information.

On May 10 it will be the annual dinner with entertainment to be held at Weston College.

Tickets are �25 each and further information can be obtained from Pam on 418998 or Judy on 632274.

On May 26 the Mendip Male Choir will be performing at the Victoria Methodist Church Hall, Weston. Tickets are �7 each.

Please contact Margaret on 822938 or Judy on 632274 for further information.

WESTON BRASS: Weston Brass is very proud to maintain the traditions of the bass band movement, and will be taking part in annual area finals on March 11.

Competition helps people from all walks of life and from many different and diverse activities to improve their own performance in their chosen field.

Good musicians are no different, and are always keen to improve their abilities on their chosen instrument.

To help the musicians of Weston Brass to continue their improvement, the band engages top line conductors to give a brass workshop for the band.

Phillip Harper was the latest guest conductor to give a workshop and what an inspiring experience it was.

The band is preparing the next of a series of concerts, the first being at Banwell Church on March 31. Tickets for this concert can be obtained from Gill Rogers on 01934 824461.

The band is always keen to welcome new members to the band; instrument, uniform and a great hobby are provided. For more information please visit the band’s website www.westonbrass.com

WORLEWIND BAND: Despite the acoustics of the Campus gym the band were on top form on Saturday evening and the audience, from the many compliments received, really enjoyed the evening.

Moments that require a mention are the atmospheric rendition of a medley of Titanic music, and the trumpet section that didn’t let the side down with its performance in a Leroy Anderson Compilation. The Rotary Club’s very own Bill Blundred added some variety to the evening singing some well-known songs. The evening was hosted by Woodspring Rotary Club to raise money for Castle Kids Club. Funds are needed to support this opportunity for local children with special needs.

Thanks to all who attended to support such a well needed and deserved cause.

If you missed the band on this occasion, all is not lost; bookings are flooding in and more details of future concerts to follow. Visit www.worlewindband.co.uk for further information.

CLUB RALLYSPORT WEST: Locally based Club RallySport West followed last month’s successful K&R Mitsubishi Stages Rally at Brean Leisure Park with a special Rally Sport evening held at the Commodore Hotel.

The evening was well supported by members and guests and club chairman, Rod McKenna, opened the evening by expressing gratitude to all those who assisted with the running of this year’s rally, in particular, the title sponsor, K&R Mitsubishi of Taunton for its continued support of the event along with the rally’s other partners, PIAA, Permashine, KallKwik and Wiseman Dairies.

The evening continued with a preview showing of the rally film from this year’s event and the presentation of a cheque to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, one of the charities supported by this year’s rally which raised a total in excess of �1,100.

Awards were also presented to Taunton-based father and son team, Tim and James Self, who finished the rally in 10th overall position and best CRSW crew in their Mitsubishi Evo RS.

Also at a recent regional awards ceremony, the club was presented with a Rally of the Year trophy for the rally run at Brean in 2011.