HORTICULTURAL Society: Nearly 30 people attended the annual general meeting last Wednesday, when officers and committee members were elected and plans discussed for next year’s programme of events.

Many thanks to the committee for organising all this year’s events and the refreshments for the evening.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 27, in Ellisfield, at 7.45pm, when Carol Watson will talk about Crete in springtime. You may remember Carol’s excellent talk on New Zealand.

Entry for members is £1 and non-members from all areas are always welcome at £2.

PARISH council: Met on Monday. Items on the agenda included next year’s budget and the precept was set at £4,477 for the whole village, representing no increase on last year.

CHRISTINGLE: The first of the Christmas celebrations at St Martin’s will be on Sunday, at 4pm. Do go along and join this service that brings together children and families to celebrate the Christmas message. The collection will go to Children in Distress – a charity which offers care to children with a range of incurable and terminal illnesses throughout the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

CHRISTMAS drinks: Ellisfield Ladies members and their partners are invited to Christmas drinks next Tuesday at the Memorial Hall. There will be a Christmas quiz and, of course, the opportunity for much socialising.

Doors open at 7.30pm, please take nibbles and wine.

NEW Year’s Eve: Plans remain to be finalised. The Ladies’ Club hopes to organise something either at The Fox or the Memorial Hall – watch this space.