Bridge event for charity

The English Bridge Union has adopted Save the Children as its charity for the year and clubs throughout the country will be aiming to raise money. for the cause 'working for a better world for children'.

The local Liskeard Bridge Club is joining in and has organised an afternoon of bridge at the Public Hall in the town, to be held in the refreshment room on Saturday February 12.

The afternoon opens at 1.30pm for a 1.45pm start of play. Tickets are £4 per player to include afternoon tea and are available from the Bridge Club committee - telephone 01579 348724 or 342975. All players are welcome.

Church Services

St Martin's Parish Church 8.00am Holy Communion, 9.30am Family Service, 11.00am Matins, 6.00pm Holy Communion with Healing; Wed 9.30am Holy Communion.

Methodist Church, Liskeard, Sunday 10.15am Church Family Service led by Rev Richard Westwood; 6.00pm Service with Holy Communion led by Rev Derek Collins.

Catholic Church - Our Lady & St Neot Catholic Church, Liskeard: Saturday mass 5.00pm, Sunday 5.00pm. Further details contact Fr Tim Lewis 01503 272627 or 0498 774628

The Salvation Army, Church St, Liskeard, Sunday meetings 11.00am and 6.00pm

Spiritualist Church, Liskeard, at Stuart House, Sunday at 6.30pm Divine Service and Clairvoyance, Healing. Speaker Dave Spencer from Taunton, Somerset. All welcome. For details please ring 01579 347476

The Ark Mission, Sunday 10.30am and 6.30pm at Liskeard Public Hall with Mr Andrew Chapple from Ambassadors for Christ. 'Lifesavers' children's group ages 5-14; all welcome. Further information please telephone 01579 348427 oor 0771 3314796.

AOG Church, Sunday 10.30am Morning Service with a guest speaker from Gideons; 6.00pm Evening Service with speaker Pastor Philip Warne. Venue The Keep Fit Hall near the Cattle Market car park. Further information contact Pastor Philip Warne on Liskeard 347367.

Relig Soc of Friends - Every Sunday 10.30am at the Quimperle Room, Public Rooms, West St, Liskeard

Grace Community Church, Oaktrees, Morval, Sunday 10.00am Wayne O'Leary, 6.00pm Acts Ch.1 John Gillespie. Further details ring 01503 240930, Mon-Fri mornings.

Liskeard churches on the Web:

Burns night with neeps and tatties

There was a good attendance at the recent annual meeting of Liskeard branch of the RNA at the Royal British Legion in the town.

Gordon Strudwick was re-elected as chairman, while the treasurer, Bob Monkman, reported a good financial year. The Dunne shield, awarded to the person making most contribution to the branch, was given to the social secretaries, Trevor and Mary Newbury. After the meeting was closed the monthly meeting took place.

On January 29 Burns night was celebrated. A Scots piper piped in the haggis before it was addressed by president, John Lennon. It was then served to all present, accompanied by 'neeps and tatties' and a 'wee dram'. The Scottish Sinclair dancers then entertained shipmates.

The next social event is a quiz evening on February 12, upstairs at the RBL, Liskeard at 7.30pm with all welcome.

The branch is again hoping to run a charity shop in March.

Historical talk at Stuart House

Members and Friends of the Stuart House Trust recently heard an informative talk on the history of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. It was given by Mrs Val Sambles, Superintendent of the Saltash Branch of the St John's ambulance brigade.

The history goes back to the year 800AD and since then has had a very varied history and several different head quarters including Cyprus, Rhodes and Malta.

Its purpose was to protect the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the pilgrims on their way to visit it. It took its name from John the Baptist.

In England, the head quarters were at Clerkenwell, London, where it had a splendid temple. Unfortunately, only the gates survive. Henry VIII abolished the order, but it was revived later.

Now the society continues as the St John's Ambulance Brigade, whose valuable work is well known.

Mrs Sambles and her assistant were thanked by the president, Tony Wood.

Choir at the Albert Hall

The annual meeting of the Liskerrett choir took place at Liskeard sports club at the end of January and was well attended.

All the committee were re-elected with Dick Collins as the new fund-raiser. The choir are to sing at the Albert Hall in London in October, along with 600 other singers from all over Cornwall. They have begun rehearsals already.

The choir meets on Mondays at the Sports club and are always looking for new members. They are to sing at Torquay on April 15 and at St Martin's church, Liskeard at the end of April for a wedding. They will be at Pensilva on June l6, Looe on July 3 and at Truro cathedral on May 13. Anyone wishing more details about the choir should telephone 01579 348327.

Talk from club member

At the February meeting of the Probus club held at the Hotel Nebula, Liskeard, club chairman John Petto welcomed a large attendance of members, together with two guests.

After lunch, members were entertained by a talk from club member William Nicholas. He was thanked by John Hudson.

The next meeting of the club will be on March 14.

A talk on the woolly monkeys

Anthony Williams from the Woolly Monkey Sanctuary near Looe gave a talk recently to members of Liskeard and district University of the Third Age.

He said the sanctuary feeds the monkeys on porridge, and lots of good fruit and vegetables in the winter, as well as vitamin D supplements to make up for the lack of sunshine. He showed slides of the monkeys in all stages of their life and described the differences between their natural lives and diets in the wild, and their more restricted lives at the Sanctuary.

However, the main emphasis of his talk was on the necessity of ensuring that all 'wild' animals, including those kept in zoos and those who are 'pets' are not only well cared for physically, but also mentally stimulated. He felt people should visit zoos and check the condition of the animals, looking to see if there was evidence of boredom or neglect, or if the animals had contact with others of their kind, especially those who have a need to live in a family group, such as monkeys or elephants. He said if there were obvious problems a letter to the zoo's director could often make a big difference to the quality of life of the animals held captive there.

The next meeting of the U3A is on March l in the Long Room West Street, Liskeard when Pauline Kennedy will talk about Cliveden House and Lady Astor.

Topics debated

Two members afternoons were enjoyed by Liskeard Sisterhood last month with a range of topics discussed.

The meetings were presided over by president Win Hoskin and pianists for the favourite hymns were Mesdames Brewer and Hambly. Cups of tea and biscuits were served by Lorna Clue and helpers.

Methodist fellowship

The first meeting of the New Year of the Liskeard Ladies Methodist Fellowship was held for the first time in the side chapel of the church which has been refurnished.

Mrs Gwen Moss presided and Mrs Marjorie Barriball was the pianist. Mrs Pauline Wrigley read the minutes of the last meeting.

Mrs Moss then introduced Dr Southam, a chiropracter in the Dean Street practice, who gave a talk on the subject, and said how physical, emotional and chemical stress can affect all parts of the body, especially the nerves of the spine. Hee showed a skeleton of the spine and the movements that are made each time we move, bend or stretch. Mrs O' Connell thanked Doctor Southam for his talk.

Stallholders, Mrs Marjorie Barriball and Mrs Win Hoskin helped raise £15 in the Flower of the Month judged by Mrs Kathleen Howarth and won by Ruth O' Connell.

Mr Harold Snowdon will be entertaining the group on Monday February 28 at 2.30pm.

Party for the Fellowship

The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship held its annual New Year party early in January, although many members were suffering from 'flu and colds and were unable to attend.

On January 12 members went to the Theatre Royal to see 'Cinderella', followed by a meal in the theatre restaurant. The annual meeting was held on January 26 and was followed by a meal at the Bay Leaf. The next meeting will be on February 23 in the Restaurant Room of the Public Hall in Liskeard.

Storysack launch

A class of 6 and 7 year olds from Menheniot primary school recently made a presentation on reading to their parents - at the same time launching a collection of storysacks produced by some of the parents and friends of the school.

Each storysack contains a fiction and non-fiction book accompanied by a collection of book characters and story-related objects and games. They are designed to encourage children to develop an enthusiasm for reading and a love of books.