Wartime tunes

A CONCERT of songs from the First and the Second World Wars is to be held in the Public Hall, Liskeard, on November 12.

Warden of

Readers

MRS Gloria Helson, formerly of Liskeard, is to become Warden of Readers and to be commissioned by the Bishop of Truro, Rt Rev Bill Ind at the Diocesan Synod on November 25.

Gloria is the daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Jack Bice who for many years ran Bice's Newsagents, Confectioners and Tobacconists in Fore Street, Liskeard.

Hot pot supper

THE harvest festival at Liskeard Methodist church was celebrated in September, followed by a harvest supper when 50 members and friends enjoyed hot pot followed by trifles and apple pies.

Entertainment took place afterwards, with Rev Fred Card as the pianist.

At St Matthew's Fair day members prepared and served home made soups and rolls, Cornish pasties, cakes and tea and coffee.

The next money-raising event will be in the church on October 30, organised by the church choir. All money raised will be for the wind and watertight fund for repairs to the church.

Soup for

the section

QUIMPERLE, in Liskeard's Station Road, was opened to friends on October 11 for a soup and sandwich lunch.

The event was held to raise funds for the ECHO centre in town, and a profit of £85 was raised. Raffle proceeds were given to the Royal British Legion woman's section, and this amounted to £18.50. Thanks were extended by Christine and Norman Pampling to all those who attended in such terrible weather.

Over 100 voices

will sing Messiah

MORE than 120 voices forming the United Choir of Liskeard Churches Together will be performing the well loved oratorio Handel's Messiah, as part of the town's continuing programme in celebration of the millennium.

Liskeard Methodist Church has been chosen as the venue for the two performances on Friday and Saturday, November 3 and 4, beginning at 7pm promptly, under the baton of musical director Mr Roy Wilton. The church organ, said to be one of the best in the county, will be played in accompaniment by Jonathan Delbridge. Soloists will Maggie Holden (soprano), Marlene Berry (contralto), Ray Gilley (tenor) and Brian Green (bass).

Tickets at £3 adults and £1.50 children, are only available on the door on the nights. There is ample, free parking in the Market Car Park, adjacent to Dean Street, which has a small pedestrian side lane which brings you out right opposite the Methodist Church.

The chorus, who have been in rehearsal for several months are drawn from all over the area, including a contingency from the Saltash and district choir who performed the work at the town's Wesley Church a few weeks ago. They were joined by the Liskeard Choir who thoroughly enjoyed their first chance to perform.

Messiah was first performed at the New Music Hall in Fish-amble Street, Dublin, on April 13, 1742 in aid of charity, but only later achieved acclaim and lasting success after performances in 1750 in aid of the Foundling Hospital, established by Capt Thomas Coram. At his death in London in 1759, Handel left a copy of the score and all parts to the Hospital, an institution that continued to benefit from annual performances of the work. George Frederic Handel was born in Halle in 1685.

In our admiration of Handel's work we often overlook the contribution of Charles Jennens, an evangelical churchman, to whom great credit is due for his inspired selection of Bible passages used in the Oratorio.

Group picture

A GROUP photograph was taken of Liskeard town councillors before their October monthly meeting on Tuesday.

Sarah and

the prizes

AUTHOR and broadcaster, Sarah Harrison, will be appearing at Liskeard library today (October 20) at 7pm as part of Cornwall library's Wonderful Words book festival, and Caradon council's festival of arts and culture.

Her latest novel is entitled 'Heaven's on Hold'. This will be her third appearance at the Wonderful Words book festival, and this year she will be presenting the prizes to the winners in the under 12 section of the Jack Raynor memorial short story competition.

New link

missionaries

THE Liskeard Benefice's new link missionaries in the Far East are John and Paula Richards who live in Truro, but work in the Philippines.

They have become the Benefice's link missionaries following the retirement of Judith Spear and Margaret Lowe. On their previous terms of service John and Paula have both taught in secondary schools, but when they return in April 2001 to the island of Mindoro they will be working with local churches, fostering and developing relationships made earlier.

They will be having supper at the church hall in Liskeard on November 15 at 7.30pm, and people are being encouraged to join them. Telephone Ron Bennett on 01579 345809 for further details.

Glass in the

long grass

THE question of long grass in the basketball play area for youngsters at Rapsons Field, Liskeard, was raised by a concerned resident at Tuesday's town council meeting.

Councillors were told there is broken glass amongst the grass, which could harm children, and it was felt the area was therefore dangerous for them to play in. It was hoped, as the town council leases the land, members could organise a grass cut. Mayor, Pat Ambler, said a skate ramp had arrived for the strip of land by the old mortuary. The council has been waiting for ERG, who were responsible for the area, to terminate the trust, and members said they do intend to tidy it up.