MP comperes

festive concert

THE Spirit of Christmas was the theme for a concert of carols at Saltash Wesley Church on Saturday evening to raise money for the Saltash live at home scheme.

Three choirs and an augmented choir give a programme of Christmas music, those taking part being: Saltash Ladies Choir with musical director Linda Eastlake and accompanist Eileen Hatch; Saltash Male Voice Choir accompanied by Elizabeth Donnelly; and Burraton Male Voice Choir conducted by Phil Taylor and accompanied by Muriel Nicholson. Pupils from the Bethany School of Speech and Drama, Lucy Vennard and Matthew Jarman, recited Christmas poems, and violin solos were given by Rachel and Richard Waters accompanied by Gillian Waters on piano. Linda Eastlake also sang two solos, a Christmas medley was played on piano by Audrey Mills and the compere was Colin Breed MP.

The augmented choir of about 90, who were conducted by Phil Taylor and accompanied by Sue Davis on the piano, sang Torches, Silent Night and And There Were Shepherds. Janet Breed gave the vote of thanks to all those taking part, and about £600 was raised.

Counting down

SALT(B)ASH 2000, who are organising the New Year's celebrations in Saltash, have announced that festivities will begin at the Waterside at 9.30 pm with musical entertainment.

At 10pm the beacon at Brunel Green will be lit and at 11.45pm the countdown will start, with a piper due to welcome 2001 with Auld Lang Syne. At 12.05 am fireworks, with a watchnight service being held at St Nicholas and St Faith Church at 12.30am.

Children's views

of the nativity

CHILDREN of Bishop Cornish School, Saltash, presented an afternoon of entertainment to parents, friends and Saltash mayor Bryan Preston, who was welcomed by head teacher Jenny Thomas.

The infants section began with The Very Hopeless Camel, those taking part including Anneliese Noakes (the Hopeless Camel), Alice Poole, Georgina Welsh, Daniel Farmar, James Torr, Kobain Thorpe, Richard Court, Jonathan Lillie, Maise Brooks, Samuel Lyne, Daniel Westaway and Jazmine Owen. Later the juniors presented a series of dances, speech and music, and Ten Little Christmas Trees, the afternoon ending with Christmas In The Sun.

Infants at Brunel School have also presented their version of The Very Hopeless Camel and in the same evening, the juniors acted a modern version of the nativity in a play entitled Secret Agents, with narrators Harriet Isaacs, Rachel Slaymaker and Sam Ward. There were angels, wise guys, perfume girls, an Italian mob, shepherds, Mary (Jodie Trapp), Joseph (Aaron Sullivan) and Simeon (Kyle Beresford). One surprise in this nativity was Angel Gabriel arriving on a scooter to tell Mary she was to become the mother of Jesus. The other two main angels were Petroc (Michelle Oak) and Pennymoney (Hannah Hagan).

Forums service

ON December 13 the four Saltash Forums met at Saltash Baptist Church for their annual carol service conducted by the Rev Jeff Howell.

The pianist accompanying the carols was John Honywill of the First Forum. Lessons were read by a member of each forum: Gordon Richards (First), David Jones (Second), Leslie Stephens (Third) and Zella Devivo (Fourth). A collection was made for the Baptist church and later members of the First Forum served teas and mince pies in the hall.

Tour of the

sorting office

SALTASH mayor and mayoress, Bryan and Jennifer Preston, together with local MP Colin Breed, made an early morning call on December 18 to Saltash postal sorting office in Fore Street.

The guests were welcomed by delivery office manager, Brian Taylor, and also met sector operations manager, Trevor Millard.

Mr Taylor said that morning 51,000 letters were being sorted by the 36 staff working at the sorting office. He presented Mr Preston and Mr Breed with albums containing Millennium stamps and the history of the Post Office. The guests then spoke to all the Post Office workers. The mayor thanked the staff for their hard work in getting the Christmas mail delivered in all weathers.

Mr Taylor entertained the visitors to tea and mince pies after their tour.