Silent auction boosts

ranger camp funds

SALTASH Guide headquarters was decorated and candlelit for a dinner organised by the Saltash Ranger company on Saturday.

A total of 61 guests sat down to a three course meal prepared by ranger leaders Sue Hayley and Pauline Green. The rangers became waitresses for the evening, smartly dressed in white blouses and navy skirts.

After the meal, including a selection from the large sweet trolley, guests bid in a silent auction which helped raise £550 for ranger funds.

The money will go towards a camp with some Canadian guides when they visit Britain in the summer.

Saltash Rangers have already paid a visit to Canada, as guests of Canadian rangers.

Countdown to

the big festival

THE 12th Saltash Music, Speech and Drama Festival is to be held at Saltash Wesley Methodist Church from January 28-February 9, with a gala concert during the final evening.

With the Christmas and New Year celebrations now over, the festival committee are busy making the last minute preparations to increase the number of entries to over 600.

Entries are coming from further afield each year, with the furthest entrant from Ringwood.

Festival programmes will be on sale shortly from Saltash Library, Plymouth Music Shop and Bruce Reid's shop in Saltash.

This year, with the increase of entries, the event will once again go into a Saturday morning/afternoon session with the gala concert in the evening.

An additional class for this year's festival is a combined music, speech and drama recital for juniors (12 years and under), and intermediate (13-18 years). The music can be singing or instrumental, and this will be a shared adjudication by music adjudicator Derek Kitt and speech and drama adjudicator Marion Baldwin.

It has been proposed by the committee to run a speech and drama workshop pending the speech and drama adjudicator's agreement. Committee members say they would like to hear ideas from the public on any additional classes they would like to see at the festival. They add that they are always looking for more donated trophies and cups to cover all the classes. Engraved cups and trophies have been donated, in the past, by people in memory of a loved one, or a charity. Anyone who would like to donate a cup, or become a Friend of the festival, should telephone Friends and trophies secretary, John Pearn, on 01752 845760.

The gala concert will be held on February 9 at 7pm at Saltash Wesley Methodist Church.

The committee would be grateful for assistance in running the festival, whether it be as a steward on the door, on board duty, or at the desk.

Churches in joint service

SALTASH Churches Together organised an ecumenical service on Sunday morning, at Saltash Wesley Church, when congregations from local churches attended.

The Rev Ian Souter, superintendent Methodist minister, officiated at the service and the address was given by the Rev Alan Butler, vicar of St Stephen's by Saltash parish church. Members of the clergy from other churches officiated at the communion service.

The collection was taken for Christian Aid and Saltash Live at Home scheme.