LAST Sunday West Malvern paid tribute to the Revd Rosemary Herbert, Deacon at St James's Church since 1991, who celebrated her 70th birthday at the weekend.

Her near quarter-century of dedicated (and unpaid) service to the village community was marked by a well-attended special service at St James's and a lunch at the Royal British Legion club. Rosemary was presented with a mainly computer-related cornucopia of gifts obtained with by a village-wide collection. The remarkable £1,000-plus raised was a fitting testament to the respect and affection in which Rosemary is held by all sections of the community for the love and kindness she has shown to us all, churchgoers or no, over these years. As she does not drive, all her pastoral visits round the village have been made on foot, often in vile weather. And thanks are due too to her husband David, who for all that time has chauffeured her back and forward from their home in Malvern Link.

The day's proceedings, both in church at the lunch, were enlivened by singing from the popular local group Colla Voce, whose joyful offerings ranged from Silent Night in the original German to Mack the Knife – as well as the Northumberland folk song Blow the Wind Southerly, in acknowledgement of Rosemary's Tyneside origins. Special mention should be made to Richard Hammond for his part in organising the event and the collection, also to the willing volunteers at the Legion who served 60 people with an excellent meal, the main course of which was cooked on site by John and Barbara, former hosts at the Swan Inn at Newland.

Two events in the village this weekend: Tomorrow Saturday, the Cricket Club quiz at the Brewers Arms starting at at 7.30pm; and on Sunday afternoon, from 2.30pm–4pm, the Village Hall Christmas Afternoon Tea in aid of the Midlands Air Ambulance. As well seasonal get-together over tea and home-made cakes, there will be a chance to buy produce, plants and crafts, as well as a raffle and Father Christmas with a bran tub for the children. Then next Wednesday December 17th at 8pm, the Village Hall, will once again be hosting the traditional concert by local choral group Vital Spark, complete with mulled wine, mince pies and a hamper raffle.

COLIN JACKSON 01684 577604