VERY contrasting styles marked West Malvern's two musical events on Saturday evening.

Down at Mathon Court, Cricket Club members danced to the 21st century strains of the UnderCoVers. Meanwhile in St James's Church, the Gloucester Waites were treating another audience to chart sounds from the Golden Age of 16th century Spain!

Clad in period costume with scarlet tabards, the four-strong group played pieces on ancient instruments such as crumhorns, (which look a bit like walking sticks), rebecs (said to have been copied by the Crusaders from Middle Eastern stringed instruments) and bagpipes, which we were assured were widespread throughout Europe long before the Scots latched on to them! Some £300 was raised towards renewal of the organ electrics, and John Raine was able to announce that sufficient funds had already been raised this summer to enable work to begin on this costly project.

A further boost is expected from the Summer Concert of Music and Words at the other St James's Church, at Colwall, tomorrow (Saturday) starting at 7.30pm. In memory of the late Peter Baron, long time vicar of West Malvern, and his wife Mary, this stellar event will feature international tenor James Oxley who is appearing at the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford Also taking part will be soprano Hilda Webb, the Volante String Quartet, the Colwall Church Choir and West Malvern's organist John Raine, with prose and poetry readings by Janet Dale and others. Tickets £10 (with concessions) to include wine and canapes, on the door.

COLIN JACKSON 01684 577604