GREETINGS to all for the new year! It looks set to be a good one.

All the village festive celebrations went off well barring the fact that the walk-about carol singing on December 18 had to be cancelled due to the turbulent weather.

However, a good donation was raised for The Children’s Society at the Christingle meeting, and the church was filled to capacity for the Christmas morning service. All visitors who attended are welcome to come along on a Sunday morning at 9.30am.

Jan Brown reports that the New Year’s Eve party went really well. There were around 80 people there.

We enjoyed a lovely buffet and at midnight raised a glass to the start of a new year and sang Auld Lang Syne. For people who enjoy a dance, Nicole Newby provided plenty of music and the dance floor was very busy.

On a more sombre note, Sally Ransome-Williams’s dear mother, Barbara Knight, died on Christmas Eve just three months short of her 100th birthday. Our condolences to the family.

Others in the village had family members visiting from far and wide, with the Clarks welcoming family from Switzerland, South Africa, and Scotland.

There is a possibility that the village bus service may be curtailed or even cancelled in due course.

This would be a great loss and today is the last opportunity to have your say: see the village website or the Worcestershire County Council website to find out more and to record your concerns.

The Book Club will from now on be meeting on the second Monday of the month, at 7.30pm and February’s choice is The Beauty Chorus by Kate Lord Brown. Telephone Anne on 01531 632439 for more details.

Make March 8 a date in your diary for the Grand Village Ceilidh.

This will take place in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm.

Tickets for adults are £8, and children are half price. Let Jan Brown know if you’d like to come on 01531 633135.

VALERIE CLARK 01531 630257