KNIGHTON TOWN SILVER BAND - On the very wet morning of Christmas Eve, 16 members of the band braved the elements to play carols around the town. Thanks go to all its faithful supporters. Members collected £96.57 in donations for band funds.

BINGO - There will be a bingo session in the church hall, Knighton, on Saturday, doors opening 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

SUNDAY SERVICES - Knighton Baptist Church cafe style all-age worship 11am led by Rev Maggie Rich. Knighton Methodist Church 11am. Knighton Catholic Church 11am. St Edward’s, Knighton, 9.30am morning worship led by John Clements. St David’s Church, Whitton, Holy Communion led by Rev Melia Cope. St Andrew’s Church, Norton, Holy Communion led by Rev Melia Cope. St Michael’s, Cascob, 3pm Holy Communion led by Rev Melia Cope.

GIFTS FOR RESIDENTS AND PATIENTS - Members of Knighton Hospital and community League of Friends gave a Christmas present to all the residents of Cottage View and all the patients of Knighton Hospital. The LOF give gifts every year this year the bag of presents included a pen, papers, a cracker, fruit, chocolate and a book.

UNDER-FIVES’ QUIZ - The winner of the Knighton Under-Fives’ Christmas Quiz was Sarah Hamer who won a festive hamper. The quiz raised more than £80 and the money will be used to help run the playgroup.

SPEED SHEARING - A speed shearing competition held earlier in the year at the Forrest Inn, New Radnor, raised £900. The money has just been presented to Helen Pruett of the Wales Air Ambulance by organisers of the event. The main organisers were Richard Jones and Oliver Jones who thanked local farmer Ken Lloyd for the use of his field, Mandy and Wayne Price landlords of the Forrest Inn for all their hard work, all the sponsors and everyone who took part in the event. The overall winner was Roger Abberley from Llanyre.

NATIVITY - A Christmas Eve nativity service was held in St Edward’s Church, Knighton.

The church was almost full with a large number of children and their families. During the service children dressed up as Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, wise men and a star to tell the story of Jesus’s birth. This was acted out in between a selection of traditional carols. At the end of the service a collection was made for children in poorer parts of the world.

BOXING DAY HUNT - Members of the Teme Valley Hunt came out in force for their annual Boxing Day meet. With 50 horses and about 200 supporters, the Knighton Hotel car park was very full. Joint master of the hunt Tim Gunning said: “It’s lovely to see so many here including farmers and land owners who give us so much support.” Joint master Frank Bright said: “Thank you everyone for coming out to support us today, it’s so nice to see so many children here.” The hounds and horse riders were then led out of the car park by huntsman David Savage up through the main street of Knighton watched by many people on the street.

BOOK LAUNCH - George Learmonth from Knighton has just launched his first book A World Elsewhere. The book is made up of a selection of fictional stories including A Runaway Sheepdog and A Magic Cushion George’s dog Spot who died last year at nearly 18 years of age. The book was published in June 2012 but the launch was delayed because George suffered a stroke and spent the next three months in hospital.

Now feeling much better, George has been able to launch his book at the Tower House Gallery, Knighton. All the proceeds of his book will go to Macmillan Cancer Support. At the launch he presented £54 to Liz George,
chairman of Knighton Macmillan Cancer Support group. His books are available at £6.99 each from the Tower House Gallery, publisher Rowanvale Books, Amazon and from all good bookshops. Kathy Riordan, who has read the book, said: “It is very thoughtprovoking and sometimes witty. I think it will appeal to those who appreciate different styles of stories in one book.” George was born in London in 1943 of Scottish parents and has worked in Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham. In Birmingham he was the
keeper of conservation at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. He moved to
Knighton 15 years ago and joined the Knighton Writers group. George is also coauthor of a forthcoming book on the world famous Sultanganj Buddha, a large copper statue found in Bihar, north east India, in
1861 and now in Birmingham Museum.