Presteigne

LLANANDRAS FAIR POSTSCRIPT - The Chamber of Trade Llanandras Christmas Fair was held on Saturday, December 20. The very heavy rain in the morning fortunately cleared up just in time for the arrival of Father Christmas and despite a rather dull afternoon the entertainments in the High Street were very much enjoyed and supported by a good turnout. Just in case of rain a marquee had been erected on the wide part of the pavement, where Bandamania, and the Whitton singers performed. The Chamber need not have worried about the rain as the Leominster Morris Dancers had said a few days before that it never rains on them. Indeed it did not whilst they were performing, and they were able to dance in the street itself. About 90 children were able to visit Father Christmas in his grotto, and I have it, on the authority of a three-year-old family member, that it was the real Father Christmas in Presteigne - with quite the best presents ever. During the afternoon mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and hot soup were available, and there was a tombola and raffle with prizes. There was also a display in some of the shop windows, of all the entrants, and winners, in a children's competition organised by the Primary School. Many of the shops had made their annual effort to provide wonderful and inventive Christmas shop window displays. These were judged by the Mayor with the winners awarded rosettes to display. CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT - Following the fun in the High Street, in the afternoon of December 20, the enjoyment continued into the evening in St Andrews' Church, where Mid Border Arts had arranged a festive entertainment of carols and Christmas poetry and prose together with mince pies and fruit punch. The admirable Dolau Mixtures, directed by Marion Rowlatt - who also acted as master of ceremonies and pianist for the evening - and augmented by the very appreciative audience, provided the choral part of the entertainment, together with excellent solos from young Tom Mosler, Helen Sedgewick and Christie Toal. The, now well-established, Get Happy Youth Group, directed by Margaret Morgan, performed some beautifully spoken, and well-chosen, Christmas verse, while Margaret had elected to read a very moving excerpt from Hamlet, describing how the bird of dawning crows all night long on Christmas Eve to keep wicked spirits at bay, followed by the delightful The Shepherd's Dog. After the interval, Norma Hartley-Proctor read The Greatest Gift, a lovely telling of the travels and trials of the fourth Wise Man, and again interspersed with some splendid, old and new, carols from the Dolau Mixtures... and the audience. Tim Hollinghurst and Janet Covey-Crump provided the accomplished accompaniments. A collection was taken for the charity VICTA, helping visually-impaired children, and raised the splendid sum of over £70, which was gratefully received by the Get Happy Youth Group. In all Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas provided an evening of delight, warming up the audience ready for the festive season, and providing happy memories for the dark winter evenings ahead.

LUGG VIEW - Lugg View residents have been expressing their appreciation for the work that has recently been carried out for Powys County Council in their homes - mainly new window installations. Many of the residents have also valued the help and courtesy of the contractors working on the site, and are very pleased with the results of the work.

FILM FANS - Presteigne Film Society presents the Chinese film Springtime in a Small Town tomorrow ( Friday) in the Assembly Rooms. Directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang the film hasa stagey feel of cinematic restraint and is a re-make of the 1940's classic. This is a come-back for Tian Zhuangzhuang, who has been banned from working in China since 1993. Also tomorrow (Friday), Flicks in the Sticks is showing Very Annie Mary, directed by Sara Sugarman, in Lingen Village Hall. Set in the village of Ogw, which is full of eccentrics, such as the local baker, blaring Nessun Dorma from his delivery van, the film is an hilarious take on Welsh village life, and stars Ioan Gruffudd and Jonathan Pryce.

ASSEMBLY ROOMS - On Thursday, January 15, Mid Border Arts are presenting a concert of Hungarian gypsy music with Kalman Balogh and the Gypsy Cymbalon Band. This extraordinary troupe play wild, and continually surprising, gypsy jazz led by Kalman's dramatic hammered cymbalon, together with nods to klezmer music and ragtime. Don't miss them. Tickets are £7, booking in advance on 01544 267163, and the performance starts at 8pm. On the following Saturday evening, January 17, Mid Border Arts presents Viram Jasani and Hanif Khan, at 7.30 pm in the Assembly Rooms. Viram Jasani is the UK's leading sitar player and a BBC performer. Highly versatile, he is at home with Indian raga and contemporary fusion alike. Viram will be accompanied by Hanif Khan on tabla. Tickets will be £7/£5 - booking in advance on 01544 260577.