LUNCH CLUB -- One of Kington's success stories has surely been its Community Lunch Club, which this month celebrates its 20th anniversary. Since its formation, say present organisers, David and Elizabeth Tipping, more than 20,000 meals have been served to single people living alone in Kington, who are mostly elderly. Guest of honour at its first lunch, for which the then Vicar, the Rev. Geoffrey Asson, supplied a celebratory glass of sherry, was the Bishop of Hereford of the day, the late Rt Rev. John Eastaugh. Mr and Mrs Tipping -- tele phone 01544 230614 -- would like to hear from potential new members, and they would also welcome calls from those who would like to help with the club's catering arrangements. Would-be members living in Kington may like to know that transport to the club's venue at the Parish House is available.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS -- Traffic lights installed recently at one of Kington's major street junctions, as a temporary measure, have led to criticisms from members of Kington Town Council. Councillor Elizabeth Newman said that after their installation, she had received many complaints about vehicles parking in Bridge Street. Although further discussion of the subject was deferred, the council is to write to the contractor concerned about the scaffolding which the traffic lights have been installed to protect, and it will ask how long the scaffolding is likely to be in place.

VISIT -- Staff and students from Lady Hawkins' School, along with some parents, will be taking part in a very special series of commemorations in Holland to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem. This visit will provide a unique opportunity to visit Arnhem alongside the men who fought there, and it will give the pupils an exceptional insight into the nature of war and how it affected the soldiers and local Dutch population. The party, led by Nick Dinsdale, the school's head of history, will be touring all the important sites of the battle with the men who were there, visit fascinating museums and take an active role in the commemorations. The visit takes place this weekend, September 21 - 24.

REQUIEM -- Mozart's Requiem is to be sung by the Kington Choral Society, under its conductor, Maureen Twiddy, on Saturday at Kington's parish church, at 7.30pm. Soloists will be Elizabeth Allan (soprano), Sheila Donaldson (contralto), Michael Clee (tenor) and Austin Allen (bass), and the organist is Peter Dyke. Tickets are available from High Street insurance brokers, R L Higgs and Co., or by telephoning 01544 340235.

HEALTH CARE FACILITY -- So far as Kington's new health care facility is concerned, "it is crucial that the right deal for the townspeople is realised, and that value for money is achieved". This view was expressed by Kington's Allan Lloyd, speaking as chairman of the Hereford Community Health Council, and commenting on the protracted delay in the signing of the contract which would allow work to start on the new replacement for the town's 113-years old cottage hospital. He said: "Within the health economy of Herefordshire there is total support for, and genuine commitment to, the new health care facility in Kington.The question relating to staff was of vital importance, but in itself was not the cause of the delay in the signing of the contract with Blanchworth Health Care Ltd. Some commercial issues still remain outstanding, but these are not insurmountable.

''It is crucial that the right deal for the people of Kington is realised and that value for money is achieved. I am assured that everyone is working towards this end and that the outcome will be successful, and I am confident that all negotiations will be concluded and that the building will be started before the demise of the Herefordshire Health Authority in April, 2002".

Told of Mr Lloyd's views, Christine Forrester, Kington Hospital Study Group spokesman, said she was delighted that he and the Hereford Community Health Council were giving their full support. "We are confident that negotiations will be concluded shortly", she added.