Senior Citizen Club: At the beginning of the meeting on July 10, Anne Pickard, chairman, welcomed Mr Denis Parsons, who has lived in the village for many years and is involved in the church and other activities. On a sadder note, Edie Allen was in hospital having an operation.

The balance of money for the holiday at Eastbourne was collected. Some members had suggested going to St Audries on December 5 for a Christmas lunch and supper, at the cost of £21, including coach fare.

Anne had forms from the Chestnut Tree for entrants to the competition which is held annually. She also announced, with regret that the Chestnut Tree is struggling and might be forced to close within the year. If this is the case it will be a great loss to all senior citizens.

Freda entertained once again with a selection of songs, old and new, in which the audience joined. Freda concluded with an instrumental piece of music, entitled The Chiltern Hills.

At the meeting on July 24, Carol Francis, a firewoman, gave a very comprehensive account of the local Fire Servie. On April 1 this year the Somerset Unit combined with Devon and became the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. The Fire Control is housed at Hestercombe, near Taunton, but the HQ is at Exeter. It is open 365 days a year and in 2005 there were 1,700 incidents, involving houses, cars, hedges, barns etc. and a Rescue Tender attends if people or animals are trapped in cars or lorries. Calls are often received from people, worried about a cat up a tree, but the fire service does not attend unless the RSPCA thinks the cat will not climb down within 48 hours and when it is hungry.

Carol commented that there are now fewer chip pan fires since oven chips were introduced. She gave advice about the prevention of fires in the home or businesses, e.g. switch off TV at bedtime, not putting glass objectson south facing window-sills, not drying clothes around the fire and the importance of renewing batteries in smoke alarms.

The Fire Service advertises days on which electric blankets, which should never be folded, can be tested, in spring and autumn.

Extra loud smoke alarms can be installed in homes, where the residents are hard of hearing, and other devices, such as flashing lights, and alarms to place under a pillow are available. TV aerials should be disconnected during thunderstorms.

If the doors between the kitchen and living room are closed at night, this will contain a fire and prevent spreading for 20 minutes.

Larry Pickard thanked Carol for such an informative talk.