We all went to the White Lion Hotel for our Christmas dinner. A lovely meal!

Lights on our Memorial Tree. Form Thanks to Rowan Thomas, Grahame Bunn, Brian Williams and Adam Lowndes for their help with the lights, and everybody who has remembered a loved one. The list of names will be affixed to the tree on Saturday afternoon.

New riverside barrels. Several of the current barrels on the riverfront are disintegrating and we need to replace them. We have looked into various options and have decided that replica wooden barrels would be best for us. There is no maintenance associated with them and watering will be much easier as they have built-in reservoirs. The barrels are smaller than the existing ones, so instead of 15 we hope to have 20.

We are starting to raise money to buy these barrels, hopefully in time for winter planting. If you can help, by making a donation, or supporting our Cash Draw we will be very grateful. Tickets are on sale in The Launderette, Upton News & Sean's News.

Heart of England in Bloom Judging day. Judges Robin Russell and Ken Whittaker were taken on a tour of Upton, which included Church Cottages; the riverside beds; Hanley Road car park (to show the wildflower verge, Severn Trent's land and the Recycling Centre); Upton Primary School; the Cemetery, Chapel & allotments; Berrow Court & The Ham; the Malt House, where we were joined by the Mayor and the High Sheriff of Worcestershire; Barbara Hartley's garden in Dunns Lane; Waterside; Bridge House patio and the Old Churchyard. Robin & Ken were very impressed with the wall. They were also keen to see the School's plastic bottle greenhouse.

The town looked very clean and tidy and thanks to MHDC for doing such a lovely job. The Old Churchyard also looked very good. After judging we went into the Tudor House Museum for a pasta bake, provided by Claire Bunn, which was very welcome after touring the town in the non-stop rain! Thank you to everyone who helped in any way.

Our Giant Easter Egg Draw raised £277. Thank you to everyone who helped and bought tickets. The winner with ticket number 171 lives in Berrow; 2nd prize was won with number 325. The winners had been sent to ask Simon about a street that no longer exists and thought the ought to buy a ticket! They had come back just after the draw was made to be greeted by the news they had won 2nd prize, a Simnel cake. Third prize, a small Easter egg, was won by Peggy at Bridge House.