Kidderminster

WEST MIDLAND BIRD CLUB - Alpine flowers of the Bernese Oberland', was the subject of the illustrated talk presented by naturalist and wildlife photographer Mr Tony Wharton at the February indoor meeting.

The high winds at Sefton Sands, Lancashire, the first destination of the recent field trip, resulted in a lack of sightings of wading birds. However, inland at Martin Mere, a nationally important number of black tailed godwits and the endangered tree sparrow were among 60 species observed.

The indoor meeting on Wednesday at St Oswald's Church Centre, Broadwaters, will start, for members only, at 7pm for the AGM. At 7.30pm, waterways expert, Mr Brian Draper, will give a talk on the River Avon.

Non-members welcome. A nominal admission fee includes refreshments.

The field trip on Sunday, March 30 will be to World's End, Llangollen, calling into the Shropshire Ornithological Society's Venus Pool Reserve on the way home. For details, contact 01562 829078.

For details or further information contact 01562 67748 or visit the WMBC website www.westmid landbirdclub.com CYCLING CLUB - There are two rides this Sunday. The A ride starts at 9am and is an informal ride, the destination to be decided on the day. The B ride starts at 9.30am and visits Wightwick Manor, a National Trust property, near Wolverhampton. Both rides leave from The Green, Blakebrook, opposite the hospital. All cyclists will be welcome and should bring a packed lunch.

For details contact John Weston on 01299 401005 or visit the website at www.kidderminster ctc.org.uk JUBILEE (ELIM CHURCH), HOO ROAD - Fellowship meetings are held on Sunday at 10.30am and Wednesday at 7.45pm. Jubilee Kids clubs meet at Sutton Park and Franche Primary Schools on Wednesday and Thursday at 5.30pm.

A joint baptismal service is being held with Cornerstone Church on Easter Sunday on 6.30pm at Minster Road, Stourport.

For more details, contact Rev Will O'Leary on 01562 822966 or 07792 806596.

BROADWATERS LADIES - Mrs Barbara Maskell will give a talk entitled a Japanese wedding' on Wednesday, starting at 7.30pm at St Oswald's Church Centre, Broadwaters Drive. Visitors welcome.

METHODIST CHURCHES - Services for Easter Sunday. Trinity Methodist Church, Churchfields, Kidderminster at 10.30am, led by Rev Mary Austin. Evening worship will be a united service at Foley Park Methodist Church at 6.30pm. There is an informal lunchtime service at Trinity every Thursday at 12.30pm.

Broadwaters Methodist Church's service at 8.30am is led by Rev. Mary Austin and the 10.30am service will be led by Dot Tesh. Cookley Methodist Church's (worshipping at St. Peter's Church) service at 10.30am will be led by Mary Green.

Any enquiries about Trinity or Broadwaters should be directed to the minister Rev Mary Austin on 01562 823300, for Foley Park or Cookley to Rev Pam Garrud on 01562 742722 or for Bewdley to Rev Linda Catlow on 01299 826641.

MILTON HALL BAPTIST CHURCH - Residents are welcome to attend Easter Sunday services at the church in Lorne Street.

There is a Holy Communion service at 8am followed by a family Easter morning service at 11am which will also include Holy Communion. The evening service will be at 6.30pm. All services will be led by Rev Jack Bentham. People are welcome to stay for a free cuppa and a chat after the morning service.

Other activities during the school term at the church include Boys Brigade on Monday at 6pm, Little Stars (mums and tots) on Tuesday between 10am and noon and Girls Brigade on a Thursday at 6pm.

For further details contact Rev Jack Bentham on 01562 632401 or visit the website at www.milton hallbaptistchurch.co.uk DISTRICT PROBUS - At the March 5 meeting, fellow member Geoff Cradock gave the second part of his talk India as I saw it' illustrated with his own slides.

Geoff went out to Jamshedpur in India in 1979 for five years as a factory manager for TATA Steel. He had a staff of 2,500 plus, but he also had the opportunity to travel widely in India.

Members were taken to a temple at Andra Pradesh with paintings of the Life of Buddha, to Benares, where they saw the bathing places and life at the riverside. They also visited a temple at Mahalbaliporum near Madras with intricate sculptures.

At his home in India, members witnessed the annual Poojah when the idols were brought into the factory, and later carried in procession by the factory workers all dressed in their new clothes to the river where they are consigned to the care of the waters.

There is a local corps of Adivassi warriors who practice archery with spliced bamboo bows. T The owners of TATA Steel provide much for their workers, ranging from housing and nursery and later education to a free open air cinema and an annual Founders Day sports and picnic, which includes a parade by the factory's groups of Scouts, Girl Guides and Territorial Army.

Further details about Kidderminster Probus can be obtained from the secretary on 01562 741442.