VACANCY: Cllr Peter Mitchell has now formally resigned from the parish council.

Speaking in my role as chairman, I have to say that Peter's experience and wise counsel has been invaluable to me.

I'll especially miss his ability of being able to spot all the "gobbledygook" hiding away in so many of the consultation papers that we receive on such a regular basis!

Notices have been put up on all village notice boards saying that if 10 electors request an election (by writing to the borough council's Electoral Services Department before the end of January), then the election will be arranged to take place before the end of March.

Otherwise, the parish council will be at liberty to co-opt a replacement councillor.

SWEET talk: At the Horticultural Society's meeting at Cliddesden's Millennium Hall next Thursday evening, the talk will be by Mr Brian Newman, entitled "Sweet Pea Growing and Exhibiting".

The society's 2005 events programme will be completed in early February but, in the meantime, most of the dates and details can be found on the Ellisfield website (just press the Horticultural Society button on the ellisfield.gov.uk homepage).

LADIES Club: Doreen tells me that the gala 30th anniversary dinner, taking place tomorrow evening in the Memorial Hall, is sold out - there's even a waiting list.

There will be four of the founding members present, including Julia Kime, who will be accompanied by her husband, the Rev Tom Kime.