PARISH council news: Mrs Barbara Smith has now started work with the parish council and will take over as parish clerk at the end of the year.

Two councillors have resigned this month - Phillip Rudin, due to pressure of his main work, and Tracey Foster, because of a planned move from the village.

The vacancies will be filled in the usual way and the parish council now seeks volunteers to fill them. If you would like to put something back into the community, please call the parish office on 298634.

The consultation on the public drinking ban is now in hand and details of the proposed areas to which it will apply are in The Tower. A map is available in the parish office.

GARDENING club: The well known writer and broadcaster John Negus returns to Kingsclere on Thursday, November 13, when he will talk to the club on conservatory gardening.

Non-members are welcome at this meeting, at the Fieldgate Centre, starting at 7.45pm.