Preston Village Mike Panting 01273 563706 YOUTH MASSES: From January, 2000, Fr Oliver has agreed for St Mary's RC Church in Surrenden Road to hold Youth Masses.

Teenagers have been asked how they want the Youth Masses to be organised. Folk music, rock music, Gospel singing, drama, dance are all being considered. It will be up to the teenagers to prepare and devise a plan.

TREE RECYCLING: A collection point for the recycling of Christmas trees has been set up at the north-east corner of Preston Park, near the entrance to the park in Preston Drove. Unwanted Christmas trees can be left there up to January 29 and they will then be recycled by the council and used as compost for Council gardens.

WALLED GARDEN: A lot of work is planned this winter to renovate the walled garden in Preston Park.

It is planned to relay the path across the western end of the Coronation Garden, replacing all damaged paving stones. At the same time the opportunity will be taken to replace the four steps at the northern end with a ramp that will enable wheelchair access to the walled garden for the first time.

The paths inside the walled garden will be relaid and widened and the flower beds will then be redesigned and replanted to reflect the design during ownership by Thomas Stanford between 1905-1932.

PARK BENCHES: The main design of benches being used in the renovation of Preston Park is a style designed for the park when it first opened in1884.

To date, 45 such benches have been made and they will be located over the park during the winter. They have cast iron fittings and English oak slats. One of the original benches of this design can still be seen in the grounds in front of Preston Manor.

If you are interested in sponsoring a bench to celebrate as birth, anniversary or life, you can phone Zoe Wells on 10273 292219 to discuss options.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES: A Children's Christmas Carol service is being held at St Mary's at 4pm on Christmas Eve. Children can come as kings, angels, shepherds, sheep or whatever they like to be in the Nativity story.

There will also be carol singing before the Midnight Mass and services at 10am and Midday on Christmas Day.

At St John's on Christmas Eve at 4pm there will be a Crib Service with the lighting of the candles and a millennium Midnight Mass at 11.30pm. The Family Service on Christmas Day will be at the usual time of 9.45am.

Kemp Town John Randall 01273 685143

Fund-raiser: The Royal Oak pub in St James's Street held its annual Christmas raffle on December 15 in aid of the Rockinghorse Appeal. The raffle, in conjunction with a doubles pool knockout tournament, raised a staggering £1,800. Pool match winners were Tom Angior and Rob Bartlett.

The regulars of the Royal Oak have been supporting the Alex for the last ten years and have raised thousands of pounds in ten years.

Woodingdean Ray Blackwood 01273 559766

SERVICES: Woodingdean Methodist Church communion is at 11.30 on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebration for all ages will be at 10am. Sunday service on Boxing Day will be at 10am.

Similar services will take place at all the churches in Woodingdean. Downs Baptist Church special service for all the family at Woodingdean Primary School will be on Christmas morning from 10.30-11.30am and there will be no evening service on Boxing Day.

You your Y2K diary: Sunday, January 2, 5pm at Woodingdean Primary School: Churches together in celebration Millennium service.

University of the Third Age Five Deans branch includes Woodingdean: Thursday, January 6 at 2.15pm at Saltdean Community Centre: Growing Old Disgracefully!

Friends of Woodingdean meet at Woodingdean Community Centre at 7.30pm on Tuesday, January 18, to hear a talk on Trees for Y2K.

Coldean John Ovenden 01273 691104

NATIVITY: The children of the infant school raised £75 at their performances of two Nativity plays for the charity Shelter. They also sang carols in the library in Selham Drive and the Larchwood Home in Waldron Avenue last week.

SALE PROFIT: Sue Hollingdale of Busy Bees fund-raisers says they had a successful table top sale at the infant school which raided £80. The money will go to benefit their funds.

DISCO: They youth club disco held at the infant school was very well attended and £55 profit was made which goes to club funds.

It was Gloria Clark's last event as club leader. She was presented with a silver inscribed cup in appreciation for all the fine work that she has done over a long period as youth club leader.

They are still in desperate need of a treasurer to look after the club books. If you feel that you may be able to help please contact Coun Pat Hawkes as soon as possible on 692896.

VANDALISM: Church warden Ron Brown says that four more leaded windows have been broken at St Mary Magdalen Church. If you have any information, contact Ron on 687331.

CAKE: Stuart Bower gave a Christmas cake that was raffled in our local grocers and raised £30. The proceeds go to Larchwood Home.

FOR THE DIARY: A Wild West Night will be held on January 29. Families are most welcome. There will be prizes for the best Wild West outfits.

Southwick Hilda Child

MILLENNIUM SUPPER: If you haven't yet decided how you are going to spend New Year's Eve or are looking for ideas on the subject, why not join in the fun at the Millennium Supper Dance in The Barn Hall, Southwick Community Centre?

It is presented by the Royal British Legion. Dancing to The Crooked Stovepipe Band. Supper from 8.30pm-12.30am. Tickets £10 each including supper. There will also be a bar and raffle. For tickets ring 01273 593564 or 410930.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.