THE Damon Singers, a popular local singing group, will be giving a concert on Saturday evening at Amersham Free Church, commencing at 7.30pm. The singers are a mixed choir, with about 25 voices, and the works are almost always sung unaccompanied that is A Capella. Their repertoire consists of more than 300 pieces of music from the medieval period up to today, and covers madrigals, folk songs, Victorian and Edwardian songs, and pieces from the 20s and 30s. The proceeds from on Saturday's concert will be donated to the Mucopolysaccharide Society in Amersham and to the Kabare Project in Kenya. Tickets can be purchased at the door, and refreshments will be available.

THE Amersham Concert Club's next recital will be on Sunday at Dr Challoner's Grammar School on Rectory Hill when the outstanding young viola player Lawrence Power, together with Viv McLean, will play Schubert's Arpeggoine Sonata and the neglected Sonata by Vieuxtemps. For tickets and further information please ring 01494 724942 today, or purchase tickets at the door. The concert begins at 8pm. Admission is £9 per head, under-18s are free.

JUST a reminder of the Musical Soiree to be held at Woodrow High House, Cherry Lane, off the A404 Amersham to High Wycombe road, on Sunday, February 17. The price of admission is £15 per head which includes a candlelight supper consisting of a three-course dinner and coffee. The evening begins at 6.30 for 7pm. Tickets are available from Audrey Lock on 01494 672808 or the Centre Secretary on 01494 433531.

NINETY members of the Amersham and District Scottish Association gathered at Harewood Downs Golf Club in Chalfont St Giles for a traditional Burns Night Dinner of haggis and neeps on Saturday, January 26. They were greeted by piper Alan Rouse, and four Burns songs were sung by Lance Stephens. The association's next event will be a Barn Dance at the Drake Hall in the Community Centre on Saturday, February 23. Tickets are available from Dorothy Rae on 01494 728729.

CHILTERN District Councillor Mrs Gusty Cotterell of Amersham, took contributions of clothing donated by people from Amersham and Chesham and had the privilege of meeting Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, at St James' Palace. Mrs Cotterell is Vice-President of the Northampton Diocese Clothing Guild (formerly the Catholic Needlework Guild) and was invited to attend the occasion when the Queen Mother annually inspects all the items given in aid of her charity, Queen Mary's Clothing Guild. Mrs Cotterell said: "The Queen Mother is a charming little lady, and she looked at all the goods donated and collected from all over the country. She had a ready smile for everyone." Mrs Cotterell also told me that there is a raffle each year at the event, and the Queen Mother always donates a carriage clock as first prize.

STILL on the subject of Royalty and the Queen's forthcoming Golden Jubilee in June of this year, Amersham Museum is staging an exhibition to commemorate this historic occasion, and is seeking readers' help in this direction.

The museum re-opens in March after the winter. If anyone out there has any Royal mementos such as commemorative coins, crockery, books and postcards. The Museum in High Street, Old Amersham, would love to hear from you.

National Savings Certificates were given out to babies born in Amersham on Coronation Day, June 2, 1953, and the Museum Curator, Mrs Monica Mullins, would be absolutely delighted to hear from anyone celebrating their 50th birthday on this date and who still has their certificates.

Also needed by the museum are any pictures taken by local people during the Silver Jubilee of 1977 to build a comprehensive display of Amersham's ties with the Crown. Mrs Mullins would be particularly pleased if anyone happens to have memorabilia from Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee of 1897.

Other events which the museum would like to have souvenirs from are those which took place in Amersham during 1953, including tug-of-war, children's concert, slow bicycle race and needle-threading competition. Pictures of the lighting of a commemorative beacon in Winchmore Hill and Chesham are also sought. If anyone is able to help by providing any of the above, please contact Mrs Mullins on 01494 725754.

THE events of September 11 had an unexpected knock-on effect with the Amersham Branch of the Samaritans, who reported a 50 per cent increase in calls over the Christmas period. They handled 3,000 contacts, which included emails and visits, in December. The whole number of calls during the year rose from 26,500 to 31,000. The Samaritans' director attributes this sharp rise to increased anxiety over finance and job security following the terrorist attacks in the United States last year. If anyone ever does need help from the Samaritans at any time they can be contacted 24 hours a day on 01494 432000. Don't be embarrassed or shy, they are always ready to help in any situation.

FOR our older readers who like to exercise, a 50+ swim is held at the Multi Sports Pool in Chiltern Avenue every Monday and Thursday between 11.30am and 12.30pm. There is also a 50+ session in the Leisure Pool on Tuesdays and Fridays, during term time only, from 10.30am to 11.30am. If you are interested please contact the Chiltern Pools on 01494 729595.

VOLUNTARY Dog Trainers are needed by the Amersham Dog Training Class which is held on Monday evenings at Amersham Common Village Hall from 7pm to 10.30pm. There is a starters' class for trainers to learn how to handle rescue dogs, and a puppy class which teaches how to handle and train puppies.

Also a ten-week progressive course is held four times a year on which trainers learn how to handle dogs and are taught basic training. If there is anyone out there who would like to learn how to teach Fido to sit, come when called, and walk steadily to heel during his "walkies" please ring 01494 712261 for further details. Trainers only at the moment please.

THE next Jazz Evening at the Crown Hotel in Old Amersham is on Friday, February 22, when the Lyn Harrison Quintet will be playing for three hours and will feature Paul Stiles on bass, Byron Davies on drums and vocals by Lyn Harrison. The songs are by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Burt Bacharach and George Benson with jazz instrumental numbers by Alan Berry and Duke Ellington. For jazz fans who are interested, the number to ring is 0870 400 8103.

AMERSHAM Birdwatching Club will be meeting on Friday next, February 15, in the Barn Hall at the Community Centre when Gordon Lansbury will give a talk and slide show on New Mexico in Winter the Bosque del Apache Reserve. The meeting starts at 8pm, and visitors are very welcome at a cost of £2.

By Josie Ricketts