President of Bude Inner Wheel, Di McDougall, is no stranger to intrepid activities.

In the past she has tried abseiling, wing walking and zip wire descent to raise money for various charities.

To round off her year as president of the Bude club, she decided to take to the skies again in a sponsored gyro flight.

On July 2, accompanied by several supporters, she made her way to Bodmin Airfield for a 30 minute flight from Bodmin down to the Fowey estuary and back.

The weather was perfect and Di said that the scenery was beautiful. Those of us who stayed on the ground were happy to take her word for it.

Di’s chosen charities for this year are Bude Exercising for Mobility, Bude Sea Pool, CLIC Sargent and Bude Parkinson’s Society.

Di has raised around £2,000 in sponsorship money for the flight and would like to thank everyone who donated for their generosity.

On Sunday, July 13, at 2.30pm there will be a ‘Summer Brass’ concert by Tiverton Town Band in aid of the ‘East Window Restoration Appeal’ for St Andrew's Church, Stratton (EX23 9DW).

Tickets on entrance are £10, to include a cream tea.

'Challenging Conversations with Jesus' was the theme of the service led by Ruth Bealing of Holsworthy on Sunday, June 29, at Morwenstow Methodist Chapel at Shop.

Colin Tape was the organist for the hymns: ‘O Lord my God’, ‘The Servant King’ and ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’

The lesson was read by Ken Boundy.

The Merrytones Praise Group sang: 'It's about loving you'.

The service was followed by coffee and a chance to chat in The Wesley Room.

Rev Meg Slingo led the service on Sunday, June 29, which included Holy Communion, with Mary Care acting as Communion Steward.

We worshipped the Lord by singing: 'Amazing Grace', 'I am a new creation', 'The Spirit lives to set us free', 'Let us break bread together' and 'Teach me to dance'.

The singing was led by Dionne Bere on the keyboard and with Geoff Broome and Avril Glessing as vocalists.

The lessons were read by Linda Broome.

Refreshments were served at the close.

In the evening, twenty men sat around the firepit at Pooh Corner, where barbecue food was enjoyed and many Christian conversations were held.

Arrangements were made for upcoming CVM (Christian Vision for Men) events.

The ‘Village Coffee Morning’ for July was held on Thursday, July 3, in the Millard Room of Charlotte's Bar of the Social Club adjoining the Village Hall.

Thank you to Ros Watson and Linda Broome for hosting this month.

The choir of St Mary Magdalene under the direction of Dr Sean Sweeney sang a service of choral evensong for the first Sunday in July. The service was led by the vicar, Rev Dr Michael Dobson, who also preached and acted as cantor in the Responses by Richard Ayleward.

The choir also sang Psalm 65 and Mike Warne read the lessons from Hosea and St Mark. The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis were sung to a setting by Henry Purcell in G minor played by Dr Sweeney with Bernard Pink conducting as well as singing.

The anthem was “Come, let’s rejoice” by John Amner and Dr Sweeney ended the service with an organ Fanfare by Francis Jackson.

The weekend of July 26 and 27 will be the patronal festival of St Mary Magdalene. On Saturday, July 26, Dr Sweeney will be giving an organ recital at the earlier time of noon before a festival communion service at 10.30am on Sunday. In the evening the choir will be giving a free concert at the usual time of 5.30pm.

The NHS is turning 77 years old, and to mark the occasion they are celebrating some of the Trust’s longest serving members.

When Ali Pedlar began her career as a student nurse in 1984 she joined St Lawrence’s Hospital in Bodmin as, in her own words, ‘a naïve and quiet student nurse, learning whilst doing the job’.

She tells her story: “Back then the hospital was seen as an old asylum. There was a lot of stigma around the hospital and mental health. Were the high walls to keep people out or keep people in?

“The hospital was not a bad place. Care was second to none, people could come in for respite, had time to recover and there were numerous therapies on offer.

“For many people it was their home and was a self-contained community. It had its own farm, printing works, wire fencing production, CSSD (sterile dressing packs), woodwork shop and gardening.

“Those that could work did and enjoy the social side as well as feel self-satisfaction. There was a social club, with bus trips, café, and theatre. There was even their own banking through patients’ accounts. As students we worked in all these departments.”

Ali now works as a senior assessment service mental health practitioner at Alexandra House, St Austell.

She added: “I have enjoyed all aspects of my job. Care of the elderly, day hospitals, CPN, assessment practitioner and it has made me the person I am today.

“I am very protective over the NHS and love the work I do, feeling very privileged to hear someone’s story often for the first time. To help them understand how they got to this point and enabling people to move forward. This is the greatest reward and gives you so much more than you ever expect.

“41 years in the NHS and still going, when I stop learning I will retire.”

Ali attended one of the long service events being held across Cornwall to honour those who have worked for the NHS for 25 years or more. It recognises their hard work and dedication to making life better for people in our local communities.

At the Trust’s long service events, presentations were made by the Trust’s chief executive, Debbie Richards, and chair Margaret Schwarz. “This is your celebration. We are here today to celebrate every one of you and your significant contribution to the NHS.

“And it is not just the NHS, is it? It is to patients, the patients’ families, their relatives. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly really identifies as a place that’s really proud of its NHS today.

“You have all given tireless service in whatever role that you have undertaken.

“There will be so many very rich stories from each of you in this room. But the one thing that I know you all share is an absolute commitment to public service and to providing the best possible care to patients.

“The enormity of what you collectively have achieved is worthy of absolute celebration.”

The lineup for a packed day of music in aid of local causes has been announced by the event’s organiser.

Alstock, which was created in memory of celebrated Bodmin musician Al Hodge is held on the last Saturday of July each year in the town’s Priory Park car park.

A twelve hour event will be the centre-piece of a series of events being held in the town across Saturday, July 26, with Alstock set to raise thousands of pounds.

On the main stage, the day begins at 1.30pm with The Viewers, followed at 3pm by Lee Quinney as Elton John, 4.45pm by Joanna Cook Band, the Motown Pirates at 6.30pm, Moriaty at 8.15pm and finishing with a 90 minute set at 10pm by The Sound.

Meanwhile, in the adjacent Marquee, musical entertainment between the acts on the Main Stage is sure to also set to delight.

It is at the marquee that the day’s mammoth smorgasbord of musical entertainment begins at 12.15pm with Twin Reaper before being followed by a 30 minute performance by dancers from KBSK at 1pm.

At 2.15pm, The Fallout will bring their set to the marquee, before being followed by Pork Chop with a Cider Banjo at 4pm, The Outlanders at 5.45pm, the Ex-Presidents at 7.30pm and the Unfortunate Ones at 9.15pm.

A spokesperson for Alstock said: “Alstock is in memory of Bodmin legend & musician Al Hodge, run solely by volunteers with proceeds given away to local charities.

“Join us for an incredible 12 hours from midday to midnight of live music across two stages!

“Plus, from 9am, check out Bodmin Town Market at the entrance to Alstock in Mount Folly and enjoy Sports in the Park at Priory Park leading to the festival site from 11am.”

Tickets are available from www.alstock.co.uk/tickets