WILL BARLEY: The funeral service for this fine, young man was very well covered in last week's Express, a really poignant occasion for the enormous number of mourners, including so many former team-mates of his father Bryan from the Wakefield and Sandal Clubs, as well as masses of Will's friends. After the chapel and porch were filled, several hundred people remained standing silently outside in pouring rain while the service was relayed, with everyone's thoughts for Bryan, Jane and their family, who showed such courage throughout.

SANDAL RUGBY: Last Saturday saw a comfortable win in the semi-final of The Yorkshire Shield over Bradford Salem, leaving a game against Old Brodleians in the final, which will be played at Huddersfield YMCA later in the month. While Sandal have won promotion from Yorkshire First Division, the Old Brods will be promoted to the First Division after an unbeaten season in the Second.

FLOWERS AT ST HELEN'S: A very special evening is to take place at this lovely old church on Tuesday, May 13 at 7.30pm. Tickets, which include refreshments, cost £5 and will be on sale at the door. All proceeds go to Wakefield Hospice.

IAN SHUTTLEWORTH: Sportsmen and women were delighted to hear that this young man, a member of one of the great sporting families of Sandal, has been appointed deputy head of QEGS Junior School. He plays cricket and bowls for Sandal, is a former captain of Sandal Rugby, who has led Otley to the championship of the National Second Division. I can imagine how proud his grandad, John Leighton Davies, the great Welsh rugby and cricket player would have been. So many times have I heard that happy, booming voice, before being crushed in his manly embrace.

ASCENSION DAY: The annual Churches Together Ascension Day Service took place at Sandal Castle on May 1. Traditionally it takes place at 7.30am. This year it was led by the Rev Terry Keen from Sandal Methodist Church, with about 45 people from local Anglican, Baptist, Catholic and Methodist churches, who prayed for everyone in Sandal and the city from their windswept point on top of the keep.

CAR BOOT SALES: Last week got off to a great start, with the charity one on the car park at Saints Peter and Paul raising well over £1,300 to help the pilgrimage to Austria, a great reward for the wonderful Kennedy family. Next day, in spite of a miserable weather forecast, the Pledwick cricket field was packed and the rain held off until afternoon. This Sunday good weather is forecast for what is always a real winner at Sandal Cricket Club on Barnsley Road. Lovely grub and always a friendly welcome.

PUBLIC MEETING: Police and Wakefield Council's highways department will be represented at the public meeting being organised by the community association at Sandal Endowed School on Wednesday, June 11. The evening will begin with the association's annual meeting at 7pm, after which Insp Karen Bailes will explain the latest policing arrangements in Sandal. Paul Stevenson, head of traffic and design engineering at the council, will respond to concerns about road safety issues.

PUGNEYS UNDER GLASS: Invites you to come along, no charge, to view a new exhibition of poems mounted on the outside wall of Pugneys Cafe.

SANDAL STARS: Two teenage singers from Sandal, each with widely differing styles, are to play a key role in this summer's arts festival, the first such event organised by Wakefield Rotary Club. They are Olivia Dobson, from Chevet Lane, and close neighbour Matthew Hodges, from Carr Lane. Matthew, who is studying music technology at Leeds College of Music, plays guitar, drums, piano and keyboard. He sings anything from acoustic rock to country and western. Soprano Olivia, currently studying biology, history, fine arts and music at Wakefield Girls High School, has already sung in several choirs, including the celebrated Yorkshire Youth Choir, in concerts and in the Pirates of Penzance. She is also a versatile musician, playing saxophone, piano and clarinet. Both will open the evening concert at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School on July 5, ahead of the main attraction, the Big Chris Barber Band. Tickets are now on sale at £21 each (£18.50 before May 31). They can be obtained from Townsend Fine Jewellers at 2 Marygate. Full information and a tickets link
can be found at www.rotarywakefield.
org.uk

FROM FRANCE: At a gathering at the Manygates Lane home of John and Alison Southall on May 2, 15 Wakefield Rotarians and their partners mixed with visitors from the Mulhouse Rotary Club in the Alsace region of France. The link between the two clubs was first made in 2006, when eight Rotarians from Wakefield went to Mulhouse to visit the Cité de l'Automobile, which houses the remarkable Schlumpf collection of cars, including many rare Bugatis.