CONFERENCE: Usk Castle Friends will be hosting an unusual conference on October 11 in a joint venture with Monmouthshire Antiquarians Association.

“We are delighted to be able to join with this prestigious local organisation,” said chairman Virginia Hoselitz.

“This year's conference will be on the mediaeval towns of Monmouthshire. In a departure for us, it will be an all-day conference, and we have managed to attract many excellent speakers.”

Aside from Usk, the featured towns will be Monmouth, Chepstow, Trellech, Abergavenny and Newport.

President, Jeremy Knight, will lead with a talk on Usk and Montgomery and other speakers include local experts Frank Olding, Keith Underwood, Ray Howells, Steve Clarke and Bob Trett.

Also giving us the benefit of their expertise will be Professor Ralph Griffiths and Tony Hopkins.

As usual, the Conference will take place at the Memorial Hall, Usk, from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday, October 11, with free coffee, tea and biscuits in the morning.

“People will need to make their own arrangements for lunch,” said Virginia, 'but there are lots of excellent venues in Usk."

Tickets are £7 (£5 for full-time students), and are available from Lindwalls in Bridge Street, Usk, or, with an SAE, from Stella Collard, Pen y Wyrlod, Llantrissent, Usk, Mon, NP15 1NG, (01291) 673655. They will also be available on the door. Lesley Flynn