NATIONALLY-KNOWN fuchsia expert Geoff Oke is to make a 300-mile round trip to deliver a few secrets to North Devon Fuchsia Society in two weeks' time.

Geoff, who lives in Evesham, is a leading judge and is secretary of the British Fuchsia Society. His talk, at the Springfield Centre, Chanters Lane, Bideford, on Thursday, March 4 (7.30pm), is entitled "Judging and Fuchsia Information," though he also plans to offer a rare insight into the world of RHS judging.

As usual, guests are welcome to attend the meeting, which follows last September's postponement.

The North Devon society, meanwhile, is seeking volunteers to replace four diehards on the refreshment scene who retired at November's AGM. Peter and Elizabeth Blackwell travelled each month from Bow, near Crediton, to pour out those welcome cuppas, and Doug and Joan Marshall, from Barnstaple, for a total of more than 25 years between them.

Club secretary Richard Stapley (01271 831292), who has nothing but praise for the fuchsia foursome, is hoping new recruits will give an enthusiastic OK at the Oke assembly.