BUCKLAND House resounded to the sounds of the Mikado and the Pirates of Penzance last month, as the Buckland Filleigh home again acted as an ideal and charming venue for an evening of excerpts from Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. The pieces were performed by Brian Abell, Roger and Christine Cleverdon, and other members of their group — some from as far away as Redruth and Watford. The audience was made up of visitors from North and East Cornwall, as well as more local supporters — and showed its appreciation by heartily joining in some of the choruses. Some of the performers are pictured here. The evening raised funds for the Bratton-Clovelly-based charity Devon Aid Korogwe, which helps those villages in the Korogwe province of Tanzania which have poor access to water. Many villagers there have to travel hot and dusty long distances to water sources which are often contaminated, and sometimes frequented by crocodiles. The West Devon charity concentrates on the provision of clean water by installing wells or gravity-fed pipelines. They are currently trying to help support new water projects in a number of different villages who have recently approached them. Their Gilbert and Sullivan evening raised a total of £1,400 towards these aims. More details of their work are available on their website at http://www.water4korogwe.com">www.water4korogwe.com