FAB FOUR (PLUS ONE) IN ACTION: I had heard they were good, but watching them in action, they were even better. The Orb Club-based fab four fundraisers consisting of Gill Prime, Sandra Pearton, Rose Troath and Keith Toms (aided and abetted on this occasion by Margret Quarterly) have got money raising down to a fine art. Stopping just short of turning you upside down and shaking every last penny from your pockets, this lot could get cash from a statue.

On the night I turned up they were raising much-needed cash for the Nevill Hall Hospital children's centre. The place was packed, a total sell-out. The children who will benefit from their efforts could not have better or harder-working friends on their side.

Almost before you have taken your coat off they have sold you entrance tickets, raffle tickets, bingo tickets, corned beef slices and filled rolls. Resistance is futile, everything they sell you comes complete with a big smile and the knowledge that all the money is going to help people less fortunate than them.

To give an idea of how slick they are, I am a vegetarian but they still sold me a chicken roll and a corned beef slice!

Following the raffle that seemed to have more winners than the national lottery (except me, despite the tenner's worth of tickets they fined me) all prizes were cadged, blagged, begged or bartered for by the fab four themselves. They even raffled the few rolls they had left over.

The team then organised a coin roll for a bottle of vodka. I was in awe at this stage that there were still people in the room who had managed to conceal pound coins from them in the first place. Someone had obviously forgotten to buy raffle tickets because there followed an auction of what appeared to be a pair of ladies' knickers.

The sale added an additional £10 to the coffers. I don't know if it was the original owner who was sitting in a draught that bought them back but the bidding was quite frantic.

Entertainment was provided by the stunningly talented vocal duo Scene It. Lee and Craig, who form the group, put as much energy into their performance as the fab four had into the fundraising, They were simply fantastic. They too were fully supporting the cause and gave their performance for free.

As the evening ended, guess what? Just in case there was the remotest possibility that anybody was daft enough to even consider leaving with any coins in their pocket, the team came around again with buckets asking for any spare change.

Resistance is again futile, they know the contents of your pockets better than you do. Once again, they do it with a smile.

The reputation that the fab four fundraisers are gaining for themselves is well deserved. It is obvious that they have earned the admiration and respect of the large gang of kind-hearted people who keenly support their activities on a regular basis.

Modest as ever, the four' say that the event raised over £1,600 for the charity. They have asked me to thank everyone who has supported them, in particular RWB Builders, Eileen Prime, Danycraig Nursing Home, Castle Bingo and Linda Kilgannon for their generous donations.

RSPB AT THE WETLANDS: Some days just start off good and then get better. On Saturday, March 3, I joined almost 400 members of the RSPB from all four corners of Wales for a visit to the Nash Wetlands followed by some fascinating lectures on local and international RSPB issues at the University of Wales,Caerleon campus.

To see so many knowledgeable people appreciating what our wetlands has to offer now and in the immediate future truly was a sight for sore eyes - remember you read it in this column first.

I predict that within a decade the Nash Wetlands will be one of the major tourist attractions of south-east Wales.

As usual a small army of Wetlands staff and volunteer wardens were there to pass on their knowledge and help the day run smoothly. Some of the visitors had travelled for hours from the North and West of the Principality, whereas others had walked the few hundred yards from Nash village.

Even on a gloomy day the wetlands came up trumps, with outstanding views of short-eared owls and a great crested grebe making an appearance as if on cue. As a regular visitor to the site I knew they were there but had never seen either of them before. They had always managed to avoid me.

I now realise what it needed was 400 people carrying binoculars and cameras to bring them out, However. the sight that gained the most interest was the layout of the new visitor centre and nearby earth- and pondworks that are really beginning to take shape.

This building will totally transform the whole visitor experience and provide our local schoolchildren with some of the best environmental education facilities to be found on this planet.

Educating the next generation about the importance of protecting and preserving our environment and the interdependence of every creature and plant species has to be good for all of us.

MORE ABOUT BIRDS: The RSPB sessions at Caerleon campus were fascinating and superbly organised. Learning about the work the organisation does to protect bird species on the brink of extinction both in this country and internationally is truly inspiring. For example, how many people are aware that without intervention as a species the albatross could be wiped out within a decade? This could be avoided by a simple change to the techniques used by thousands of fishermen. The RSPB and international partners are funding this education.

Why is it so important? Well, every species that mankind wipes out through ignorance brings us as a species closer to the top of the list of threatened species ourselves. There are many other species like the albatros that without the help of organisations like the RSPB could be lost for ever.

FOOTBALL WOES: The next Sir Alex is out there. The budding Wayne and Waynetta Rooneys attending St Patrick's Primary School are all psyched up and ready to take on some of the biggest names in European Football. Real Madrid, Manchester United, Benfica and Alway Junior School, bring them on.

These kids are aiming high, I tell you. They have everything they need for a successful campaign. They have got the boots, the kit some even have the haircuts. All they are lacking is the WAG and multi-million-pound bank accounts. Yes, they are Without A Good Coach. If you can help out and spend a few hours a week coaching the youngsters the school would be pleased to hear from you.

There is no payment to begin with, but the children will be willing to negotiate terms once they have reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup. If you think you can help please contact the school on Newport 272488.

ILLEGAL DUMPING: Ward councillors and council officers have understandably borne the brunt of the anger of people annoyed by the increasing levels of fly-tipping taking place in some of the lanes and cul-de-sacs in and around our area.

Fly-tipping is an eyesore and nuisance wherever it occurs. When it has the potential to block and pollute some of our wildlife-rich streams and hedgerows the problem is magnified.

What is obvious is that in many cases people have actually paid some of the culprits (in good faith) to dump rubbish for them. In particular, we have recently had problems with large quantities of tyres being dumped in several out-of-the-way locations.

There are a few things we can all do to reduce the problem. First of all, if you are paying someone to take rubbish away from you, ask for photographic proof of the final destination before you part with a penny.

Secondly, take the registration or preferably a photograph of the vehicle that took your rubbish, particularly if you have paid cash (think about it). It will be very handy when the rubbish gets traced back to you.

Thirdly, if you do see anyone dumping rubbish please pass on the registration to the council via 656656, or any of the ward councillors will do it for you.