Ross-on-Wye Photographic Society held a preview evening for members, of their exhibition in the Dennis Potter Room at Ross library, which is open to the public, admission free from 22nd March until 9th April.

The Society will be meeting on Wednesday evenings in the library at 7:30 from September 2005 until April 2006. New members are always welcome and the meetings are also open to those just interested.

For further information, please call Alan Stringer - current Chairman on: 01989 562792 or Keith Sharples - next season's Chairman on: 01594 861820.

Pictured below are the library exhibitors, left to right: Huw Davies, Alan Stringer, Barbara Nash LRPS, Nikki Stait, Martyn Duggan, Keith Sharples, Ralph Charlton and Pauline Stokes. There are more photographs of this event for viewing in the gallery.

People with lung disease, often called the "silent Sufferers" gave whole hearted support to the launch of a new support group for people with chronic chest conditions by turning out in large numbers at the launch of Breathe Easy Ross-on-Wye on Monday 21st March.

Gordon Lucas, Deputy Mayor of Ross-on-Wye attended the launch at the Larruperz Centre and gave his seal of approval, along with Ross Town Councillor, Joyce Thomas OBE and Fiona Smith, Locality Manager at Ross Community Hospital (Herefordshire PCT).

Speakers included Dr. Ryan, Consultant in respiratory medicine at the County Hospital, Hereford, Nigel Window, Specialist Respiratory Nurse and Catherine Kelly, Breathe Easy Co-ordinator for the South West.

Sue Pawling, Secretary to Breathe Easy Ross-on-Wye said- "We had a huge response which indicates that there are a large number of local people living with lung disease who are keen to learn how to improve their quality of life and raise local and national awareness of chronic lung disease."

The first meeting of Breathe Easy Ross-on-Wye will be on Thursday 7th April from 2 pm - 4 pm at the Larruperz Centre, Ross-on-Wye. All are welcome.

For further details please contact 01989 562100.

Breathe Easy Ross-on-Wye is supported by the British Lung Foundation.

Renowned poet and children's author, Brian Moses visited Ross Library on Monday 21st March, entertaining children from Bridstow and Ashfield Park schools. Brian, whose titles include 'The Secret Lives of Teachers' and 'Parent Free Zone' has published over 165 books and is featured often on radio programmes for schools.

The Inner Wheel Club of Ross-on-Wye celebrated its 50th Charter at a black tie dinner on 24th March at the Wilton Court Hotel. Special guests for the evening were Inner Wheel District 10 Chairman Eileen Berry and her husband Peter and Rotary District 1100 Governor Paul Charter and his wife Phyllis.

In her welcome address, President Heather Blanchett spoke of her delight in holding office during this special "golden year". The original Charter Night took place on March 25th 1955 at the Chase Hotel. Many changes had taken place in the fifty years the club had been formed but the ideals of the Inner Wheel remained the same. "To promote true friendship, to encourage the ideals of personal service and to foster international understanding.

The Association of the Inner Wheel Clubs began eighty years ago to provide an opportunity for service for the wives of Rotarians. Today there are more than 100,000 members in over one hundred countries world-wide.

Ross-on-Wye Inner Wheel meets monthly and supports local charities including the League of Friends and Air Ambulance and for the past three years has actively supported this year's President, Heather in her role as District 10 Overseas Service Chairman. It also assists Rotary at its Christmas Party and Summer Outing for Senior Citizens.

During the evening a new member, Maria Rigby was inducted and brooches were presented to long-serving members, Gaynor Brandram-Jones, Eileen Farrington and Jean Turner as a token of thanks from club members.

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Ross-on-Wye, President Jim Stewart presented President Heather with a handsome Visitors Book, suitably inscribed to commemorate Ross Inner Wheel's 50th Anniversary and congratulated the Club on its tremendous achievement.

In true Inner Wheel friendship and style, the evening proved a great success and the club now looks forward to its next fifty years!

Above: Nicki James, Nick Gurden, Jenny Gurden, Sally Gurden and Di Davies presenting a cheque for £677.54 to Irene Dyer of the British Heart Foundation. This amount was raised at a raffle and disco by 'Pink Panther,' Paul Nicholls, which was held at the Conservative Club in memory of Wayne Williams (49) and Joan Gurden (56). Both suffered fatal heart attacks.

Below: The final week at the Farm Creche, Hoarwithy on Thursday, March 24th. The rural creche is closing to make way for a new baby unit at the 'Step by Step' Nursery, Llanwarne. In the photograph below, Linda Turner is holding Ellis Shepherd and Kara Powell is holding Harriet Barber and Gareth Williams.