Whitchurch Primary School has developed links with St. Mulumba Primary School in Namunyumya, Uganda through John Kyrle High School. St. Mulumba School has 985 pupils and 18 teachers but due to two of the sixteen class rooms being demolished by storms, there are now around 80 children in each class. The children at Whitchurch Primary School feel that they are very lucky to have such good facilities and want to help St. Mulumba rebuild their class rooms.

As the first in a series of planned fund raising events, children, teachers and parents enjoyed a coffee morning and cake day at the school on Monday, 17th October. Parents and children donated cakes and it was great to see the event so well supported by the community. The newly formed senior choir gave its first performance on the day and this was a great success.

The children will be writing letters and sending photographs to St. Mulumba and are looking forward to creating some strong friendships there. The nearest fax machine is 30 miles away from St. Mulumba's and the school has no access to email or computers, so this will also be a great opportunity for Whitchurch children to develop their letter writing skills.

Ross is going to be looking well turned out both on and off the pitch this season. Their generous hosts at the Drop Inn have kindly volunteered to sponsor the teams dress shirts. Ross-on-Wye R.F.C. would like to thank them for their on going continued support and post match facilities.

Ross has continued to maintain a healthy first team squad situation, with some positive player rotation through the side. Every Saturday opens up opportunities for the creative play Ross began this season with and are looking to continue throughout. It is disappointing that the club does not have a permanent second team. Anybody who would like to commit to a more leisurely paced game on an occasional basis is welcome to contact the Club. Contact can be made post match at the Drop Inn, or on Tuesday or Thursday night after training which is held at 6.30 pm ending at around 8 pm at the sports centre, off Wilton Road. We extend the invitation of training to all potential players, both regular and occasional standard.

Ross had started the season with the momentum it built up following a continuous summer of training. This seemed to pay off for Ross with new and returning players at the start of the season enabling Ross to field a team with both youth and experience. The result of this was a very healthy score line, in the first league game (Ross 15 - Tredworth 0) and some very credible results in the friendly fixtures (Ross 18 Civil Service 15) (Ross 91 Dowty 0). The day trip to Wales provided the closest of results (Ross 17 Sully 17). This success sets the benchmark for Ross' 2005 season and allows them to enter the league table in the top half, though it is still early days.

The season becomes more intense now, with league games coming through more regularly and the pitches becoming wetter and slower. It remains to be seen whether this impacts on Ross' impressive start, or whether they can maintain their initial pace. The club atmosphere and talk is turning towards the creative prizes in the annual raffle and suggestions for next years tour, which is already in the early stages of planning.

There is currently a lingering atmosphere of anticipation amongst Ross RFC players, and high expectations that this will be realized.

Friday 28th October will be a "Sporing Drawing" Activity Day at the Heritage Centre. Hereford Museum will be sending their education staff to run this activity and visitors of all ages will be able to have a go at drawing fungi, as well as learning about them. The activity takes place from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm There will be no need to book but children must be accompanied. Just drop in and have a go at this event, which is part of the National Big Draw Event. The Big Draw Event has been taking place now for a few years and every year more and more people taking part. Why not join them?

The Museum on the Move with their team of curators will also be on the Market House on Friday with their exhibition "Hedgerows". They will be there from 11 am to 4 pm. Entry is free and it will be a wonderful opportunity for those who have not visited this unique style of museum to do so.

There will be a "Make your own Christmas Cards" workshop weekend on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October. This is also a drop in activity for all ages with no need to book. The only cost involved is for materials used. There will be cards available for sale which have already been made.

Christine Roscoe, a local artist has extended her portrait exhibition until the end of October. Visitors can commission paintings and drawings from her at the Centre.

The Quakers in Ross will be displaying their collection of traditional Bonnets at the Heritage Centre from Tuesday 1st November for a period of one month. These bonnets are all original and very fragile, so have previously only been on display at the Friends Meeting House. This is a wonderful opportunity to see them all together.

Looking forward to Christmas, the Heritage Centre now has its Christmas Gifts and Books stock available, as well as plenty to fill those stockings. There is also a supply of local Christmas Cards. Cards for Good Causes will be returning for their third year of trading on Tuesday 8th November during normal opening hours on Tuesdays through to Sundays.

Further details on all the above can be obtained as usual on 01432 260675 during opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30 am to 4 pm on Sundays. From 1st November the centre will be open Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30 am to 4 pm, and closed on Mondays. It is hoped this change in winter opening days will enable local people who work to visit the exhibitions during their time off, as well as giving visitors to the town somewhere to visit and collect local information. The Centre is closed for lunch between 1 pm and 1.30 pm daily, if no relief staff are available.