Popular Forest of Dean band Banshee have raised a £100 for Gloucestershire Flood Relief Fund by collecting money at local gigs.

The bands fiddle player Daisy Smith said, 'We have had excellent support from our audiences and this money has been raised at a private party in Newnham, a Barn dance at Ross-on-Wye, a Ceilidh at Ledbury and a wedding at Blakeney. We are really pleased to be able to support the fund'.

Banshee are members of Gloucestershire's Folk Music Organization GLOSFOLK and their secretary Peter Cripps said, 'We have asked folk musicians from across the county to help support this fund and Banshee's contribution will add to the money already collected by other Glosfolk members'.

Banshee can be seen at Dean Heritage Centre's Appleday on Sunday 21st October and at the Tall Ships Festival in Gloucester Docks on Sunday 28th October. Membership of Glosfolk is free so people interested in Folk Music can find out more on the Glosfolk Website www.glosfolk.org.uk.

NOTICE is hereby given that a meeting of the
AMENITIES COMMITTEE will be held on
Wednesday, 17th October 2007 at 7.00pm in the Corn Exchange

Discussion items are detailed below and
members of the public are welcome to attend

AGENDA

.

• APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
  To receive and accept any apologies for absence
• DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
  To receive any members' declarations of interests on agenda items
• MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
  To receive and sign the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 19 September 2007
  (Circulated with Full Council papers)
• MATTERS ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES NOT FORMING
  AN AGENDA ITEM
• BUDGET REPORT
• TUDORVILLE CEMETERY
• TUDORVILLE ALLOTMENTS
• DEANHILL PARK
• ST. MARY'S CHURCHYARD
• BANDSTAND
• STREET CLEANSING
• CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
• WEATHER STATION
• CORRESPONDENCE
• ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA
• BUDGET 2008/09
  To consider a budget for the financial year ending 31 March 2009

Signed

Town Clerk

Rob Counsell recently wrote to 'Wyenot News' asking, 'I have been researching a family ancestor named John Webb Francis Counsell who lived and worked in Ross in the 1800s. I have found that he was a clock and watch maker up to around 1850, and then he owned and printed a newspaper called 'The Man Of Ross'.

Rob believes that the photograph, left, is from his era and could either his three times great grandfather, John Webb Francis Counsell, 1816-1896 or his son John Augustine Joseph Counsell 1847-1897.

They both lived and worked in the High Street Ross-on-Wye, where they owned and printed a newspaper called 'The Man Of Ross', which was founded in 1855 and ran until they died in the 1890s.

On the reverse of the photo card it says, 'Messrs Bustin Art Photographers. Ross-On-Wye. Established 1858'.

Rob wondered if a reader might be able to work out a rough date for the photograph. If so, please contact 'Wyenot News' and I will put you in touch with Rob.

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Peter Hands, a former Wales Tourist Board director, has been appointed as the new Chairman of Visit Herefordshire, the tourism organization for the county, tasked with making Herefordshire a better place to work, live and visit.

Peter Hands lives in Herefordshire but has a wide range of experience in the tourism industry both in Herefordshire and over the border in Wales. His 21 years of experience in the tourism industry ranges from hotel and self catering ownership; developing a tourist association in the South Wales valleys and being appointed as a Director to the Wales Tourist Board by the First Minister of Wales.

'I am looking forward to taking on this exciting challenge and to establishing Visit Herefordshire as the voice for the tourism industry in Herefordshire both in a local, regional and national context. My experience within the tourism industry in Herefordshire and latterly in Wales will enable me to share some of that knowledge with the tourism operators in Herefordshire. During the next three years there are many exciting opportunities and challenges for the tourism industry in the county including The Ryder Cup in Newport, which businesses in Herefordshire should be capitalizing on. 'Visitors do not understand boundaries and it's essential that we work cross border not only with our neighbouring counties in England but also in Wales'.

Visit Herefordshire is a private/public partnership with more than 350 members in its first year of operation. The partnership was formed in April 2006 following a comprehensive consultation period with the tourism operators in the county.

Jane Lewis, the council's cultural services manager, said, 'The position of chairman is key to the continuing success of the partnership. The partnership has already developed many exciting projects and is working on a plan for the next three years to ensure that Herefordshire is high on the agenda for visitors to the West Midlands'.

Ross ShopMobility were pleased to be able to help Herefordshire Council with their Rights of Way Improvement Plan Project, to open a new 'buggy' trail around Ross.

Council Public Rights of Way Warden, Tim Thompson borrowed one of ShopMobility's scooters to test the proposed trail which is planned to be officially opened next year. The route, which is based on one suggested by the Ross Ramblers Association and Alison Fletcher, of Leisure Link at the Ryefield Centre, is to make use of existing pavements as well as the old railway track that passes Merrivale and ends at Gloucester Road. One of the intended starting and finishing points are to be at Red Meadow Car Park, where ShopMobility is situated.

This will provide users of the trail with easy access to the scooters and also public toilet facilities. The new route will be fully signposted and provide access for all ramblers, including those with mobility problems, who will be able to use scooters or wheelchairs.

Martin Neicho, Manager of the local charity EnviroAbility, who manage Ross ShopMobility said, 'It was great to be involved , even in a small way, with the creation of such an amenity, as well as being able to provide the means for people with limited mobility to enjoy it. I look forward to the trail opening next year.'

A speed boat has been stolen from a field in the Phocle Green area of Ross-on-Wye. The 20ft long white Regal boat, complete with outboard motor and a green cover, was removed from the field on its trailer. The thest occurred sometime between Thursday, 27th and Sunday, 30th September. The boat would have been distinctive as it was driven away on the roads.

Anyone with information about the boat’s current whereabouts is asked to contact the Hereford Public Service Desk on 08457 444888, quoting ref: 246-s-300907.

Stung by last week's defeat at Southmead, Ross returned to winning ways on Saturday, delivering a passionate and committed brand of rugby that was too much for a valiant Bream side as Ross ran out 16-10 winners.

From the kick off, it was quickly apparent that Ross were determined to make amends for a below par performance the previous week. Under pressure, the Bream scrum half managed to clear the Ross kick off but still found themselves deep in their twenty two. From the ensuing line out, Tony Clements found his jumper and the Ross pack were in the ascendancy. For the initial few minutes the Bream defence held firm. However Ross controlled the ball and after some effective driving from first Chris Conlon and then Tim Hanks, Gavin Oates crashed over for the opening score of the game.

With their tails up, Ross continued to dominate possession and territory. Both their lineout and scrummage were working well and Bream had to work hard in defence to deny further scores. However, with half time looming, Ross added to their try count. Again Tony Clements found his jumper. Ross set up a driving maul and when No 8, Chris Conlon broke clear from the base, he found himself clear of the Bream defence. He surged into the Bream twenty two and drew the fullback, before delivering a try scoring pass to Simon Gwynne. Ross went into the break 10-3 to the good.

Ross started the second half as they finished the first. Chris Gage continued to peg Bream back in their own half and as the Ross pack pressured, Bream infringed. Chris Gage converted two penalties early in the second half as Ross moved 16-3 clear as the game entered the final quarter.

Ross, however could not capitalize on their advantage and after they were penalized, Bream worked the penalty to within 10 yards of the Ross line. Bream secured the lineout, set up a driving maul and their No 8 crashed over to score. The try was converted, so with 10 minutes remaining, the score was 16-10 to Ross.

With only one score in the game, Bream were looking to snatch an unlikely victory. However, the Ross pack reasserted itself and the remainder of the game was played in the Bream twenty two. Tim Hanks was unlucky not to get on the score sheet when in the process of scoring, the Bream tackler dislodged the ball. However that did not affect the result and Ross in the end were comfortable winners 16-10.

Terry's Digital Men of the match were Chris Conlon and Wayne Bishop.

Next Saturday, Ross play away to Cheltenham Civil Service. Kick off is at 3pm.

Ross-on-Wye Weather Station is located by the tennis courts and bowling green at 'Crossfields' and is one of the important stations around the country which regularly sends data to the Meteorological Office. This is why Ross-on-Wye is sometimes mentioned on the BBC weather reports. It is currently still a manually monitored station and readings are taken twice per day by husband and wife team, June and Rex Swallow.

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