Are you looking for somewhere to enjoy a Christmas Meal with your family or for somewhere to hold your annual company Christmas Dinner?

Over the coming weeks, Wyenot News will be making menus from local restaurants available to view on-line or print.

Click the links below to view menus available so far in a separate window (close window when finished). Links are placed in order of when received. This article will be repeated with a different 'Winter' photo weekly until Christmas:

[White Lion Christmas Menu] *** [Orles Barn Christmas Menu] *** [Royal Lodge Symonds Yat East]

[The Royal Hotel, Ross-on-Wye] *** [Nature's Choice] *** [The Hope & Anchor] *** [The Prince of Wales]

If you advertise with Wyenot.com and would like your restaurant's Christmas menu available to view on-line here, please post a copy to: Wyenot News, 1, Hillview Road, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. HR9 7EY.

This is a free service - available ONLY to restaurants / pub owners who currently
support 'Wyenot News' by advertising!
(I have had others who do not support Wyenot sending in their Christmas menus. I am sorry but . . . )

Brian Godsall and Karen Robinson, the parents of Luke Godsall, the 20 year old man who died following a road traffic collision on the A49 near Hereford on Tuesday, 13th November have released a statement to the media about their son.

They said, 'Our pain is seriously deep at our loss for our caring, fun-loving son. Luke will be greatly missed by his siblings Emma, Jake and Sade (correct), Ollie and Jasper whom he had such fun with.

He was the sort of young man who would do anything to help anyone, who wanted to enjoy his life and had his whole life ahead of him.

He worked full time as a carpenter with his dad Brian, who will also be missing a really good friend, as well as a son. Luke left Wigmore High School four years ago and had been clocking up 60 and 70 hours a week working, since he was often on site fitting built in furniture.

His mother will dearly miss her first born son.'

Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses to a collision on the A49 at Wellington, near Hereford, last week and in particular want to trace the driver of a lorry.

Two cars, a blue Renault Megane and a blue Peugeot 206, were involved in the collision at 12.55am, close to the turn for Wellington village. The rear seat passenger in the Renault, 20-year old Luke Godsall, was later pronounced dead at hospital.

The drivers of both vehicles were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and later released on bail while enquiries continue.

Police are now keen to trace any further witnesses who may have seen the collision or been travelling along the A49 and saw the vehicles that morning - one lorry in particular was known to be in the area.

PC Tim Hargraves from the Hereford Roads Policing Unit said: 'A vehicle described as curtain-sided goods vehicle was seen to stop Hereford side of the collision just after it occurred, flashing its lights and warning other road users of the incident. Unfortunately, the driver left the scene before police could obtain any other details so has yet to be spoken to. He or she could be an important witness and so we are very keen to speak to them.'

The truck driver - or anyone else with information about the collision should contact PC Tim Hargraves at Hereford Police Station on 08457 444888.

The Ross-on-Wye Town Plan project is due to be launched on Thursday, 22nd November. A group of residents, councillors and other community representatives have been meeting over the last few months as the Ross-on-Wye Town Plan Steering Group (RoWToP). The aim being to create a Town Plan for the future of Ross based on the opinions, concerns and suggestions of the local community.

In the first stage we are interested in hearing from anyone who has an opinion on how the town could be improved, said Councillor Jane Roberts. 'Next year we will be using this information to write an Options Report which will identify problems and suggest ways to move forward. There will be a wide-ranging consultation at this stage. We hope to finalize the plan by January 2009.'

Anyone with concerns about housing and planning, transport, sports facilities, the environment, services (health and social care) local government, the arts or the economic development of Ross is encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible and certainly by mid January. Residents are encouraged to write, email or fill out the newsletter forms which have been left at venues around the Town. Alternatively people can look at our website www.ross-on-wye.org for more information.

The next meeting of the Steering Group is Thursday 6th December 7.00pm at the Corn Exchange, High Street. The group welcomes new members or volunteers especially those under 40, who are currently underrepresented.

I would just like to say a big thank you to everybody who came along to The Prince of Wales on Saturday evening to help Glynis and I celebrate our birthdays. It was lovely to see you all and we had an absolutely fantastic time.

The brilliant Zebras provided the entertainment for the evening and played better than ever. Thanks for that guys. Me and Jay deliberately booked you for that evening, so it was pretty much a good time guaranteed.

What was also nice on Saturday were the happy birthday greetings I got from people who came along because they saw the event featured in last week's issue of Wyenot News.

I did get told off once, tough. Ali said, 'Tina, you've got two pints in. Why have you still got a half pint left in your glass? You're just not trying hard enough.' So I knuckled down and got on with it. So did Alan!

When he went to the bar to fetch a Jack Daniel's somebody (Nick) had bought him, Karen asked, 'How would you like these Jack Daniel's then? One at a time or do you want all three now?' I know which one of us ended up worst in the morning and it wasn't me!! As a result of two friends, both going by the name of Nick buying him drinks, it took Alan two days to shake off the hangover. He enjoyed the evening very much!

Anyway, once again thanks to all who came to the Prince and to all who bought cards, presents, drinks and sent good wishes. I had a fantastic birthday weekend.

PAUL AND STEVE RANDELL
GENERAL BUILDERS

Extensions - Renovations - Brickwork
Stonework - Floor Laying - Roofing

Telephone Paul on 01989 564112
Mobile 07812 564112
Steve on 07971 535064

GLYN AND WAYNE WILLIAMS

FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING NEEDS

Reasonable rates

Telephone: 01989 564041
Mobile: 07800 518353

You may have read about the lady a couple of weeks ago when I was filming the Heron. The bit of film I was recording at the time is actually in the wildlife test film published in this issue - sound removed.

This week's classic, whilst I was obviously filming a moving scene with a video camera was, 'Are you doing that for the Ross Gazette?'

What can I say? You never know. One day somebody might come up with a newspaper which can reproduce motion pictures. A 'flick pad' edition maybe.

I am hoping to find an old colleague who used to live in Ross-on-Wye. He was a merchant navy officer called Roger Wooding.

Regards

John Clark

If you are Robin or know him, please let me know and I will pass you John's email address.

To the Editor,

You very kindly published a family history enquiry of mine during early 2006 and a response was published in Issue 118 - 25.11.2006 in which Robin Carey provided some interesting family facts about the Assinder and Keyse families.

Just by coincidence I came across Wyenot News again today only to read that Robin had been trying to contact me in Cannock, Staffordshire.

I would be most grateful if you would forward this e-mail to Robin so that we may make long awaited contact.

Thanks.

Colin Smith
Cannock, Staffordshire.

I would willingly pass it on Colin but I am afraid I no longer have Robin Carey's email address. Robin's contact was a year ago now and my computer has crashed since then, losing all of my email contacts.

All I can do is publish your latest letter here and hope that Robin still reads. If so, I will put you in touch.

Thanks to the support of the people of Ross, the EnviroAbility run Book Swap Shop situated in Cantilupe Road, Ross, is celebrating its 10th year of operation.

Due to this public support and comments received, the shop has recently been given a new suspended ceiling and new lighting, funded by Herefordshire Council's Community Pride Scheme. The shop front is also being redesigned by local innovator, Pete Martin, who has kindly volunteered his skills in order to create an attractive new look for the front of the shop. This work is to be carried out in the near future. The shop will be reopening on Monday, 26th November after a one week shut down for the refurbishments.

Staff and volunteers who work at the shop recently asked visitors to fill in a questionnaire; this has enabled us to gather useful information. The results of the survey show that half of our customers visit the shop at least once a week, and we get as many as 80 people visiting the shop in any one day. Almost 80% of people who visit the shop are over 50 years of age.

Manager of EnviroAbility, Martin Neicho said, 'Our main customers are local people in their 50's and 60's but we would also like to remind people there is a great selection of books available for children and younger readers. In order to take books all we ask is a donation or an exchange of books.'

The survey turned up lots of positive comments concerning the large variety of books and the value for money. Many people also commented on the good atmosphere in the shop and the friendliness and helpfulness of staff. Alison Fletcher who runs the shop said, 'I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the running of the shop, past and present. It is thanks to their support that this community based project, which encourages recycling, has been going for over 10 years.'

This archive Ross-on-Wye photo is not quite what it may seem to those unfamiliar with Ross.

Taken in Gloucester Road during the 1920 or 1930s, it is most likely to be a scene from one of the very first Ross-on-Wye Carnivals.

The photo belonged to the late Edwin Deakin and was probably taken by his father.

I am looking for information. Do you recognize any of the people or can you put a more precise date to the scene?

Thank you to Joyce Cowdery, nee Deakin for the loan of the photo.

Local authors, Heather and Jon Hurley are to hold a book signing event at Ross Heritage Centre on Saturday between 10:30 and 12:30.

There will be an opportunity for visitors to talk to the authors about their books as well as a chance to buy a signed copy. Anybody who already has a book by Heather or Jon and would like it signed are welcome to take it along on Saturday. If you are unable to attend, but you would like to reserve a copy of any of their new publications, the staff at the Heritage Centre will be more than happy to keep the signed book for you, provided you leave a small deposit.

Tea and coffee will be available throughout the morning. If you would like further information, please telephone the Heritage Centre on 01432 260675.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY FOR WYENOT NEWS?

If you have a local news item or story you can submit it here
or call Alan or Tina on 01989 763217

There is no charge for publishing either news items or What's On Events
This is a Free Service for the local community!

Wyenot News, 1, Hillview Road, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. HR9 7EY

If you would like to order prints from Wyenot News photographs, please click here.

Prints are only available for photographs taken by Wyenot News (Not of those which have been sent in by readers).

Prints of 'people' photographs are only available to those directly involved in the news event covered. i.e. I do not sell prints of people to the general public.