Despite the disgusting windy, wet weather on Saturday morning, Santa flew into Ross to meet children who visited the Macmillan shop in the Gloucester Road Victorian Market. I went along with my camera and caught him talking to Bethany Sherwood. If you missed Santa at the market on Saturday, you will have another chance to meet him because he will be calling at the Macmillan shop again this coming Saturday. Let's hope the weather is kinder to him!

As well as his visit to the Macmillan shop, Santa went to the Maltings on Saturday to raise some money so that he can give every child in town a present at the Christmas Carnival. There, he and his helper can be seen (bottom photo) with Matthew and Eleanor. Due to the nasty weather, there were not too many people around to make contributions, but Santa has another helper who has agreed to accept donations on his behalf. If you would like to help Ross Christmas Carnival to continue to be able to give the children of Ross a present each year, please contact Mrs. Badger of 11 Goodrich Court, Gloucester Road, Ross-on-Wye.

Ross Christmas Carnival will be taking place on Saturday, 22nd December and Father Christmas will be making his way to the market house by torchlight parade. Ask mum and dad to take you to the Market House just as it gets dark on that day and you will be able to meet him in person, and he will give you a small pre-Christmas present. He will also have a special secret guest with him.

If you haven't yet managed to get to Ross Heritage Centre to buy some of the Cards for Good Causes this year, I'm afraid you've missed the boat. The shop closed on Sunday, until next year. Cards for Good Causes opens a shop every year to sell beautiful Christmas cards in support of a wide variety of charities.

It is rather good to know that eighty per cent of the money raised through the card sales goes directly to the charities concerned. On Saturday, we went along to the Heritage Centre to see how well this year's sales had gone. Judging by the near emptiness of most of the boxes, it appears that many of the charities have done very well. I interviewed Cards for Good Causes volunteer, Eleanor for this week's WNTV programme.

The Ross committee for Macmillan Cancer Support held a quiz night on Wednesday, 21st November at The Royal Hotel. Soosie Pinnell, with the help of her magic Christmas wand, asked the questions and the evening had a very seasonal theme.

The Royal Hotel was a very generous host and the committee would like to thank them, other local businesses and the teams who took part, for their great contribution to the fund raising. During the evening, three more of Brian Wozencroft's paintings were sold and the entire event raised £467 towards the new Renton unit.

Thank you so much for taking the time to keep the Wyenot News going. My mother and I enjoy hearing and seeing news about Ross-on-Wye and the surrounding communities.

Mother’s older sister lived near Ross for many years, but sadly, passed away last year. Your news and now your video remains a bridge between mother and her memories of life in England. Over the past 35 years, I, or members of my family, have been fortunate enough to escort mother on her fairly frequent pilgrimages home.

My younger sister and I even attended Walford School for a short time during the summer of 1952 while visiting our grandparents on Howle Hill. Now, mother is getting too old to travel easily, which makes your video casts all the more important to us.

Again, thank you.

Robert H.Q. Cooper
234 Briarcliff Ave.
Oak Ridge,
TN 37830

Thank you, Robert It's nice to hear that our news and video is appreciated in your part of the United States and that it is keeping your mother in touch with events here in Ross.

I have been to Walford School several times for 'Wyenot News', as you are probably aware and next time I go, I shall point out your letter to the staff.

Thank you for taking the time to write and I hope you enjoy this week's flood edition of WNTV.

Ross Heritage Centre will be holding an Activity for Children of all ages on Saturday December 22. This will take place between 1pm and 4.30pm. Participants will be able to make a 'Christmas Rubbish Catcher' to collect all of those bits of rubbish that accumulates over the Christmas Festivities. As usual this activity is free and anyone can drop in. However, children must be accompanied throughout their visit.

Father Christmas will be arriving at the Ross Market House on his float at 5pm and participants in the activity will have plenty of time to make their catcher and see him arrive afterwards. He stays in the Market House for approximately thirty minutes and will be on hand to talk to children and ask them what they would like for Christmas.

This year opening for Christmas and New Year will be as follows: Christmas Eve - 10.30am to 1pm. Christmas Day and Boxing Day - Closed. Open as usual - 10.30am to 4pm - every day through to the New Year, including Sunday, New Years Eve and New Years Day.

The staff at the Heritage Centre would like to wish everyone the compliments of the season, and look forward to seeing you in 2008, with the usual variety of exhibitions and events being planned for the coming year.

For more details on any activities at Ross Market House Heritage Centre telephone (01432) 260675 between the opening hours 10.30am and 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday. The centre is closed for lunch between 1pm and 1.30pm daily, if there are no relief staff members available.

Planning permission to convert and extend a disused garage building at the rear of the Kings Head Hotel, High Street, Ross-on-Wye, into nine flats has been refused by members of the southern area planning subcommittee at their meeting on Wednesday, 5th December. Reasons for refusal were concerns with regard to traffic and access, concern over the design of the development and over development.

The application had been deferred at a meeting of the same committee on Wednesday, 7th November so a site inspection could be held. The scheme was for a one bedroom flat on the ground floor, with four one bedroom flats on the first and second floors. Six parking spaces would have been formed in the garage and three additional spaces within the Kings Head car park.

Welsh Water recommended conditions regarding foul and surface water discharges.

Herefordshire Council's transport manager recommended refusal because insufficient details of the parking layout and cycle parking were submitted.

Ross-on-Wye Town Council objected, saying the scheme was over development of the site and expressing concerns about congestion.

Two letters were received from members of the public, one objecting and the other expressing concern.

Comments were that the scheme was too high density and it was felt that the accommodation should be of a higher standard.

Goodrich Village Hall was transformed into a High School Prom on Saturday, 8th December, with everyone dancing the night away to the most superb live performance of hits from Grease, and many other rock and roll classics.

A stunning vocal performance was given by Charlotte Hill, from the well known group 'Back to Broadway', that led to a standing ovation for her rendition of 'There are worse things I could do'. Brian Fisher provided the most superb male lead vocals and the combined performance was truly electrifying.

The musical accompaniment from Twisted Blues surely establishes them as one of the top bands in the region with a sound of the highest quality and outstanding performances from Simon Tolley (saxophone and synthesizer), Andy Herbert (bass), Ray Whittaker (keyboards), Tom Richardson (guitar) and Jamie Farr (drums). Ross Dance Club gave expert tuition in rock and roll steps to start the evening off and this provided the crowd with the motivation to keep on dancing throughout the whole evening. Ian Godsave made sure that the lighting was just right at all times, and the bar was expertly run by Lucie and Katie George.

The master of ceremonies, and co-organizer of the event was Matthew Constance, who was assisted by Claire Herbert and Sally Richardson as 'pink lady' stewards. The combined efforts of the team and musicians led to encore after encore, especially for well known hits such as 'Greased Lightning' and 'You're the one that I want', and the evening reluctantly ended with everyone wanting yet more.

This event is, once again, another triumph for Goodrich Music and follows on from the highly successful 'Wok'n'Roll' and 'Blues Brothers' shows. In addition, Goodrich Music also successfully staged Paul Jones and Dave Kelly in 2005 and the internationally renowned Georgie Fame and Sons in 2006. Look out for further high quality events organized by Goodrich Music in 2008. Meanwhile, Twisted Blues are the featured band at the Old Court Hotel in Whitchurch for their New Year's Eve celebrations and, after this performance in Goodrich, are definitely not to be missed.

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]

[The Old Court]

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 . . . )

Last week, Police mounted a large scale operation to disrupt the supply of drugs into Herefordshire from across the Gloucestershire border.

Officers from Hereford CID and West Mercia Roads Policing Teams joined forces with colleagues from Gloucestershire Constabulary and British Transport Police to mount stop searches on vehicles travelling on the main border routes between the two counties. Operation Nucleus, as the initiative was called, began its run on Monday, 3rd December, with in excess of 40 officers taking part.

On Friday, the operation saw officers boarding buses and trains to mount further high profile patrols and to continue to disrupt the drugs supply chain. Intelligence gathered by police suggests that, while only a small fraction of the population on Herefordshire are drug dependent, controlled drugs are available in the communities in which they live. Analysis over recent years has shown that the availability of such drugs is a precursor to the commission of acquisitive crime.

'Our intelligence suggests that controlled drugs are being trafficked across into the county from Gloucestershire, using both private vehicles and public transport,' said Detective Inspector Andy Hughes from Hereford CID. 'The intention of the operation was to disrupt the flow of controlled drugs into Herefordshire from Gloucestershire and to send a clear message to those who seek to traffic drugs in this way that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the arrests made during Operation Nucleus:

On Monday,3rd December: a 45-year-old Hereford man was arrested as he got off a bus from Gloucester on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply. He was released on bail until January 16, 2008.
On Wednesday, 5th December: a 31-year-old man from Ledbury was arrested after his vehicle was stopped on Ledbury bypass. He was charged with possession of cannabis and possession of an offensive weapon and is due to appear before Hereford Magistrates; Court on December 19.
A 28 year old man from Hereford was also arrested on suspicion of possession of crack cocaine after a vehicle was stopped on the A438 at Tarrington. A subsequent search of a house in Hereford found 50 cannabis plants and cultivation equipment. The man was bailed until February 1, 2008. While conducting the search of the premises, a 50 year-old Leominster man was arrested on suspicion of possession of heroin and cannabis. He was also bailed until February 1, 2008.
A car was identified by ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) technology as being stolen and was subsequently stopped by police on the A417 close to the M50. A 33-year-old Worcester man was arrested on suspicion of stealing a motor vehicle and subsequently handed over to another police force.
An informal warning was also given to another man arrested at the roadside for possession of a small amount of cannabis.

On Thursday, 6th December: a car was followed by a police vehicle and stopped on the A44 at Bromyard and the 45 year old driver from Bromyard was arrested for possession of heroin with intent to supply and driving without insurance. Also arrested on suspicion of intent to supply heroin were three other occupants of the car, a 33 year old from Kington, a 28 year old from Eardisland and a 25 year old from Leominster. All four men from the car have been released on bail until February 7, 2008.

On Friday, 7th December: a 17 year old from Church Stretton, Shropshire, was arrested by officers from British Transport Police at Hereford Railway Station on suspicion of possession of cannabis and possession of an as yet unknown controlled drug, plus a public order offence. He was bailed until February 27, 2008.
Also on Friday, a car was stopped by West Mercia officers on the A417 at Staunton, Gloucestershire and a 33 year old Cradley man arrested on suspicion of possession cannabis. He was charged to appear before Hereford Magistrates’ Court on December 19. A second occupant of the car, a 31 year old Ledbury man, received a caution for possession of non-prescribed methadone.
Another a car was stopped on the A417 at Newent, where two people arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply. A 26 year old man and a 30 year old woman, both from Hereford, were released on bail until February 13, 2008.

In addition to these arrests, on the afternoon of Wednesday, 5th December, three people were arrested by Gloucestershire Constabulary on suspicion of possessing class A drugs. A 23 year old Lydney man, a 22 year old Lydney man and a 29 year old Coleford man were arrested after being stopped on the A40 and the A48 at Churcham. Two are now on police bail until January 14 and the other is on bail until December 19.

A variety of drugs, amounts of cash and a stolen vehicle were seized during the course of the operation.

Operation Nucleus was a large scale initiative, involving more than 40 officers and using resources such as roads policing teams and dog handlers from the West Mercia, Gloucestershire and British Transport Police forces, alongside CID colleagues. As well as identifying those who bring Class A drugs into Herefordshire, Operation Nucleus also dealt with offences of possession of controlled drugs as well as driving and motoring offences relating to the road worthiness of vehicles. The final stage of the operation saw officers boarding buses and trains in high profile patrols to provide both reassurance to passengers and as a final disruptive tactic to those continuing to attempt to traffic drugs.'

Green Nappies, in partnership with Worcestershire and Herefordshire Councils, gave out its 250th cheque for £30 to Ross-on-Wye mum, Jayne Frankland. This new Real Nappy Incentive Scheme gives families the chance to either receive £30 cash back when they buy at least £50 worth of real nappies, or families can claim a free pack of 'pre fold' nappies, worth approximately £15 from Green Nappies.

The scheme has run for 8 months and has been a great success with families living in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Jayne, said, "The £30 cashback really gives people an incentive to give real nappies a try, they are easy to use and there is no need for boiling or soaking. This is my 5th child and I used the nappies on my previous child. I am still very happy to use them." Jayne also said "When I found out it may take sup to 500 years for a disposable nappy to decompose I was shocked, this also encouraged me to use real nappies."

It was anticipated that up the end of the first year 250 £30 cashbacks would be given out, but this has actually been achieved in less than 8 months! Jayne Orme, Waste Challenge Manager, from Worcestershire County Council, said, "Nappies have moved on leaps and bounds since the days of terry squares and pins. Today, with the help of automatic washing machines, they are quick, convenient and straightforward to use. No pins, no complicated folding, and no hassle." She added, "I'm really pleased that the scheme has kicked off so well!"

Britain throws away nearly 8 million nappies a day. That's about 3 billion nappies, or about half a million tonnes of nappies a year (source WRAP). Council taxpayers and local authorities foot the bill for this. A parent could use as many as 3,800 disposable nappies on their baby (source WRAP) or they could use just a fraction of this number with modern cotton nappies.

Green Nappies is a project run by the multi-Award winning charity and not-for-profit company, EnviroAbility. Martin Neicho, Manager of EnviroAbility said "Most parents don't realise just how much waste is created by using disposable nappies on their babies but it all mounts up. Parents need to know that real nappies provide a real alternative," Green Nappies, the Ross-on-Wye based project, is part of the real nappy campaign and administers the nappy incentive scheme that is funded by Worcestershire County Council, and Herefordshire Council.

For a list of stockists of real nappies visit: www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk or telephone: 01905 766883 For more information on the free packs from Green Nappies and for general guidance 5 days a week, contact Green Nappies: Tel: 01989760919 and ask for Martin or Robyn Or download an application form from www.greennappies.org.uk

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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