Ross Botanical Art Group are currently running an exhibition in the Dennis Potter Room at Ross Library. We first met the group when they held a similar exhibition at Ross Heritage Centre, when some of the members were just beginning. The group currently meet at Bridstow but will shortly be changing their venue to Harewood End House. The exhibition displays some beautiful art work. You can find out more about the group and the exhibition in this week's edition of WNTV News.

The John Kyrle High School year eight pupils again took part in the Lions International Peace Poster Competition which had as its theme this year 'Peace around the World'. Over 200 twelve and thirteen year old youngsters painted a poster as part of the schools curriculum. They joined over 300,000 other contestants from all round the world to show what young people thought about peace.

The finished posters were judged in November 2007 by Joyce Thomas MBE, artists Jeremy Whitehouse and Christine Brazier with the Ross Lions President Keith Wilding. This group was accompanied by the Head of Art Neil Carroll and Art Teacher Shona Brown. As usual the entries were of high calibre, making the selection very difficult. Eventually a shortlist of 15 posters was chosen. From this fifteen the first three were selected and the other 12 were given highly commended.

During late November the 12 pupils who obtained highly commended were presented with their certificates at assembly. At the Schools Annual Prize Giving Ceremony on the 18th December 2007, in front of around 400 visitors, the Ross Lions President, Lion Keith Wilding presented twelve year old Katy Rose Cawthorne from Gorsley with the winners shield, a certificate and a cheque for £35. Paul Sosner from Lea achieved second place and received a certificate and a cheque for £25 while Harriett Wally of Welsh Newton Common accepted a certificate and £15. To make their day they had their photographs taken with the guest of honour Ashley Blake from BBC Midlands Today.

Katy's entry was forwarded to the District Round for judging along with entries from all over South Wales, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Avon. Competing to win another bigger prize Katy, unfortunately, only achieved Highly Commended and was eliminated from the contest. The winner of the District Round would go on to the National Round from which the winner would go on to join the international finalists at the United Nations Building in New York, USA to win a big prize.

To thank the school for taking part the Ross Lions presented the Head of Art, Neil Carroll with a cheque for £250 to be spent on art material for the Arts Department. The president of the Ross Lions Club, Keith Wilding, said he was extremely pleased with the quality of art produced by the pupils and felt the co-operation of the school in taking part in the contest was excellent. He hoped it would continue for many years to come.

Every January, the Wye Valley experiences a very special Music Festival. On the regular Festival circuit, artists turn up with a well rehearsed programme, play it, and go away again. They pass like ships in the night, off to the next venue. But on the 10th of January, twenty musicians, drawn from all over Europe, will meet at Treowen Manor, an ancient pile outside Monmouth, to retreat from the stress of their busy schedules, rehearse an entirely new programme and play six concerts in some of the best halls in Herefordshire and surrounding areas.

Each concert features different mixes of musicians. They bring the intense, yet convivial atmosphere of their residency to the concerts which have a reputation for their dynamic and inspired performances and friendly ambience. This, their ninth year, will be based around music from Vienna, starting with Mozart and including lots of Beethoven, Schubert, Weber, Zemlinsky, Mahler, Strauss, Webern and Berg but no Schoenberg. It will include such masterpieces as Beethoven's String Quartet op 130 and Archduke Trio, Schubert's Trout Quintet, Berg's Lyric Suite and Strauss' Metamorphosen. There is already a large local fan club for some of the artists.

Dan Tong, who founded the Festival, continues as its Artistic Director, along with the highly-acclaimed pianist, Simon Crawford-Phillips. Many of them who started as solo players have metamorphosed into couples with small children. Violinist Ben Nabarro with Israeli violinist Anna Safonova; Pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips with Swedish Violinist Malin Broman, French 'cellist Pierre Doumenge with pianist Annika Palm.

The Festival works closely with St Briavels Music, who put on a dozen high-quality chamber music events during the rest of the year.

Concert 1
Friday 11th January 2008, 7.30 pm St Briavels Church Mozart Sonata for Violin and Piano in E flat K.481 Malin Broman (violin), Daniel Tong (piano) Webern: Three Little Pieces for Cello and Piano op. 11 Four Pieces for Violin and Piano op .7 Two Pieces for Cello and Piano (1899) Robin Michael (cello), Fiona McNaught (violin), Daniel Tong (piano) Mahler Piano Quartet Movement Fiona McNaught (violin), Tom Hankey (viola), Robin Michael (cello), Daniel Tong (piano) Schubert Piano Quintet in A D.667 (Trout) Benjamin Nabarro (violin), Tom Dunn (viola), Pierre Doumenge (cello), Graham Mitchell (double bass), Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano).

Concert 2
Saturday 12th January 2008, 3.00 pm Wyastone Concert Hall Beethoven Fourteen Variations on an Original Theme op. 44 Malin Broman (violin), Robin Michael (cello), Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano) Brahms Sonata for Cello and Piano in F op.99 Pierre Doumenge (cello), Annika Palm-Doumenge (piano) Strauss Metamorphosen Malin Broman, Anna Safonova (violins), Tom Dunn, Matthew Truscott (violas), Pierre Doumenge, Robin Michael (cellos), Graham Mitchell (double bass).

Concert 3
Tuesday 15th January 2008, 7.30 pm Holy Trinity Church, Hereford Schubert Quartettsatz D.703 Benjamin Nabarro, Annabelle Meare (violins), Oliver Wilson (viola), Gemma Rosefield (cello) Zemlinsky Clarinet Trio Matthew Hunt (clarinet), Gemma Rosefield (cello), Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano) Beethoven Piano Trio in B flat op. 97 (Archduke) Matthew Truscott (violin), Pierre Doumenge (cello), Daniel Tong (piano).

Concert 4
Wednesday 16th January 2008, 7.30 pm St Briavels Church Webern Langsamer Satz Anna Safonova, Annabelle Meare (violins), Oliver Wilson (viola), Gemma Rosefield (cello) Strauss Piano Quartet Benjamin Nabarro (violin), Tom Dunn (viola), Robin Michael (cello), Tim Horton (piano) Schubert Allegro for Piano Duet D.947 (Lebensstürme) Annika Palm-Doumenge, Daniel Tong (piano) Beethoven String Quartet in op.74 (Harp) Fiona McNaught, Tom Hankey (violins), Rose Redgrave (viola), Robin Michael (cello).

Beethoven Discovery Day
Saturday 19th January 2008, 12.00 pm Treowen Manor Hosted by Richard Wigmore Including complete performances of works by Beethoven: Sonatas for Violin and Piano op.12 nos 1, 2 and 3 Fiona McNaught & Daniel Tong, Anna Safonova & Tim Horton, Benjamin Nabarro & Simon Crawford-Phillips (violin and piano duos) Piano Trio in B flat op.97 (Archduke) Matthew Truscott (violin), Pierre Doumenge (cello), Daniel Tong (piano) String Quartet in B flat with Grosse Fuge op.130/133 Benjamin Nabarro, Tom Hankey (violins), Tom Dunn (viola), Amy Norrington (cello).

Concert 5
Sunday 20th January 2008, 3.00 pm Hellens Manor 2.15 pm pre-concert talk on Alban Berg's Lyric Suite by Stephen Walsh Robert Fuchs Clarinet Quintet Matthew Hunt (clarinet), Tom Hankey, Fiona McNaught (violins), Oliver Wilson (viola), Amy Norrington (cello) Berg Lyric Suite Matthew Truscott, Florence Cooke (violins), Cian O'Duill (viola), Robin Michael (cello) Beethoven String Quartet in B flat with Grosse Fuge op.130/133 Benjamin Nabarro, Tom Hankey (violins), Tom Dunn (viola), Amy Norrington (cello)

NOTICE is hereby given that a meeting of the FULL COUNCIL will be held on MONDAY, 14 JANUARY 2008 at 7.00pm in the Council Chamber, The Corn Exchange, High Street, Ross-on-Wye .

Items to be discussed are detailed below and members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting. There is a 15 minute session when members of the public will have to opportunity to put questions to councillors

AGENDA

Signed

Town Clerk

Not only did Father Christmas turn up on Christmas Day but many volunteers turned out to provide a Christmas meal fit for a Queen. This was at the Ryefield Centre in Ross-on-Wye where, thanks to the generosity of the Ross Lions Club, the WRVS and other volunteers the lonely elderly who, possibly, would not have had a special meal on the 25th, were treated to a sumptuous Christmas lunch.

The food was prepared by volunteers on Christmas Eve and cooked on the day under the supervision of Gay Goodwin of the Rumbling Tum. Around sixty elderly people from the Ross area had booked in for the meal which is held annually. Many were collected from their homes by volunteers in private cars or a minibus. Those who were housebound on the day had meals delivered and served in their homes. Eight meals were served in this way and included a cracker and small bottle of wine.

Prior to the meal a two minute silence was observed in memory of Joan Ollis who was the main instigator of the Christmas Lunch and for many years organized it. Before the meal the guests were served with drinks and entertained by members of the New Life Church who provided music and singing, with those present joining in. Just before the start of lunch the crowd enjoyed the sound of Scottish bagpipes played by Allan Harrison of Ross.

Now feeling relaxed and full of good spirits the guests were ready for their Christmas lunch. The volunteers then served Turkey with all the trimmings, Christmas pudding, mince pies and coffee, all the while keeping glasses topped up. It was a wonder to see, all these elderly residents really tucking into a superb meal, thanks to Gay of the Rumbling Tum. It made giving up the morning by volunteers well worth the effort.

The volunteers, including members of the Ross Lions, not only served the meals but moved around the guests talking and listening and generally making the meal interesting. Thanks again to the WRVS and the Lions Santa Claus turned up to present every guest with a present. There was also a free raffle when loads of donated prizes were won. Volunteers made sure all the guests arrived home safe and sound and maybe a little tipsy. It was good to see the return of the past manager of the Ryefield Centre, Dennis Humble, who just couldn't stay away. He appeared to have just a good a time as the guests. The Mayor of Ross, Councillor and Reverend Derek Bedford also gave up some of his time to visit the event. The Ross Lions Club president, Lion Keith Wilding with his wife Sue also attended. Keith, on behalf of the Ross Lions, would like to thank everyone who gave up their time to serve the elderly members of the community, thank you very much!

This event was covered in last week's WNTV News programme.

Ross-on-Wye RFC backs helped them to win a hard fought battle and beat Old Bristolians at home last Saturday. Two tries from the Ross wing partnership helped them to secure the win in a close match in Division one of the High Bridge Jewellers Gloucester league.

After a 24 - 0 loss for Ross the last time these teams met, they were keen to make amends. The home side started off the scoring with a good back line move to put Winger Wayne Bishop over the line. The try was converted by Simon Gwynne putting the score at 7-0 to Ross. Old Bristolians soon fought back with a converted try to level the scores. But, on the stroke of half-time Ross were awarded a penalty. Scrum-half, Simon Gwynne put it over to give Ross a 10-7 lead going in at the break.

In the second half, a dropped ball by the one of the Old Bristolian wingers led Ross to capitalize. Quick thinking from the Ross backs and a good run from Winger, Luke Gray put him over to take the score to 17-7 after a conversion from Simon Gwynne.

The visitors were not going to give up without a fight though and soon showed that their back line could also get them some points with a try from their Winger. The try was converted which left the final score at 17-14 to Ross.

The Charlie's Bar Man of the Match was Ashley Nelmes for some great work at second row.

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.

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.

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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