Fridge Door Cabaret is an acoustic open mic night where all are invited to go along and either share their talents with others or to simply sit back and watch the fun. On Thursday Fridge Door Cabaret took themselves to the White Lion at Wilton and there was quite a range of performances, including serious songs, funny songs, poetry, etc. and everybody had a great time.

The evening was so successful that a Fridge Door Cabaret will be taking place at the White Lion on the last Thursday of each month. You can watch some of the event in this week's WNTV News programme.

Members of Ross-in-Bloom met up with John Williams of E & I Williams this week, as for the past few years, the family business has kindly donated one of their products to deserving Ross-on-Wye gardeners, as designated by the local judges of Ross-in-Bloom.

Ross Court retirement home were winners of a bird bath for their new woodland walk in 2006 and Rita Haggett won a planter for her work in Nursery Road in 2007. Both presentations were made on Wednesday of last week.

Mrs. Margaret Lucas, Chairman of Ross-in-Bloom is very grateful to E & I Williams for their help with this extra award. You never know, you could be a lucky winner of one of E & I Williams' quality garden products.

Ross-in-Bloom would like to remind everybody that local judging takes place between mid June and mid August and the town's colours are reds, yellows and oranges.

Alison and Paul Stather-Hooper from Fownhope are off to Edinburgh on 14th June to 'Walk the Walk' - a 26 Mile MoonWalk in decorated bras to raise money to help Breast Cancer sufferers.

'This will be a night to remember - 12,000 women (and men) pounding the streets in decorated bras,' said Alison. 'In 2007 we raised over £2 million. With your help we can make an even greater difference in 2008. This year will be the 3rd MoonWalk in Scotland and with the iconic pink tent to keep the elements at bay, more than 30,000 walkers will be taking the first step to a healthier lifestyle.

Those who go along will be feasting on pasta and rice to keep them going, listening to great music and uniting in celebration - all within the unique pink tent! There will be plenty of toilets and water on the route, and a team of smiling faces giving out medals to welcome walkers home!'

If you would like to sponsor Alison and Paul 'Walking the Walk', they would be very pleased to hear from you and donations can be left at the White Lion Inn, Wilton, or you can donate on-line by visiting www.justgiving.com/alisonstatherhooper.

A quiz will also be taking place at the White Lion Inn on Sunday, 7th June with all proceeds going towards the Breast Cancer charity.

Five new players will be given a chance to prove themselves when the Gloucestershire Ladies' golf team takes on the five other South West counties in the region's County Week to be held at Dudsbury Golf Club, Dorset between 12th and 16th May. Among them will be Helen Palmer from Ross-on-Wye GC, pictured with County Captain Vicky Watkins of Broadway.

This year the changed format of this round robin tournament, with six counties instead of the usual four competing, means that the squad needs to be considerably larger. Gloucestershire will also be without three of their top players; Hannah Barwood (Knowle), Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton New) and Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) as County Week clashes with the national English Women's Close Amateur Championship.

'It will be tough,' admits Captain Vicky Watkins, 'but all six counties are in the same position. Our three practice matches have produced some great individual performances and good foursomes pairings. Now we are ready and all looking forward to County Week.'

Gloucestershire's team consists of Linda Carruthers (Broadway), Jamie Lee Casling (Brickhampton), Kelly Fowler (Shirehampton), Jo Hodge (Knowle), Claire Jobbins (The Kendleshire),Leah Occleshaw (The Players), Helen Palmer (Ross-on-Wye), Karen Rix (Bristol & Clifton), Sue Reeve (Minchinhampton New) and Shelby Smart (Knowle). The winning team will go through to the national finals to be played at Long Ashton Golf Club in September.

Police in Ross are trying to trace a man who was seen stealing a much-loved family pet from a lane in Brampton Abbotts.

The owners of Simba, a light brown Burmese cat, had initially thought that their family pet had gone missing around 10 days ago. When he failed to return, they put up posters in the village to try and find him to no avail. However, they were then contacted by a neighbour who reported seeing a man picking up and carrying away a cat, matching Simba’s description, several days beforehand. Simba’s owners then contacted the police to report him as stolen.

Sgt Greg McFarlane from Ross Police said, 'Simba’s owners describe him as a much loved family pet and it is clear that his loss is causing them some distress. From the description provided by the neighbour, it seems likely that Simba was stolen rather then having gone missing, and we hope the public will help us to find the person responsible.'

A man, described as being white with dark hair, of stocky build, and aged in his late teens or early 20s, was seen to corner the cat against a thick hedgerow, pick him up and carry him away. He was walking his two dogs – a black Labrador and a terrier – at the time.

'The incident itself happened between 1pm and 2pm on Thursday, 17th April, so we are keen to hear from anyone who knows of someone who has acquired a Burmese cat in the past few days. Equally, should

anyone recognize the description of the man with the two dogs, we would like to hear from them. Our priority is to try and locate Simba and return him to his rightful owners, who are obviously distressed to lose him,' added Sgt McFarlane.

Simba himself is described as being light brown in colour and aged around 2 ½ years. Anyone with information about his theft can contact Sgt McFarlane at Ross Police Station on 08457 444888. Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Mrs. Kay Hopkins of Abertillery sent in this letter, in the hope of tracing some long lost relatives. Maybe you can help her.

Dear Sir,

I am hoping that you and your readers can help me. I am trying to trace my family tree and I have been on Wyenot News to look for clues.

I am looking for information regarding my Great Grandparents. I know that my grandfather, Ethelbert Marshall was born in Ross in 1892. He was married in Ross in 1919 to Lillian Maud Clissett, who was born in Glamorganshire. They had four children, who were all born in Ross as follows: William, 1920; Douglas, 1921; Pearl, 1924 and my father Kenneth, 1931. They lived in Edde Cross Street until their house was pulled down and they were moved to Tudorville Crescent (now renamed 'Purland'. Ed). I know that they also had family living in the area who owned a shop.

My dad lost contact with Bill for approximately 20 year. They had planned to meet up in Ross so that Uncle Bill could introduce Dad to his relatives, but due to ill health this meeting never took place.

If any of your readers can help in any way, I would be very grateful. I enclose a photos of my dad and Bill (see below). I would also be pleased if anybody has any idea of what happened to Douglas Vernon, whom we do know was in the forces.

Thank you for any help,

Yours sincerely,

Kay Hopkins (nee Marshall)

If you can help Kay in any way at all, please email her at k.hopkins47@hotmail.co.uk

Following the article about the new KFC in last week's issue of Wyenot News, we received the following letter from Paul Meredith.

Dear Alan,

After reading your article on KFC coming to Ross and especially after reading Councillor Harry Bramer's offering, I feel that I must write to put my two-pennies worth in.

The way that I see it, is it will not make any difference to the pupils of John Kyrle, whether the KFC is eat in or take away, they will still want their daily portion of chicken, albeit, inside seated rather than outside in the rain. The extra small cost of Added VAT will not make much difference either. So they will still attempt to climb crash barriers and play chicken with the highway to get it. This is something that will not go away. It will not only happen at school lunchtimes, it will happen outside of school hours, every day.

Also, how does Councillor Bramer know that the message from (and I quote) The residents of Ross, is 'that if you continue to sell take aways, we do not want you here'. I personally like a KFC now and again and I would definitely like to see them stay. I pass the premises on my way home from work every day and will definitely pop in sometime. The nearest one to Ross at the moment is Hereford (and that is a long and dangerous road to walk!).

A solution to this could be the provision of a new footpath and foot bridge from the bottom of Ledbury road, adjacent to the roundabout, over the dual carriageway, to the other side adjacent to the cattle market. This could also be used by all the other people who cross over this busy road on a Sunday morning to get to the weekly car boot sale that is held there. I have personally seen adults, some who are not too nimble on their feet, trying to negotiate this road to get to the boot sale. Also, what about people that want foot access to the other businesses that are situated on this site, i.e. Labels, Focus DIY, and also, the many people who have to walk to work at Edmos, Peter Nash Cars etc. This could benefit everyone in the long run - even Labels may be able to gain planning for their out of town mini development that was turned down on the grounds of 'access to pedestrians.'

Ok, the cost of a foot bridge may be high, but what is that compared to the cost of a child's, or even an adults life? Come on Ross councillors, you do have to move with the times and supply some of the modern conveniences that local people crave sometime (after all we did vote you in!). These business will not move into the centre of town because of the high rates they will have to pay, so they have to be accommodated somewhere - with some expenditure. Isn't this the best compromise.

Regards,

Paul Meredith.

Thank you for your letter Paul.

Of course the majority of residents, in particular those with children are pleased to have a KFC in Ross. I also think that a KFC outlet is a good idea, in the right place. KFC may find it easier to get the necessary planning permission if they were to offer to finance a foot bridge. However, that is up to KFC and the planning department at Herefordshire Council to decide, not us. We only report the news. With reference to the video of Tina having just purchased a takeaway from KFC, this was purely an exercise to see if they are operating predominantly as an eat in or takeaway. The evidence suggests the latter.

Wyenot News received the following letter from Tracey Leaning, who asked for help with her school reunion.

Hello Alan!

Just a quickie to tell that we had our school reunion on Friday, 25th April with 'Mr Brice'! It really was a storming success and a wonderful time was had by all.

Dick was there with Di, and this really was the icing on the cake for us 'old pupils', to see them both after 36 years. I say thank-you to you, Alan, as none of this would have been possible, if you hadn't have been the go-between for us. We are all hoping to go to one of Dick's gigs, so maybe we will meet you there hopefully.

Wishing you all the best, and thanks again.

Tracey Leaning.

It was a pleasure Tracey.

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