Congratulations to Anne Gray who was presented with the Jo Ashman Community Spirit Award at the Ross-in-Bloom presentations evening on Sunday. This award is presented each year to somebody who has made an impact on the community whilst also working with Ross-in-Bloom..

After presenting Anne with her award, Ross-in-Bloom Chairman, Margaret Lucas said, 'Anne might not have been born here, but she has certainly made her mark on the town. She and her husband Colin work in many aspects of Ross life, with all ages of the community. Anne does so much for the town that is unrecognized and it is nice to be able to show our appreciation to her in this way.'

And so say all of us! Congratulations Anne, you deserve it. More photographs from the Ross-in-Bloom Presentation Evening can be seen on pages four and five of this week's Wyenot News.

Tudorville Community Association called an emergency meeting on Friday, 19th September to discuss Post Office Ltd.'s proposal to close Tudorville Post Office

The meeting chaired by Ross Town Mayor, Councillor John Davies, was very well attended by local councillors, Anthony Bush of Herefordshire Council, the prospective parliamentary candidates and over seventy members of the public, who came from as far as Walford and Arbour Hill. Many people will suffer if the closure goes ahead as there are several issues in Ross that make it difficult for people use the Post Office there.

There are only two disability bays in the car park to serve users of both the supermarket and the Post Office and there is a steep incline for pensioners to manage on their way back to the bus stops. They will have to wait in longer queues, particularly on road fund days and at times are queuing in the Maltings with no rest area.

If closed, Tudorville will be offered a 12 month pilot scheme to operate services alongside the present till for grocery transactions so there will be a lack of privacy for financial and other transactions. It will also prove very inconvenient for the business person wanting to post their parcels, but who will have to wait in a long queue of general shoppers.

Councillor Anne Gray told us, 'People must send their concerns to Jenny Hepworth, Freepost, Post Watch, and to Mark Partington, Network Development Officer, Freepost Consultation Team.

This is another blow to community services in a rural area, where there has been a cut back in bus services due to withdrawal of subsides from both Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Councils.'

Local campaigner Jesse Norman joined residents of Tudorville in Ross-on-Wye last week in their fight against the closure of the Tudorville Post Office. A packed meeting at the Tudorville Youth Centre was addressed by representatives of the Post Office, and of the regulator PostWatch -- and gave them a real cross-examination.

Residents pointed out that the Tudorville Post Office was a thriving and successful business, which served both Tudorville and the wider local area. Many older and disabled people lived there. Public transport into town was not frequent enough, while it was a long and rather dangerous walk there and back uphill. Many small businesses relied on the Post Office to handle their parcels, and closure would overload the Post Office at the Maltings. In short, closure of Tudorville Post Office would be a serious blow to the community.

In reply the Post Office personnel emphasized the need for residents to write in to the Consultation and describe their specific situation and the effects of closure on them. Letters should go to Mark Partington, National Consultation Team, FREEPOST Consultation Team, with a copy to Jenny Hepworth at FREEPOST POSTWATCH. But many residents said that it was clear that the Post Office team were not fully briefed as to why the Post Office had been closed, as to the nature of the new pilot service, or as to what overall services would be lost.

As co-ordinator of the campaign to Save Herefordshire's Post Offices, Jesse Norman has led the fight against the closures for nearly 18 months. He said afterwards, 'It was a very good meeting, and shows the huge strength of local feeling against the closure. On some issues, I am afraid the Post Office people did not really know what they were talking about. But this closure is not a done deal and everyone must write in if they possibly can.'

The event was kindly organized by the Residents' Association, led by Colin and Anne Gray, and was very well chaired by John Davies, the Mayor of Ross.'

Organizations working for the community were represented at St. Mary's Parish Church for the Civic Service, which took place on Sunday. The Mayor, Councillor John Davies was present and dignitaries from other towns also attended the service.

Prior to the service, councillors and the visiting dignitaries formed a procession to St. Mary's Church. A buffet lunch was held at Ross Bowling Club after the service.

The disbanding of The Zebras left a bit of a hole in the local musical talent when the popular band split last year, however, all that is set to change. Paul Randell has teamed up with Richard 'Tigger' umbers, and Jen and Terry from the all female rock band 'Underwired' to form 'Silverfish.'

Silverfish will cover some of the old favourites that you would expect to hear from Paul, along with some newer material which the band will be performing at The Prince of Wales on Saturday evening.

I for one am really looking forward to it!

Ten years old Amy Cross from Ross-on-Wye and seventeen years old Ben Sainsbury from Wormbridge are two very special local young people who will be joining many other youngsters at West Mercia Constabulary's annual Good Citizen of the Year Awards in Worcester next Thursday.

The Good Citizen Awards, which celebrate their 21st birthday this year, are open to all young people aged 18 or under, across the West Mercia region. During the event, West Mercia Constabulary Chief Constable, Paul West will present the Award for the overall Good Citizen of the Year 2008.

Amy has been nominated for her fund-raising activity, charity work and overall good citizenship. Her independent fund-raising has paid for the sponsorship of children in India, enabling them to go to school and receive an education. Amy also makes gift tags to sell and provides a gift wrapping service. Comments on the nomination form included: 'For the past two years she has been thinking of others she hasn't even met. Amy is a very caring individual who constantly looks for ways to help people around her and bring a smile to their faces. She is kind and thoughtful and always considerate of others. She has raised over £100, made a difference to others' lives and is a really good citizen.'

Ben was nominated for his actions when his friend suffered a serious accident. Ben's quick and decisive first aid helped to get him through until the ambulance arrived. He later helped with his friend's recovery, travelling to Birmingham to visit him in hospital in the evenings and coming back for school each day. Ben continues to help him with his support and friendship. His nominator said: 'He is extremely modest and would never claim any acknowledgement for himself, but his courage and intervention may well have saved a life.'

Sergeant Mark Smith, who has helped organize this year's Awards scheme, said, 'The perception of young people today can sometimes be negative. The annual Good Citizen Award scheme highlights the exceptional contribution many young people make to local communities across West Mercia. The Awards show how generous, brave and community minded many of our young people are. We are very proud of all our good citizens and they are all winners in our eyes.'

To have been eligible for nomination this year, acts of good citizenship must have taken place between 26 May 2007 and 25 May 2008.

The prestigious Good Citizen Awards are an annual scheme run by West Mercia Constabulary to recognize young people, aged 18 and under, who have made an outstanding contribution to their local community. Nominations for the award scheme are made at a local level and then a total of ten entries are short listed from the nominations received from across the region. The short listed nominees then attend an award ceremony where the overall Good Citizen of the Year is named. All those short listed receive a prize and £50. The young person judged to have made the most significant contribution to their community will be named Good Citizen of the Year, and will receive £50 plus a £50 donation to charity, as well as the Good Citizen of the Year Award trophy.

It has been 3 years since the last Potters Bar Reunion Party,

so we have decided to hold another.

All who remember the Potters Bar
and those who would just like an evening of great '70s music

are Invited to come along on

Saturday 22nd November at 8.00pm

to the The Original Potters Bar
(Now the Hope & Anchor Conservotary)

Original Juke Box Records! - Football Table! - Meet Old Friends!
Bring all your old photographs!

Please invite your friends!

This photograph of a giant football has left staff at Herefordshire Council's museum perplexed. Mr Capstick, a dealer in old photographs, acquired the photograph and noticed it was printed in Commercial Road, Hereford, even though it may not have been taken in the city. Althea McKenzie, the museum's costume and textile curator, suggests the uniforms and clothing date the scene to around 1900-1910.

David Stevens, Hereford Museum's collections officer for social history, said, 'We would like to know whether anyone can shed any light on this true leather working curio and whether it was a Hereford team or a major event that needed such a giant football to be made. We have drawn a blank in the museum, apart from being able to give some idea of the date of the photograph, and would be grateful for any information'.

If you are able to help, please contact David Stevens on 01432 383387.

Dave and Jacqui Newman would like to welcome you to the White Lion 16th Century Riverside Inn. Situated right on the banks of the River Wye at Ross, the White Lion is a picturesque local inn with an interesting history and is noted for its spectacular river views. The White Lion has long been a favourite place to relax by both local people and tourists alike.

The White Lion's extensive and picturesque gardens reach right down to the river's edge and are a wonderful place to enjoy views of the river. It is a great spot to watch the local otters, nesting swans and other wildlife.

Accommodation

Log Fire

Old Gaol Restaurant

Meals served every lunch time
and evening in the bar and restaurant

CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2008

The absolute deadline for Wyenot News stories and other items is 12:00, midday on Tuesday, for inclusion in the following day's edition.

PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER: This is an absolute deadline and not the time I am asking for articles to be sent in. Mondays and Tuesdays here at 'Wyenot News' are Hell with by far, the most events I cover occurring at the weekend. The photography that the public sees happening is only one tiny part of the whole picture (please excuse the pun) of running this weekly news publication and the bits of prep that people do not see, are actually the most time consuming part of getting the story out.

If at all possible, please send your story in as early as you can, rather than wait until the very last minute, so that I can have at least a fighting chance of getting to bed before 3:00 am every Tuesday and Wednesday morning after what has lately become two 18 hour working days on the trot.

Thank you very much for your understanding and help.

Alan

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 NEWS items - a small discretionary charge may be made to cover travel expenses for photographic coverage of events

What's On Events - see page for details

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.