Our congratulations go to Andy and Wendy Fulford who celebrated their wedding day on Friday, 27th August. The happy couple were married at Ross Registry Office and despite fears that the weather man's forecast of rain would come true, the sun shone for them.

Andy's best man was his son Robert, who appeared to be more nervous than the groom whilst waiting the arrival of the bride, Wendy, who looked absolutely stunning in her deep red wedding dress and was attended by her daughter Leia. After the ceremony guests made their way down to the Hope & Anchor Conservatory where they were greeted with Bucks Fizz and a lovely reception, followed later by a great karaoke and disco.

The Conservatory was nicely decorated with balloons and wedding banners on three sides with 'Happy Birthday' banners on one side. This was not due to error. Friday 27th August would have been Andy's eldest son, Dean's 20th birthday. Dean was tragically killed one week before his birthday in 2007. Andy and Wendy deliberately chose that date for their wedding. After the wedding speeches were made, Andy made a moving speech about his son and everybody toasted him 'Happy Birthday, Dean.'

We wish you every happiness for your future, Mr. and Mrs. Fulford and we are sure that Dean is very happy for you both.

Do you need to update a licence to run your business premises? Do you want to hold a street collection for your charity/ or do you need a licence to have a party to celebrate a special occasion? If so, Herefordshire Council is making it easier for businesses, charities and residents to make their licence applications by offering an online service.

The online service will allow people to apply for and pay for their licences without having to fill in printed forms and then post them. These include animal boarding establishment licences, temporary event notices, food premises registrations, club premises certificates, street collection licences, caravan and camping site licences, sports ground safety certificates and premises approval for marriage and civil ceremonies.

Richard Beavan-Pearson, Herefordshire Council's head of customer services said, 'As a council, we are committed to making it easier for people to access our services. The new online system means that people can apply for licences at any time of day but they also don't need to print off any forms and then post them. Payment will be taken online and a confirmation email will be sent to say what is now happening with the licence. As a council, we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and would really encourage people to make use of this new online service as it not only saves paper and printer ink but will also save applicants the cost of postage.'

The full list of licences and further guidance on the regulations and how to make applications can be found by logging onto www.herefordshire.gov.uk/onlinelicences For further information on how to access the online licences, telephone 01432 261761.

Sunday afternoon saw the last of the Bands in the Park performances for 2010 and the A. W Parker Band from Drybrook put on a brilliant concert to mark the end of the season of events which were arranged by Ross Town Council for the town and its visitors to enjoy.

Many people turned up to sit and picnic in the Caroline Symonds Gardens, whilst enjoying the sound of the band in the sunshine and it is hoped that another summer series will be taking place again in 2011.

A special market was held in Ross-on-Wye on Bank Holiday Monday, giving local causes and local branches of national charities the opportunity to raise further funds. The NSPCC were there raising money for their very important work as were Ross MS Support Group who try to give support and provide equipment to sufferers of this disease as well as being able to give MS sufferers and their carers the occasional day trip out.

Fourteen years old Ebony Hodges, along with her mum, Emma were also there. Ebony has been working very hard to raise the £3,000 she needs to be able to take part in a World Challenge in Tanzania next July. Part of this challenge is to raise all of the money herself and so far Ebony, although not particularly sporty, has taken part in a 5k fun run in Reading, has bag packed in the local supermarket and many other activities. The aim of the trip to Tanzania for Ebony and her school friends is to meet and work with some of the pupils at the school in Tanzania that their school is linked with.

We wish her well.

It was yet another busy night at the White Lion Inn on Sunday as people made their way to this lovely riverside inn to not only enjoy the great food and real ales available but also to enjoy the fabulous sound of popular local trio, the Double Barrel Band.

The band are well known for their great range of popular covers music, which has their audience up and dancing in no time. The band have been together a long time and not only are they great instrumentalists, they also have strong vocal talent. Listening to their unaccompanied version of 'Nowhere Man' proves this beyond any shadow of doubt.

Keep your eyes open for when the Double Barrel Band are performing locally again. You won't be disappointed.

Farming in the Wye Valley (AONB) has always been an important influence on the landscape and for the last three years the Wye Valley AONB Farming Awards have celebrated good farming practice.

This year's competition for large farms over 100 hectares was strongly contested and Herefordshire farmer Gareth Williams from Caplor Farm, Fownhope was awarded the first prize at the Monmouthshire Show on Thursday, 26th August. Judges Mike Williams, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), Henry Rudge, Ballingham Court Farm, winner of the award in 2008 and Andrew Blake, Wye Valley AONB Officer were impressed by the diverse initiatives at Caplor Farm.

Mike Williams summed up the winning qualities, saying, 'Gareth has developed a forward thinking approach to farming that reduces carbon emissions and maintains high quality landscape supporting wildlife. The cash award of £500 and the Farming Awards trophy, sculpted by Forest of Dean metalworker Steve Bluett, is a recognition of the quality of our farming community.'

Caplor Farm has built strong local and international community links here and in Gambia. Caplor Energy, the renewable energy enterprise on the farm, is a leader in providing energy systems to households, communities and small business, specializing in solar hot water systems, solar electric systems, air source and ground source heat pumps and wind turbines.

Gareth is quite an old hand at winning awards. This year alone Caplor Farm was named as one of the top 50 Green Leaders in the West Midlands in a competition run by Sustainability West Midlands and was also awarded first place in the category for small business in the Carbon Reduction Cost Saving Award as part of the West Midlands Low Carbon Economy Awards. The farm seems to be a force for the future of farming in the Herefordshire area and the Wye Valley AONB congratulates them on receiving this prestigious award.

The other two finalists were Pencoyd Court Farm, Windmill Hill, Harewood End, Herefordshire and Brookes Dairy, Panta Farm Devauden, Monmouthshire. Pencoyd Court Farm is adjacent to the AONB and produces strawberries and raspberries under polytunnels as well as organic blackcurrants. Judges were impressed by the landscape, wildlife and hedgerow management alongside their generous community work.

Brookes Wye Valley Dairy produces high quality ice cream from a herd of Jersey cows maintaining a beautiful pastoral landscape in the heart of the AONB.

Next year the awards will concentrate on small farms under 100 hectares, so keep your eyes open for the entry forms in June.