The
place for information on Ross-on-Wye and the Wye Valley
|
27th
April 2011 |
THE HOSTELRIE SAUSAGE AND CIDER FESTIVAL. |
Alun and Lisa of The
Hostelrie at Goodrich held at Sausage and Cider Festival
over the Easter weekend and the event was a great sucess.
The weather was gorgeous and many people turned up to try
the tastiest locally produced sausages and the most delicious
of locally produced ciders whilst enjoying performances
from the best local bands.
The Easter event began on Friday evening with a barbecue
and live music which was performed by New Jersey. We visited
the festival on Saturday afternoon where The Deadbeats were
keeping everybody entertained in the garden. What a great
performance they gave. The garden was a lovely place to
watch the band whilst sampling some of the cider supplied
by Mays, Gillows and Ross
Cider & Perry Co. amongst others.Unfortunately we
could not stay for very long but apprently the fabulous
Jiveoholics gave their usual brilliant performance during
the evening, whislt visitors took advantage of the opportunity
to tate the delicious sausages supplied by the Popular Pig
Company and other local producers.
Local
band OCD rounded off the event with their range of classic
rock and ballads and apprently a great time was had by all.
Alun
and Lisa have been at the Hostelrie for more than a year
now and they and their team have worked hard to restore
the tired looking building back to its former glory as a
lovely, country inn where visitors are assured of a very
warm welcome. Why not go along to The Hostelrie and see
for yourself? Alun and Lisa will be very pleased to meet
you.
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|

The Deadbeats keep everybody entertained at The Hostelrie at Goodrich
on Saturday afternoon. |

Visitors
enjoy some great local cider and sausages in the sunshine, whilst
listening to the band. |

Front
man Haydn Dix belts out the blues. |

This
young man enjoyed himself playing skittles. |

You
are always assured of a great performance by The Deadbeats.
|
27th
April 2011 |
NEW CINEMA OPENING IN ROSS ON WYE SOON. |
Work to set up a new cinema facility in Ross-on-Wye is nearly
complete, with the backing of a local theatre and the town
council. Although films are shown at a handful of community
centres in the town, Ross hasn't had a dedicated cinema
since the Roxy closed in the early 1980s. But a group of
film fans has been given the green light to install cutting
edge screening equipment at the 60-seat Phoenix Theatre
and hopes that it will pave the way for something even bigger.
The
project has been approved by members of the theatre, and
paid for with a £7,500 grant from Ross Town Council's enhancement
fund. The grant was allocated in recognition of widespread
local demand for a cinema in Ross. The new facility will
have an authentic cinema feel, thanks to the theatre's raked
seating and a giant retractable screen. First class picture
quality will be delivered by a digital projector, and the
auditorium itself, now being revamped as part of the theatre's
own enhancement programme, will look smarter than ever.
Screen
at the Phoenix, as the new venture has been called, will
launch with a week long film festival in July, complete
with 'Rosscars' for the most deserving movies. Thereafter,
films will be screened as often as the theatre's busy drama
schedule allows, and local filmgoers will be given a say
in the choice of line-up. They will also be able to take
advantage of the venue's bar. If the venture is successful,
its backers hope it will provide an argument in favour of
establishing a Ross cinema with even larger capacity.
Town
councillor John Edwards, chairman of Screen at the Phoenix
said, 'Ross having its own cinema fulfils a promise I made
as Mayor last year. Hopefully the launching film festival
in July will help meet another pledge to bring an annual
arts festival back to the town and Ross residents should
enjoy being able to help choose films to be shown at their
own cinema.'
Barbara
Isle, President of the Phoenix Theatre, said, 'We hope that
Screen at the Phoenix will bring a whole new audience to
the theatre. There are many small cinemas in Britain where
film lovers can view a variety of films that would not necessarily
get shown at big venues, and I look forward to Screen at
the Phoenix becoming a popular venue for the people of Ross
and visitors alike.'
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27th
April 2011 |
A LOVELY RIDE OUT IN THE HEREFORDSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE. |
Easter Monday saw the 2nd Vintage & Classic Vehicle Road
Run organized by ROSS ROADies, take place in aid of the
Midlands Air Ambulance, meeting at The Yew Tree Inn, Peterstow
before leaving on a leisurely drive through the Herefordshire
countryside.
The
cars ranged in age from 1926 up to the 1980's, and in size
from a tiny 1960 Messerschmitt KR200 3 wheeler to a huge
1927 Humber 9/20 Saloon. Among the many tractors taking
part from the 1940's through to the 1980's, was a guest
exhibit of a new Fendt 828 tractor on loan from Ross Farm
Machinery and driven by Luke Morgan. Although the event
was primarily a road run for Vintage & Classic Vehicles,
it was good for people to compare the amazing engineering
progress made in just a few years, between the different
types of tractors.
Also
taking part, after a total recent restoration was a 1946
ERF CI5 lorry belonging to landlord of the Yew Tree Inn,
Phil Ballinger. The lorry has been restored back to its
original livery from when supplied new to C B Yates of the
Isle of Wight. If you are passing The Yew Tree Inn, why
not call by and see this amazing vehicle?
Another
exhibit that attracted much attention was the ongoing restoration
of a 1950's Trojan Personel Wagon belonging to George Vaughan
of Peterstow. All in all a great day was had by all, with
fantastic weather. When the proceeds are added to the ROSS
Roadies total from their December Road Run, it is hoped
a very sizeable sum will be donated to MIDLANDS AIR AMBULANCE.
When
the total is known it will be published on Wyenot News,
so keep looking out for the latest updates.
ROSS
Roadies are a non-profit making group of Vintage & Classic
Vehicle enthusiasts, set up to enjoy Nostalgic Motoring,
whilst raising money for charity. For further information,
please contact Colin Davies on 07510-772250, Eric Lilwall
on 07732-555403 or Alan Williams on 07773-619969.
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|

The 1946 ERF C15 belonging to Phil Ballinger, lovongly restored
to its former glory. |

A
good old favourite, the Morris Minor belonging to Colin Davies
|

What
a beauty! |

There
was a good range of vintage motorcycles on display... |

....as
well as tractors old and very new. |

There
was so much to see and lots of money has been raised for the Midlands
Air Ambulance. |
27th
April 2011 |
CELEBRATE THE ROYAL WEDDING AT WILTON COURT. |
Many people are organizing many different ways to celebrate
the marriage of HRH Prince William and Miss Kate Middleton
next Friday, 29th April. Helen and Roger Wynn of Wilton
Court Restaurant with Rooms are inviting you to join
them in celebrating the royal wedding.
The
event will begin at 10:30 am when coffees and pastries will
be served, then from 11am, full TV coverage of this very
special occasion can be viewed on the large screen. A glass
of Bellini and canapés will then be served, followed
by a sumptuous lunch in the Mulberry Restaurant.
The
Wilton Court Royal Wedding Celebration is open to residents
and non residents alike. Places have been filling up quickly
so if you would like to take part in this special celebration,
make your room and / or lunch selection now.
For
further information on this special event, please contact
Wilton Court Restaurant with Rooms directly or visit
http://www.wiltoncourthotel.com/events-a-activities/the-royal-wedding.html
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27th
April 2011 |
TUDORVILLE DCC INVITE YOU TO CELEBRATE WEDDING. |
As everybody should be aware, the marriage between HRH Prince
William and Miss Kate Middleton will take place on Friday
and many people will be holding their own special celebration
of this very special event.
On
Sunday, 1st May, the Tudorville and District Community Centre
Committee will be holding a street party from 2p unti it
i sdark. The committee are inviting everybody to take along
their own picnic and enjoy live music, a disco and the barbecue.
There will be lots of activities going on for the children
with face painting and bouncy castles and mums and dads
will be pleased to know that there will be a bar from 4pm.
You
don't have to live in Tudorville to be invited and admission
is free, so why not go along and enjoy the party?
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27th
April 2011 |
WALK OFF THAT WEDDING BREAKFAST WITH MARY. |
If you feel in need of some exercise after sitting around
watching the Royal Wedding on Friday, why not join Mary
Sinclair-Powell on a guided historic walk around Ross-on-Wye?
The walk will begin at Ross Market House and will take you
around the South of the town, finishing at St. Mary's Church.
If
you over indulged at a street party celebrating the royal
occasion and want to shake off the effects, Mary will be
leading another walk on Saturday, again, beginning from
Ross Market House. This walk will take you around the riverside
and the North side of town.
There
is a charge of £3 per person. The walk is free to
children under the age of 12 but they must be accompanied
by an adult. There is no need to book, simply turn up at
the Market House to begin the walk at 3pm.
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27th
April 2011 |
ROSS MAN ISSUED WITH ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ORDER
|
Simon Stephens.
|
West Mercia Police have been successful in obtaining an
antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) against a man in Ross-on-Wye.
Simon
Jon Stephens, aged 38, of The Crofts, was issued with an
Asbo at Hereford Magistrates' Court on 14th April. The order
will last for two years, ending on 13th April, 2013.
Mr.
Stephens is prohibited from:
·
Screaming, shouting or making excessive noise, including
but not limited to playing music, from within his home address
or, encouraging screaming, shouting or excessive noise from
within his home to the annoyance of any neighbour.
· Being drunk and disorderly in a public place.
· Using foul or abusive language or fighting within the
hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment,
alarm or distress.
PC
Paul Challenger of the Ross-on-Wye Local Policing Team said,
'Mr Stephens' behaviour has been very disturbing for his
neighbours in The Crofts. Not only that, because his address
is right in the centre of Ross his antisocial behaviour
has been affecting many other people who visit the town
centre, in particular a community centre nearby.
We
are releasing his photograph to the public so that if they
experience Mr Stephens behaving in any way that is prohibited
by his Asbo, they can contact the Ross Local Policing Team
and we can take action.'
To
contact PC Paul Challenger or the Ross-on-Wye Local Policing
Team, please call the West Mercia Police non-emergency number,
0300 333 3000.
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27th
April 2011 |
A COMMUNITY ORCHARD FOR ROSS ON WYE. |
2011 is the first 'Herefordshire Year in the Orchard' and
marks 200 years since the publication of the Pomona Herefordiensis,
the first scientific based, colour illustrated Pomona or
book of apples. Herefordshire Year in the Orchard (HYO)
aims to help celebrate Herefordshire's orchard heritage;
the landscape they create, the biodiversity they support,
the cultural influence they develop, the food they produce
and their economic impact on the county.
Steve
Parrett of Ross-on-Wye is a student with the Bulmer Foundation,
a sustainable development charity in Hereford and is interested
in creating ways to make our communities more sustainable.
Steve said, 'In order to tie in with the HYO, I'm currently
looking into the possibility of planting a Community Orchard
in Ross-on-Wye.' (Herefordshire Council is all set to give
away sets of apple trees to communities, subject to certain
conditions).
'Community
Orchards can be a great way to bring communities together,
a place to hold events such as apple day, to provide healthy
locally grown fruit and encourage people to get out and
enjoy the outdoors,' continued Steve. 'I'm therefore asking
the residents of Ross-on-Wye to help me out and give me
their opinions on what they think about the idea of a Community
Orchard in the town. Of crucial importance is their opinions
on whether they think it would benefit the town and where,
if anywhere, would be a good place to plant it. I have developed
a short questionnaire which I would really appreciate people
filling in. The information will be used to help decide
whether the idea of planting a Community Orchard in Ross
would be possible. You can access the questionnaire via
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q3FC82T
Please forward the link onto your friends!'
To
help residents obtain their own community orchard, Herefordshire
Council is calling on communities who would like to celebrate
Herefordshire's Year in the Orchard by planting locally
distinctive apple varieties on public land and village greens
as part of the new 'Pommunity Herefordiensis' project. Herefordshire
Council's countryside service has worked with Frank P Matthews'
Trees for Life to make more than 200 local variety apple
trees available free to the county's communities. These
will be supplied as seventy special Pommunity Herefordiensis
tree packs.
Each
pack of three 'one year maiden' trees will include one of
each local variety apple, specially grown for the project
on MM111 (semi standard) rootstock - Downton Pippin, Stoke
Edith Pippin and Herefordshire Russet. The trees must be
planted on publicly accessible land. The communities will
be expected to provide evidence of this access along with
the written permission of the landowner and give details
of the wider community support and benefits for the planting
along with how their community will manage the trees in
the future.
The
closing date for applications is 14th September 2011, The
trees will be supplied bare root and will need to be collected
from Queenswood Country Park on Friday, 25th or Saturday,
26th November 2011, the perfect time of year for planting
and part of National Tree Week. For further information
and to download an application form visit www.yearintheorchard.org
and click on 'Orchard initiatives for 2011.
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27th
April 2011 |
ACTIVE OVER 60s AT TUDORVILLE DCC. |
Tudorville & District Community Centre (TDCC) have recently
been awarded an Active 60 grant from the Herefordshire Community
Foundation. The grant aims to help those people who are
moving into retirement stay active, independent and positively
engaged with society, particularly those most at risk of
loneliness and social isolation in later life.
TDCC,
via Community Agent Anne Gray, will be working in partnership
with Alison Fletcher of Age UK and Ruth Terry, a qualified
EXTEND teacher, to deliver new services for over 60s in
Tudorville on a Friday afternoon. There will be a weekly
EXTEND session from 2pm to 3pm starting on Friday, 13th
May, with a 2 hour Age Concern session afterwards from 3pm
to 5pm.
EXTEND
provides gentle exercise to music for older people and for
anyone of any age with a disability. Their mission is to
promote health, increase mobility and independence, improve
strength, co-ordination and balance and to counteract loneliness
and isolation. The first 2 sessions will be free. The
Age UK sessions will include foot care sessions and other
ideas include information and advice sessions, massage,
computer taster sessions or a book club. The first 5 people
to sign up to the foot care sessions will receive their
first session half price and a half price cutting kit.
In
order to assess what sessions the local residents want to
see in the Community Centre, A coffee morning will be held
on Friday 6th, May at 2pm at the Tudorville Community Centre
where there will be free tea, coffee and cakes. The sessions
will be open to anyone over the age of 60, they do not have
to be from Tudorville.
For
further information please contact Anne Gray on 01989 567995.
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27th
April 2011 |
THE BOYS RISE TO TWO TOUGH CHALLENGES. |
Ross-on-Wye boys Max, Alex and Felix Lerego and their mate
Phil Lineker have set themselves not one but two extremely
difficult challenges. Challenge ONE is the tough physical
and mental Oxfam 2011 Trailtrekker event. A 100km trek over
30 hours (day and night) equal to 2 ½ marathons and up and
down Ben Nevis, across the stunning but demanding Yorkshire
Dales National Park.
Trailtrekker
is part of the Trailwalker Group of Events organized world-wide
by Oxfam. Trailwalker started in 1981 in Hong Kong as a
military training exercise for the Queen's Ghurkha Signals
Regiment and the same Regiment still provides all logistics
for Trailwalker UK today.
Oxfam,
an organization we have all grown up with, is a global movement
of passionate dedicated people who concentrate their efforts
on three main interlinked areas of work. Emergency response,
development work and campaigning for change. Recent disasters
and events benefiting from their resources and expertise
are the Pakistan floods, Japan's earthquake and tsunami
and the protests in Libya. This invaluable work of course
needs funding and to date the Trailtrekker and Trailwalker
Challenges have raised an incredible £50 million.
Challenge
TWO for 'the boys' will be the fund raising. This will be
just as demanding and challenging as the walk itself in
our present economic climate. They are committed to raising
£1,600 but would like to exceed this amount and are looking
not only to the generosity of their families and friends
but seeking sponsorship from local businesses too.
If you would like to sponsor the boys, it can be done on
line at www.virginmoneygiving.com/MRmaxwell This website
has been set up specifically for this charity event. Alternatively,
contact either of the following Team Supporters: Margaret
Lerego, Sunrise Cottage, Eden Lane, Little Birch, HR2 8AY,
Tel: 01981 540823 or Jill Wardle, 7, Piers Close, Malvern,
WR14 3JH, Tel: 07810 680714.
The
boys would like to thank you in anticipation of your generosity.
|
|

Max, Alex and Felix Lerego with friend, Phil Lineker. |
27th
April 2011 |
THE BIG CHILL GRANTED PERMANENT PREMISES LICENCE. |
Herefordshire Council's Regulatory Subcommittee has granted
an application by Festival Republic Limited for a permanent
premises licence for The Big Chill Festival at Eastnor Castle,
near Ledbury.
The
application requested that the festival take place over
the first or second weekend in August each year, subject
to unforeseen circumstances (force majeure). In the case
of 'force majeure', the date of the festival could be held
between 1st June and 1st September, although this must first
be agreed with the Safety Advisory Group (a panel comprising
the council and the emergency services) beforehand.
Among
other licensable activities, last year's licence granted
the applicant, Mr Melvin John Benn of Festival Republic
Ltd, a temporary, one year licence permitting live music
and dancing until 5am from the Thursday night through to
the Sunday night. This year the same applicant applied for
a permanent licence. This application differed because it
proposed an 'early bird' opportunity for the public to arrive
on the Wednesday to miss the traffic although the applicant
did not apply for music on this day. Festival Republic also
proposed to bring forward the finish time for music on the
Thursday and Sunday night.
Two
representations, or objections, to this application were
received from parish councils and five from members of the
public. Colwall Parish Council made a representation on
behalf of 10 residents saying they objected to increasing
the length of the event to six days as well as granting
a permanent licence. They wanted the transmission of music
at the festival to cease at 00:30 on August 5, 6, 7 and
8 in line with what they believed other festivals did, such
as Glastonbury. Their letter added, 'Many residents find
the noise so offensive they move out over the weekend out
of total despair.'
Castlemorton
Parish Council felt the application should be dealt with
on an annual basis or given a limited term and noise levels
should be monitored. Letters from members of the public
expressed concern at the event being held for six days,
unacceptable noise levels and the fact that a permanent
licence was being applied for. However, another resident
wrote in to say that The Big Chill benefited the village
of Colwall with festival goers using the local shops, residents
getting tickets at a discounted rates and some of last year's
ticket profits being donated to the village school.
The
public hearing was held in Hereford on the evening of 20th
April when Melvin Benn, the applicant on behalf of Festival
Republic, told members of the regulatory subcommittee that
he was willing to work closely with the community and local
authority so the Big Chill event can get better and benefit
the economy of the local area more. He said that he also
held licences for other festivals including Glastonbury,
Reading, Leeds and Latitude in East Anglia. He said that
the Big Chill was a unique festival and wanted it to succeed
without upsetting the neighbours.
Both
parish councils presented their case as did four of the
five residents who made representations. The subcommittee
heard the case for several hours, listening to the representations
and evidence from all parties, including the council's noise
expert. After retiring to consider their decision, they
granted a licence which added new conditions.
They
required that the applicant sets up a liaison group after
every festival so that residents can air any concerns they
may have with the applicant, the council and other interested
parties such as the police. A new condition also required
that the music from the main stage ceases on the Sunday
at midnight. The licence also confirmed that all music from
the event would cease at 03.00 rather than 05.00 on the
first and last night.
Herefordshire
Council's environmental health department said a noise hotline
will be installed and would be publicized so that local
residents could report any issues and these will be forwarded
to a representative from the council. They said that a team
of council officers would be out monitoring the event from
the Thursday through to the Sunday night. A number of specific
and detailed conditions relating to noise levels were also
imposed and a detailed Event Management Plan and Noise Plan
will also need to be submitted and agreed three months before
the start of the festival every year.
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27th
April 2011 |
NUMBER OF UNDER FIVES USING LIBRARIES RISES
|
Bookstart Bear.
|
More children under the age of five than ever before are
visiting Herefordshire Council's libraries thanks to a campaign
aimed at promoting speech and language development.
The
Every Child a Talker project, which has been supported by
the library service, has seen an increase in under five
membership from 22 per cent in June 2010 to 35 per cent
in February 2011.
As
part of the drive to get more under fives into libraries,
a Gruffalo competition was held which attracted more than
400 entrants who drew characters such as Denis the Menace,
The Tiger Who Came To Tea, The Gruffalo and Cinderella.
Winners will be contacted soon over how they can collect
their prizes which included a range of Gruffalo goodies.
Emma
Stevens, Herefordshire Council's library learning officer
said, 'Promoting the love of books and under fives membership
doesn't just happen in libraries but also through partnership
working with health visitors, speech and language therapists,
pre-school groups, childminders and children centres who
all work together to make books more accessible to families.
We
can also provide Library Role Play boxes for use by pre-school
and community family groups. These include library play
resources which give an introduction to the experience of
visiting the library and borrowing books and helps to foster
a love of books.'
From
9th May, every child under five joining the library will
receive a free Bookstart bear.
Other
events to look out for are a Bookstart bear trail at Queenswood
Country Park which starts on Saturday, 28th May and a Bookstart
bear hunt at Hereford's High Town from Saturday, 28th May
until Saturday, 11th June.
For
further information on the Library Role Play boxes or the
benefits of joining the library, contact Julie Goodwin on
01432 261644.
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27th
April 2011 |
TWITTER
TO BE USED TO ANNOUNCE ELECTION RESULTS... |
Herefordshire Council is using Twitter for the first time
to alert those wanting to know the results of the 5th May
local and parish elections as they come in. Once the polling
stations close at 10pm, the ballot boxes will be taken to
Hereford Leisure Centre where the local election votes will
be counted.
Throughout
the night the results of those winning the 56 contested
seats on Herefordshire Council will be declared, with the
first announcement due at around 2am, and the last expected
sometime around 6am. The results will be posted on Herefordshire
Council's website as they are announced - www.herefordshire.gov.uk.
For
the first time, the council will be using Twitter to send
out messages announcing which ward's result has just been
confirmed. Anyone wanting to follow the tweets can by visiting
www.twitter.com/myherefordshire. The council is offering
the same service to those wanting to know the results of
the parish council elections and the result of the referendum
on the parliamentary voting system.
The
parish council count will begin at 10am on Friday, 6th May
and alerts will be sent out via Twitter as the results are
announced during the day. At 4pm the count begins for the
referendum on the parliamentary voting system. An alert
will be issued via Twitter once the result has been announced.
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27th
April 2011 |
DIY SOS PUTS AN END TO ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR |
A Hereford couple have paid tribute to a local community
support officer (CSO) who has helped tackle antisocial behaviour
in their street while simultaneously helping them to turn
their lives around. CSO
Sam Knox, who looks after the Redhill area of the city,
used an unconventional and innovative way of getting to
the heart of the couple's problems: not just by using the
law to deal with the problem, but by drafting in the local
community to transform their home life with a DIY SOS mission.
Last
summer, Mike Holloway, aged 25, and his partner Nikkie Price,
aged 28, were dragged into a neighbourhood dispute that
was causing antisocial behaviour and was affecting many
of the residents in their road. CSO Knox said, 'The dispute
was causing problems with other neighbours, becoming more
serious and beginning to affect the whole street. We were
having increasing numbers police officers being called to
problems and it quickly became one of the biggest issues
on my patch. It was the last thing the couple needed as
Nikkie was pregnant, with the baby due in November.
Mike
explained, 'We were always on edge and you could cut the
tension round here with a knife. We didn't want to be here.
Without Sam and her sergeant's help, we'd both be nervous
wrecks by now.' CSO Knox added, 'Mike and Nikkie were focussing
completely on their problems and not their home life and
that they were to have a baby together in a matter of months.
They felt isolated and trapped and their one bedroom flat
had become a real problem. It was full of furniture and
there were no proper carpets and concrete floors. There
was even a hole in the bedroom wall. Friends
and family had given them furniture for the flat, but they
had so much the flat was rammed. You could hardly open the
front door. I had to get them thinking about sorting out
their home and take their minds of the neighbourhood dispute.'
Antagonists
in the dispute were sent warning letters to deter them from
displaying further antisocial behaviour while Mike and Nikkie
and other neighbours were asked to make logs of any antisocial
behaviour that would provide evidence if further legal action
was needed. Meanwhile, CSO Knox used funding set aside for
community projects to transform Mike and Nikkie's house
in one weekend in November.
Newton
Farm Information Centre gave a van and driver to help take
away all the old, unwanted furniture and to bring in new
items, which had been supplied by the Full House recycling
charity. Mike and Nikkie saved up and bought some new furniture,
their families bought them some and even Sam Knox gave them
some ornaments. Meanwhile, local contractors agreed to give
their time for free, laying carpets and plastering. Mike
said, 'We worked really hard that weekend to get the flat
ready for the baby coming. People we had never met were
helping; it was brilliant.' Their baby, Kasey was born on
23rd November.
CSO
Knox's efforts have brought peace back to the street. Nikkie
says, 'It's been a big change: we don't worry anymore. Life's
a lot better. We look forward to coming home instead of
dreading it. Doing the flat has helped us focus on the important
stuff in life and we're getting on a lot better with our
neighbours. If it wasn't for Sam, none of this would have
happened. She was the only one who took an interest and
she's made the difference.'
Mike
added, 'If the flat was still bad when Kaysey was born,
it would have caused serious problems. But now life is a
lot better for all three of us. We are looking forward and
planning our future as a family.'
|
|

Looking forward to the future, Mike Holloway with baby, Kaysey and
CSO Sam Knox. |
27th
April 2011 |
JOIN THE FUN AT THE MAY FAIR IN HEREFORD... |
Heart-stopping rides, side-shows, food stalls and ancient
ceremonies are all part of the street extravaganza which
is Hereford's May Fair. The streets come alive during the
three day festival each year as thousands flock into the
city centre, some from other counties, to enjoy the festival
atmosphere and myriad of entertainment. Up to 200 showmen
and women from around the country will make their way to
Hereford to prepare for the grand opening on Tuesday, 3rd
May.
Abie
Danter, Chairman of the South Wales and Northern Ireland
Section of The Showman's Guild said, 'Once again we are
proud to present Hereford's annual May Fair, arriving Bank
Holiday Monday, 2nd May, when we start setting up at 6pm.
A warm welcome waits when you join us at this historic and
impressive traditional fun fair. Showmen from all over the
UK will give excitement, fun and laughter from riding the
heart-stopping white knuckles machines to bumper to bumper
fun, not forgetting the thrills of the children and traditional
rides. From rides to stalls, we have it all!'
The
official opening of the May Fair is at 3.45pm on Tuesday,
3rd May, outside All Saints Church. A ceremonial offering
of 12-and-a-half bushels of wheat is made by the Mayor to
the Lord Bishop as payment for allowing the fair to proceed.
To
ensure the smooth running of the festival, some of the city
streets will be closed from Monday, 2nd May, until the early
hours of Friday, 6th May. On Police advice, Widemarsh Street
(from its junction with Maylord Street) and Bewell Street
will be closed to traffic from 4.30 pm to 11pm on the evenings
of May 3rd, 4th and 5th. This will make High Street a safer
pedestrian area for fair goers.
Additionally,
the normal roads to be closed to traffic will be: Commercial
Street, High Town, St. Peter's Street, St. Owen Street,
Broad Street (below junction of West Street and East Street),
King Street and Bridge Street. Some parking/loading/unloading
areas will also be closed in Union Street and in the streets
mentioned above. All of these streets will be accessible
to emergency vehicles.
Advance
warning signs will be on all routes leading towards the
city centre advising of the closures. As in previous years,
diversion routes will not be signposted as, with so many
possible permutations, such signing would be too confusing
for motorists. All of the other city centre roads will operate
as near normal as possible.
Meanwhile,
the southern end of Berrington Street will be two way between
St Nicholas Street and Little Berrington Street. All of
Gwynne Street will be two way. While there will be a pinch
point at the St Nicholas Street end of Berrington Street,
the benefits of traffic using the Broad Street 'hinterland'
should outweigh any difficulties that may be experienced.
Motorists
are advised that there is likely to be congestion for traffic
using St Martins Street for access onto the A49.
Herefordshire
Council urges drivers to be patient and considerate on the
roads during the week of the fair.
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27th
April 2011 |
AONB HANDS ON HISTORY EVENT A ROARING SUCCESS. |
The first of the 40th anniversary celebration events, organized
by the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
and Overlooking the Wye at Old Station Tintern, thrilled
the crowds at a Hands on History event. Over 2000 people
attended and were thrilled by the ear splintering resound
of cannon and musket fire demonstrations, ably performed
by Sir William Pennyman's Regiment.
Alongside
living history demonstrations of civil war cooking and a
rather barbarous barber surgeon, displaying the gruesome
surgical techniques of the time, visitors enjoyed demonstrations
of paper making, 17th century portrait painting and the
art of the blacksmith. Families found lots to amuse from
face painting to local history information with the Destination
Wye Valley exhibition in the newly refurbished railway carriages.
Walks were organized along the River Wye to Tintern and
there was also a chance to relax in the glorious sunshine
and sample the superb food from the award winning Station
Café.
The
event gave the Wye Valley AONB an opportunity to demonstrate
their work over the last forty years and for the Overlooking
the Wye Heritage Partnership Scheme, a chance to show the
public their work on over forty projects throughout the
area. The second event, Iron Age Rampage will take place
at Symonds Yat Rock on Sunday, 22nd May when the Yat Rock
Iron Age hill fort will echo to the sounds of Iron Age and
Roman Britain. Living history demonstrations will be showing
us what life was like in that turbulent period. There will
also be a chance for anyone interested in archaeology to
come along and bring their own artefacts for identification
as well as an opportunity to take a tour of an iron age
site.
After
the Iron Age come the gorgeous Georgians. 'On the Way to
the Wye' is the third event in the series and will be held
in Ross on Wye on Saturday, 18th June. Fun, fiddle faddle,
frippery and foppery will be found at the Caroline Symonds
Gardens at Ross riverside. This jamboree will be demonstrating
various aspects of Georgian life and will also feature an
historical progression through the town with notable Georgian
celebrities such as John Kyrle, Coleridge and Nelson, led
by local historian and author Heather Hurley.
The
final event will be a Medieval Mayhem event at Chepstow
Castle on Sunday, 18th September, in partnership with the
European Heritage Open Doors Project. This event will feature
medieval re-enactments.
All
of the events are free and will be a great family day out.
For further information please log onto the website www.wyevalleyaonb.org.uk
or contact information officer Nikki Moore by emailing information@wyevalleyaonb.org.uk
or phoning 01600710846.
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Sir Pennyman's Order of Foot Soldiers. |

A
musket firing display. |

Lighting
the fuse on the cannon. |
27th
April 2011 |
STONE THROWN AT CAR |
West Mercia Police are appealing for witnesses after it
appears cones were placed on a Hereford road with the intention
of throwing stones at passing vehicles.
At
around 11pm on Monday, 25th April, a blue Peugeot 206 was
being driven by a woman in her teens along Hampton Park
Road towards Hereford town. As she passed Holywell Gutter
Lane, the vehicle in front slowed down to avoid some traffic
cones that had been placed in the road. As she did the same,
her front passenger window was smashed by a stone that was
thrown from behind a roadside hedge. She carried on and
stopped further along Hampton Park Road contacting family
and police, but when officers arrived at the scene any offenders
had made off.
PC
Ian Langford of Hereford Police Station said, 'It appears
the cones were placed in the road with the sole intention
of deliberately slowing down vehicles so stones could be
thrown at them. This was an extremely stupid and dangerous
thing to do. There was not only a great danger of injury
being caused to the driver but also potential to cause a
serious collision. The
young woman was fortunately not harmed on this occasion
but was left extremely shaken. I want to find those responsible.
If anyone saw suspicious activity on Hampton Park Road,
particularly around the Holywell Gutter Lane junction, please
contact me.'
Anybody
with information that could help, is asked to call PC Langford
on 0300 333 3000. Alternatively, please remember that Crimestoppers
can also be called anonymously on 0800 555 111 if you'd
prefer to pass on information without identifying yourself.
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