Representatives of the Ross-based charity, Hope Support Services, were thrilled to be presented with a cheque for £3028 by the organisers of CAMRA’s Beer on the Wye Festival Committee.

Herefordshire CAMRA were invited by the Mayor of Hereford, Councillor Jim Kenyon, to the Mayor’s Parlour at the Town Hall on August 25th where he thanked the committee for staging this year’s very successful Festival, which promoted Herefordshire and attracted people from far and wide to Hereford.

The donation was handed to Sammy Jay Powell, Youth Development Officer of Hope Support Services, which was the committee’s chosen charity again this year. She was accompanied to the presentation by many of Hope’s young volunteers who put in a considerable effort at the festival every year, and therefore it was also an opportunity to thank them.

Andrew Pearson, Chairman of Herefordshire CAMRA said how grateful he was to the Mayor of Hereford for his hospitality and for the generous praise he gave to all those who helped to make Beer on the Wye such a success. He said:?“As a publican and brewer himself, Jim is well placed to understand the huge amount of work the Festival involves.”

The visitors were all given a tour of the archives by Mayor’s Officer, Roger Stokes, who showed them the collection of silverware that the city holds from past Mayors, former societies and the long disbanded Hereford Militia. For many the most fascinating items were the charters, including one dating back to 1189 presented to the city by Richard I.

They were intrigued to hear that the 1189 Charter requires the city to send 40 pieces of silver annually to the Crown, which was amended in Cromwell’s time to a payment to the Merchant Taylors Guild. The City Council now sends the Guild a cheque for £40 every October.