The better weather is tempting us all into the outdoors for a bit of exercise and it needn’t be too strenuous. The sport of pétanque or French boules can be relaxed and sociable or as competitive as you want to make it. 

Wilton Bridge Petanque Club is part of Ross Sports Centre, off Wilton Road. It has excellent pistes, shelter, parking and access to toilets. Members meet on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and Friday morning. Newcomers are welcome, regardless of experience, and friendly guidance and coaching can be given. 

The club is holding an OPEN DAY at 10am on Tuesday, May 21st. with equipment provided and members on hand to help explain the rules. It will be a good opportunity for anyone interested to see what an enjoyable game petanque can be.

Ross Parishes continues to foster a sense of community and spiritual nourishment with a diverse range of events and activities scheduled for the upcoming week. From virtual prayers to physical gatherings, there’s something for everyone seeking solace and connection.

On Wednesday, May 8:

8:45-10:15am: Kickstart your day with Toast & Toddle at St Mary’s—an opportunity for parents and toddlers to come together for a morning of fun and companionship.

11am-12:30pm: Craft @ St Mary’s held at St Mary’s Church. 

On Thursday, May 9:

10:00am: Attend the Eucharist at Markye Chapel, St Mary’s, to partake in a solemn communion.

11:45am: Connect with the St Mary’s Thursday Prayer group via Zoom. Visit rossparishes.uk/worship/prayer for participation details.

On Friday, May 10:

6:30pm-7:30pm: Join the Youth Choir rehearsal at St Mary’s—a platform for young voices to harmonise and express themselves.

7:00-8:00pm: Fine-tune your vocal talents at Choir practice, also held at St Mary’s.

On Saturday, May 11:

9:30am-1pm: The Year of Faith teaching day with Bishop Richard at St Mary’s Hall and St Mary’s Church.

On Sunday, May 12:

8:00am: Commence the day with Holy Communion at St Mary’s, a tranquil service steeped in tradition and reverence.

At 9:30am is the Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s.

Also at 9:30am: The Parish Eucharist at St Michael’s, Walford.

On Tuesday, May 14:

9:00-11:00am: Tea & Toast and browse the Community Larder at St Mary’s Hall—a welcoming space for nourishment and fellowship.

Ross Parishes invites all members of the community to partake in these enriching experiences, fostering connections and nurturing the spirit.

The Ross Town Band is kicking off this year's Bands in the Park, free outdoor summer concert series at The Band Stand (HR9 7BX) with a special  pre-season concert on Sunday, May 12.

The concert will be held between 2:30pm and 4:30pm. They look forward to seeing you there. 

Ross Photo Club held their final competition of the year last week called Image of the Year. 

This is a new competition which had a high number of entries from members of the club. 

The evening was judged by Peter Young, who was fair with his comments and he picked the top images of the evening, leaving the members to pick the winner. 

This honour went to Gareth Nutt who was presented with a bottle of something red by Peter on behalf of the club. 

Ross Photo Club meets on a Wednesday from 7:30pm until 9:30pm at Walford Village Hall, Walford, Herefordshire, HR9 5QS,. New members are welcomed and can go along to two sessions free of charge. An annual membership is £40 but is reduced if you start mid season, and £3 for each session you attend. An under 16s memberships £10 for the season but they must be accompanied by an adult. A non-participating adult accompanying doesn’t need to pay a fee. 

On the Ross Photo Club website, it says: If you like photography, whether you are a beginner or someone who has been taking photographs for a while, then you have come to the right place.

“Our membership ranges from people who are just starting their interest in photograph to those who have been doing it for many years. 

“Our friendly club, on the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire border, meets on a weekly basis between the months of September and May. Project Group meets on the first Thursday of the month and runs most of the year.”

All club members are invited to take part and have a go at one of the competitions. Judges give feedback on the photography entered which can be used to help you learn to take better images.

For more information visit their website and got to their ‘Contact Us’ section: https://www.rossphotoclub.org/-competitions/912450 or have a look at the Ross Photo Club Facebook page to see some of the photos already produced by members of the club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rossphotoclub/.

“We saw this quote recently and it resonated somehow. Lots of people who have started to choose the bus and leave the car at home from time to time have told us how the minute they get on the bus it feels like they're having  little holiday. 

Someone else is doing the driving, obviously - worrying about avoiding the potholes, navigating the roadworks and finding a place to park. 

And from the lofty perch of your bus seat you get a better view of the countryside than even the most mammoth Chelsea tractor can offer.

You'll be amazed at how often you bump into someone you haven't seen for ages on the bus - and what fun it can be just sitting and quietly earwigging on conversations going on around you. 

And that's all before you've even got anywhere!

This month we have a wonderful array of things do do down the line - from battle reenactments to beer festivals, and open gardens to Orchestra concerts. Check it all out on our "Whats On" pages. 

And if you fancy a little quiet time in nature, go find some bluebells - they are still looking amazing around Newent lake and in Dymock woods - wild garlic thrown in for good measure too!

Have fun this month - you don't have to go far on the bus to get away from it all!

Best Wishes, The Daffodil Line Team.”

The Daffodil Line, also known as the 232 Ledbury to Ross via Newent bus, has been heralded a saviour by many of it’s regular users in its first year of service. 

The links from Newent to Ross and Ledbury were severed in 2022 by Stagecoach leaving many people abandoned. 

The Daffodil Line relaunched in April 2023 and has since carried 43,000 in the first year of service or over 800 per week.

The Daffodil Line was set up by Buses4Us, a community acton group set up in 2022 in response to drastic rural bus service cuts. 

It now operates weekdays, Sundays and Bank holidays from Ledbury Railway station to Cantilupe Road, Ross-on-Wye via Newent. Timetables are available on the Buses4us.org website.