The Ross Gazette has been following the progress of the Herefordshire Exhibition since MEP Anthea McIntyre secured the hot spot to showcase the county in the centre of the European Parliament.

26 students from Hereford College of Arts travelled to Brussels on Sunday, February 17th to express their creativity in the heart of the Parliament.

Their inspiration arose from consultations with local businesses and organisations, as well as many residents across Herefordshire.

The exhibition was a bold and sensory representation of the county, and had abstract sculptural forms and film that featured the past, present, and future of Herefordshire. It included Ross-on-Wye apples, important for Ross cider, blackcurrants from Jo Hilditch of Whittern Estate, the cow hide of a Herefordshire bull, Sessile Oak sourced from Whitney Saw Mill, Hops, Ryelands Wool from Leominster and soil from the South West of the county.

Ross-on-Wye Jewellery Design student, Victoria Hopkins, told the Ross Gazette how proud she was to be part of such a creative exhibition that highlighted Herefordshire not just to Europe, but to the rest of the world.

Also representing Herefordshire in the Parliament was the county’s High Sheriff, Nat Hone, and various councillors and representatives from Herefordshire Council, including the Chairman, Brian Wilcox.

The Principal for the Hereford-based Royal National College for the Blind, Mark Fisher, also attended, as well as Former Vice President, Deputy Lieutenant of the European Historic Houses, James Hervey-Bathurst. Mark Forrester, local business owner and member of the Chamber of Commerce shared his thoughts about the county’s agricultural sector, and Anthea’s husband, Frank Myers, Chairman of the Herefordshire Business Board shared his favourite things about Herefordshire, as did Jo Hilditch from British Cassis, and the soft fruit grower, Anthony Snell. Castle House Hotel representatives, George Watkins and Thomas Geoffrey attended too, along with former Mayor of Ledbury, MEP Kay Swinburne, who Anthea described as a 'great friend and colleague'.

Anthea said: "Every MEP can have a space, and this is the best one, to have an exhibition, and I’ve never done one until now.

"I have to say, although I represent the entire West Midlands, Herefordshire has always been my home and where my heart is. I wanted us to share Herefordshire with the rest of Europe.

"This includes all that we have to offer in terms of produce, as well as the fact it’s a brilliant tourist venue, and a great opportunity for business and investment."

To achieve it, Anthea approached the Hereford College of Arts, who she said ’rose to the challenge’.

Speeches were made, before all of the visitors had a chance to try out different snacks and drinks made in Herefordshire.

This was followed by an evening meal where a toast was made to the hard work of all of the organisers, especially Anthea and the College students and staff.