October

Saku Chandrasekara represented Herefordshire on the television screen by competing on the 14th series of the Great British Bake-off.

Saku made it to the final six before being eliminated from the show, however her unique cooking style, which incorporates traditional Sir Lankan flavours into her bakes, as well as her interactions with Noel Fielding and Paul Hollywood made her a popular figure for viewers of the show.

Saku said in a BBC interview that she had “made thousands of lovely memories”, and Saku will no doubt continue to innovate and craft new recipes whilst juggling with her life as an intelligence analysis for Herefordshire County Council.

The Ross Rowling Club received international recognition after winning the Renzo Ottino Award at a disability event in Turin, Italy.

The squad brought home an impressive 14 medals, including seven golds, as well as the Renzo Ottino Award itself on top of the President’s award.

One of the rowers, Sue “Wheels” Wheeler, said that the club “gave me a new interesting in life and now this Turin trip and three medals!”

November

Young artist George Carmichael, who attends John Kyrle High School, spent an estimated 14 to 15 hours on a masterful painting of Joaquin Pheonix’s Joker.

The Year 8 student also created a similar oil painting piece of Vegeta, a character from famous anime Dragon Ball Z, and the student hopes to draw anime professionally after he graduates, and to break-through into the highly competitive Japanese and South-Korean markets.

In the meantime, George is planning on painting Heath Ledger’s version of the Joker character, who he describes as his favourite depiction.

November also saw the story of local boy who had battle serious illness be able to light up Ross town this Christmas after turning on the town’s lights at the Christmas Fayre.

Alfie McDonald suffered a serious prolonged seizure which caused damaged to the left-side of his brain due to a gene mutation he was born with.

Alfie spent nine weeks in hospital and a further 12 weeks at the Children’s Trust for rehab, but Alfie is recovering well, with him regaining full neck control and being able to start to crawl and develop his speech significantly.

Alfie being chosen to turn on the Christmas lights in Ross highlights a glistening sign of hope after what has been a hugely traumatic time for him and his family.

December

400-people turned out in soggy conditions for the annual Santa Fun run in Monmouth.

The event was ran for mental-health charity Mind Monmouth and saw people of all ages, some in Christmas-theme garb, traverse the loop course from Monnow Bridge to the High Street, and back around through Vauxhall Fields.