MADAM, What a really marvellous reception the people of Ross gave to the Olympic Torch on Friday.

As I walked down Gloucester Road and High Street handing out union flags all that could be seen was a host of flags being enthusiastically waved by thousands of children, and of course similar numbers of residents of the Town.

We have not seen such a large group of people in the Town for many years and the party atmosphere was simply contagious with many of the shop keepers coming out to watch the progress of the torch and providing some of the children with refreshments. It was even more wonderful to see Ness Brann, an athlete from Ross-on-Wye, carrying the flame down the main street of Ross-on-Wye, with her family watching from a viewing point by the Market House; they must have been very proud.

There was a great deal of preparation that made the event such a success and I would like to publicly thank all those people who helped on the day and in the preparations prior to the event.

There were over sixty stewards who volunteered headed by Colin Gray, who worked hard all through the event, the Police were very helpful and Sainsbury's provided a trolley load of bottled water for the people helping on this really hot day. Andy Atkinson and members of ART should also be thanked for festooning the town with bunting

But most of all thank yourselves for providing the wonderful welcome to the Olympic Torch on this historic occasion.

As the stilt walker was heard to say "Ross did the torch proud; better than any other town in the county".

Well done Ross-on-Wye

David Ravenscroft

Mayor of Ross-on-Wye