MADAM, On behalf of Ross-in-Bloom I would like to

thank everyone who supported the Markets held at the

Market House on Friday, November 28th and Sunday,

November 30th. Special thanks go to all of those who

braved the very cold winds to stand with their stalls until

after lunch.

Macmillan held their annual draw during the

afternoon in the Heritage Centre and I was delighted to

be able to go along and pull out the winning tickets.

It was my first real visit out since my hospital stay

and it was lovely to see so many familiar faces.

Special thanks should go to Lyn Tomlinson and the

Mayor and Mayoress, John and Hannah Davies, who very

kindly stepped in to give my usual thanks in person to

stall holders. I was unfortunately not feeling up to coming

out until later in the day. I hear they did sterling work

though.

I have been told the Christmas Tree Festival was

superb and I would like to take this opportunity to thank

Lyn and Sue Parker for handmaking all the decorations

from recycled materials and erecting the tree for Ross-in-

Bloom. It has been transferred to the Heritage Centre

until Christmas. Ross Garden Store certainly made sure

we had a lovely tree to work on.

Finally I would like to thank all of those who have

helped by collecting Morrisons Vouchers for the John

Kyrle School Garden Projects towards Britain in Bloom

2009. Mary Sinclair Powell tells me that nearly 1,200 have

been collected so far and given to the school from our

supporters alone. I believe they have over 9,000

altogether.

If anyone finds they still have some lurking in their

handbags, purses or pockets, Mary is still collecting them

at the Heritage Centre, and we can still take them in the

shop (Lucas Motorcycles), and she will be delivering the

final few to the school before they start their Christmas

Break on December 19th. Mrs Gwinnett can then make

the decision on what to spend them on at the start of the

new term after Christmas.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone

a Very Happy Christmas and a Blooming Good New Year. I

will be back fighting fit – so beware!

Margaret Lucas, Chairman Ross-in-Bloom