The upcoming weekend of Saturday July 13th and Sunday 14th is a busy one for those in and around Ross-on-Wye.

For the first time since it began, The annual Violette Szabo Memorial Picnic will take place in July, on Sunday, 14th, rather than the Sunday nearest to Violette’s birthday.

This year the theme of the Gathering will be Friendship, and as always Miss Rigby has attracted a range of interesting and varied speakers who will share their thoughts on this subject and about Violette.

The ceremony always includes a reading of the poem ‘The Life That I Have’ from the film ‘Carve Her Name with Pride’ by the star, and great friend to the Violette Szabo Museum, Virginia McKenna.

The Ross-on-Wye Country Music Festival is also taking place this weekend.

Held in memory of Colin Gray, it will take place at Ross Sports Centre in Wilton.

The Festival, which offers weekend camping too, will have stalls, fast draw, lots of marquees and night security and is featuring many artists.

All profits go towards St Michael’s Hospice. Paddy Nugent of St Michael’s Hospice said that as of January, 2019, £46,737.40 has been raised for St Michael’s Hospice in donations that include the Ross Country Music Festival and the Ross Country Music Club. He said: “Let’s get it to £50,000 in the 35th year of the Hospice.”

Gorsley Baptist Church and Gorsley Goffs Primary School are excited to be celebrating their bicentenary with events which are open to all on Saturday, July 13th, starting at 2pm. There will also be a Proms in the Park beginning at 5.30pm and a live band in the evening. The school fair includes an exhibition featuring pupils past and present, full of school photos, stories and local history.

Also on Saturday, an Open Day will be held at the Fire Station is Ross-on-Wye from 10am to 4pm, for visitors to meet their local firefighters, see the crew’s new fire engines and learn about the equipment there.

Organisers have arranged lots to do for all the family, and there will be child-friendly fire engine rides around town too.

A spokesperson from Ross Fire Station said: "Please come down and see your local fire service. We will be doing a number or demos from Road Traffic Collision (RTC) to chip pan fires." There will also be an opportunity to ride in fire engines.

Read more about these events and upcoming ones in this week’s Ross Gazette.