Breaking news and regular columns, diary dates and local links are all on our website www.jaba.org.uk

N e w s a n d v i e w s f r o m ‘ T h e V i l l a g e i n t h e C i t y ’ • I s s u e 1 8 • S p r i n g 2 0 0 7

St James and Bartonsham Community News

The Volunteer Inn

HOMECOOKED FOOD - NEW WINTER MENUIncluding vegetarian & vegan dishes

FROM 12 EVERYDAY~~~

Monday Night Pub QuizMondays @ 8.30pm with M.C. Leo

~~~Wednesday Night Curry and a pint £5.50

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12pm every Sunday~~~

WITH A RANGE OF CASK ALES

The Volunteer Inn, Harold Street, HerefordOpposite the T.A. CentreTel: 01432 276189

has pledged its support on the Connect 2 site, in addition toHerefordshire Council, H & W Chamber of Commerce, CycleHereford, and the Green party. "There are obviously some veryenlightened healthcare professionals in Hereford, who recognisethe enormous potential for acheiving public health targets,through walking and cycling. We are also blessed with lots ofcyclists who are supporting this project, because many rememberthe joy when they first started cycling on roads that were

Bid for new River Wye bridge

Your opinions count and your vote is vital

Thursday 3 May: the day whenYOU can make a difference

THE VICTORYHEREFORD’S LOCAL BOOZER

www.spinningdogbrewery.co.uk

88 St Owen’s Street • 01432 274998 • 07711 316013

JABA - lasts longer than a BAJA

What’s OnCan you supply us withdetails of a local event? Thenget in touch (details on page 2).We have done our best toensure the accuracy ofinformation, but mistakes canhappen. Please check with theorganisers before travelling.

Page 8

• APRIL2 April - Community Association, Local Elections Talk. Riverside Centre (WRVS) 7.45pm7 April - Flicks in the Sticks - "Little Miss Sunshine". Venue - Riverside Centre, doors 7pm. Unreserved seating and all tickets£3.50 on door. Films subject to availability. Contact 01432 35810412 April - Rail for Hfds, 7.30pm Green Dragon Hotel. www.railforherefordshire.org.16 April - St James School summer term begins28 April - Flicks in the Sticks - "The Devil Wears Prada".Details as for 7 April

• MAYNo Community Association meeting3 May - Local Elections - get out and vote!10 May - Rail for Hfds, details as for April19 May - Rainbow Nursery, fundraising 70s party/disco.See page 2 for details25 May - St James School half term starts

• JUNE4 June - Community Association. Bike ride and talk.Details as for April (but earlier time tba)4 June - St James School - back to school14 June - Rail for Hfds, details as for April17 June - Rainbow Nursery Playgroup Summer fete,Scout's Corner 2 - 5pm17 - 25 June - National Bike Week, for local events see www.cyclehereford.com23 June - St James School Summer Fete, 12 - 2pm24 June - Friends of Castle Green Midsummer Fair, 10am onwards. See page 5 for details

www.cyclehereford.com

the complete printing serviceand more...

• stationery • leaflets • mailers • posters • newsletters • brochures • prospectuses • calendars • books

• magazines • exhibition panels

Tel: 01432 272025126 Widemarsh Street, Hereford HR4 9HNEmail: enquiries@printplushereford.co.ukwww.printplushereford.co.uk

FOR ALL YOURLEGAL NEEDS

38 High StreetBromyard HR7 4AETel: 01885 488442

Opening Hours: 8.45am - 5.00pm (Hereford)9.00am - 5.00pm (Bromyard)

Disabled Parking available in Offa StreetWheelchair access to Hereford office

www.beaumonts-solicitors.co.uk

Beaumont HouseOffa Street

Hereford HR1 2LHTel: 01432 352345

Sunday lunch eat in or take

away.

Delivery service also

available.

A choice of meats,

all delivered to your

door for £6.

Many award winning

ales including Hereford

organic bitter and

Mutley’s Revenge.

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Easter Church ServicesThurs 5 April Maundy Thursday Communion 7.30pm St JamesFri 6 April Good Friday Meditations 2-3pm St Peter's

Good Friday Meditations 7pm St JamesSat 7 April Easter Eve Thanksgiving 7pm St JamesSun 8 April Easter Day service 8am St Peter's

Easter Day service 9am St JamesEaster Day service 10.30amSt JamesEaster Day service 10.30amSt Peter'sEaster Day service 6.30pm St James

For local Art, Cinema, Dance, Music, Theatre and Word listings, why not pick up a copy of Broad Sheep magazine from Bartonsham Stores orFodder or visit www.broadsheep.comJABA 2007 SCHEDULEJABA Summer 19 published 4 June. Copy deadline 1 MayJABA Autumn 20 published 3 September. Copy deadline 1 AugustJABA Winter 21 published 3 December. Copy deadline 1 November

Silver Moon Designer JewelleryHigh Town, Hereford (now outside Starbucks)

Imported by us, better prices for you

Beautiful and unusual gifts for yourself and others

Herefordshire’s finest selection of real ales and

ciders right on your doorstep.

Many pub games played and new team members

always welcome.

Brewery visits available on request.

A warm, friendly welcome from Jim, Helen and

the team.

Just a few reasons to visit The Victory this

Spring.

Look forward to seeing you.

relatively free of cars. Please keep the pledges of support cominginto the Connect 2 site as your vote will be the one that makes the difference." Paula is a lone Sustrans ranger here in Hereford and, although there is not much of the National Cycle Network hereyet, she hopes the Connect 2 project will soon provide vital linkslocally and also to the remainder of the NCN.

Local elections are coming, for both District Wards and Parish Councils and there has never been a more important time to getout and vote. We're all drowning in bureaucracy and we needCouncillors who can cut though it and help deliver sensiblesolutions to increasingly complicated problems. If over the lastfour years you've moaned about or applauded Asda and theensuing traffic chaos, the High Town refurbishment, theforthcoming flood defences, cycling facilities or 101 other things,they're all down to decisions made by elected Councillors. Withhuge developments planned for Hereford over the next fewyears we need Councillors able to take tough decisions, able tostand up to the money men and willing to do the best for the long term benefit of Hereford. Your vote really does count.

LIVE MUSIC EVERY SAT FROM 8.45PM

For Christenings, birthday parties etc -

back bar available - ring for details.

Providers of outside bars for events.

“A PUB MAKING WAVES”

Welcome to our Nursery at Scouts Corner, Eign Road, HerefordOpen Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

9.15am to 1.15pmQuality assured and Ofsted Registered

Visitors welcome, no appointment necessaryWe are hoping to extend our opening hours and we’d like your

views on what hours/days would be convenientContact Janet, Jane and Teresa on 07866844668 or

email playgrouprainbow@aol.com

• Free Taster Sessions •

Rainbow NurseryA traditional Playgroup

Sustrans, the UK's leading sustainable transport charity, haveidentified a need for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over theRiver Wye and has shortlisted it for consideration, along with 140other Sustrans Connect2 projects across the UK. They areplanning to alter the river bridge currently carrying only sewagepipes just east of Bartonsham to allow access to cross the riverand join existing and new cycle routes and footpaths. Sustransare calling for communities to vote on the 140 shortlistedprojects, which will be narrowed down to about 75 by May 2007by voting, and so your opinions count and your vote is vital.They want your comments, opinions and feedback submitted tothem online at their website, which is accessible fromwww.cyclehereford.com website, click on the Connect2 logo orthe link in the right hand column for information and a map andthen click on the 'Pledge your support' button to do just that.Sustrans also want local businesses and groups to support thebid and local cycle trainer and Sustrans Ranger, Paula McGivern,is delighted at the news that the local NHS Primary Care Trust

-Newsletter Issue 18 3/12/07 2:58 PM Page 1

Breaking news and regular columns, diary dates and local links are all on our website www.jaba.org.ukPage 2

JABA 18 St Owen’s Street contraflow cycle laneFollowing on from last issue's article, a public consultation was launched by the Council on 4 January and we were given until just15 January to respond. The scheme on offer was the one that hadbeen firmly rejected by the Community Travel Plan team and localtraders. Such a short time scale and very poorly publicityprompted many complaints from, amongst others, cycle actiongroup Cycle Hereford, following which the Council extended theperiod by a further 2 weeks, closing on 3 February. TheCommunity Association objected to the proposal on safety grounds(putting bikes between cars and pavement) and because thereapeared to be little attempt to portray shared space, priorities forpedestrians, traffic calming etc. The City Council (as distinct fromthe District Council) subsequently met and also rejected the schemeon offer. Cllr David Fleet, leader of Hereford City Council wasreported by the Hereford Times as saying "In this case, we feel thescheme did not provide a safe route and we think a more detailedlook at some of the alternatives would be appropriate and couldhopefully provide a long-term and sustainable solution forcyclists." It does seem that at last some Councillors are taking thelonger view that many have been arguing for for some while andwe can only applaud the City Council for holding out for a betterscheme. Whether or not the Cabinet Member responsible for the final decision takes any notice of them, or indeed other objectors, is another matter.

Thanks to continuing support from advertisersand some new faces on the editorial team,we're still here with news and information from our small but perfectly formed community.We're planning to again bring you fourquarterly issues through the course of thisyear, highlighting local issues, events andinformation as well as a little light trivia.

If you'd like to contribute, do please let us haveyour articles, comments, queries, letters orideas you want to share by letter or email.

JABA is an independent community newspaperfunded by advertising and delivered to around1800 homes and businesses in the St Jamesand Bartonsham area of Hereford. We do try toensure the accuracy of the information in thesepages, which is printed in good faith. In the case of any errors or omissions, we'll correctthem at the first opportunity.

Advertising1/4 page = £30, 1/8 = £16, 1/16 = £11. Rates for larger ads on application. Community information is free of charge,subject to space being available.Contact: ads@jaba.org.uk.

Next issue - Summer JABA 19Copy deadline: 1 May.

Community AssociationThe CA usually meet on the first Monday of themonth, generally with a guest speaker, at theRiverside Centre, 7.45pm. For 2007, meetings or events are proposed for 2 April, 4 June, 3September and 26 November. Look on thenoticeboard, website and local windows for details. For all enquiries about the CA, contactthe Secretary, tel Hfd 264146, email:secretary@jaba.org.uk.

CreditsProduced by Tim & Faith Ford, Pam Hughes,Toni Cook, John Martin and Paul Towner, withdistribution by Jean Ellis. Treasurer: Carolyn Hattersley. Thanks to all our contributors anddistributors.

Contact usJABA Community NewsTel 01432 264146 • www.jaba.org.ukEmail: editor@jaba.org.uk

Central Ward is ...

Rainbow Nursery News

1277 households of 2505 people1184 males and 1319 females19.5% of the population are 19 andunder61.3% of the population are aged 20-64 years19.2% are 65 and over

96.3% of the population are white1.1% are mixed ethnicity0.9% Asian or Asian British0.8% Black or Black British0.8% Chinese or other ethnicity

10.1% say their health is not good22.1% have a long term limitingillness

47.7% are owner occupiers0.8% shared ownership22.1% social housing22.5% private tenants6.8% rented other

Source 2001 Census. Next issueTupsley Ward.

This contraflow cycle lane was was one of the key desires identified in ourCommunity Travel Plan surveys in 2003. Obfuscation by the Council has seenmany of the desires stalling but the CTP team are valiantly persevering. We hadhoped to bring you a fuller analysis of the survey from last September but spaceis against us. It will be posted online shortly at www.jaba.org.uk, click on'Community Travel Plan' in the right hand column. We'll also be posting aninterim update of CTP plans. If you have a question or want to offer support please email us or tel Paul Towner, Chair of the CTP on Hfd 273676.

This serves four and is great with anything!

Trim roots and cut off most of green stems of 8 medium leeks. Wash carefully andsimmer for 10-15 min in salted boiling water. They are done when just tender but stillfirm - not veering to soggy. Drain and dry. Beat an egg, turn the leeks in it, coat thicklywith about 4-6 tablespoons of breadcrumbs (brown or white).

Chill in fridge for about an hour. Can be left longer to fit in with meal time. Melt 2 oz orso of butter (and splash of olive oil if you like) in large frying pan and fry and turn tillthe leeks are golden brown and crispy. Serve hot, either on their own, as a vegetable,or sprinkled with grated cheese of any type.

To keep best green bits of leeks to add to soups, stir-fries, risottos, quiches etc.,chop, wash and blanch in little boiling water or steam for 1 minute, drain and freeze for another day.

Breaking news and regular columns, diary dates and local links are all on our website www.jaba.org.uk Page 3

The Cooking Column - crispy leeks

www.w-v-v.org.uk - Wye Valley Veggieswww.flightsorchardorganics.co.uk - vegbox delivered to your doorwww.4-sf.co.uk - 4 Seasons Food, Cantilupe Streetwww.ciderroute.co.uk - Hfds Cider Routewww.herefordshirehealthyschools.org.uk- Hfds Healthy Schoolswww.cookawayfoodbreaks.co.uk - learn to cookwww.cafegreen.co.uk - Cafe Green, St Owens Streetwww.visitherefordshire.co.uk - Hfds Official Tourism sitewww.tyrrellspotatochips.co.uk - Tyrells Potato Chips

4 Seasons Food is a welcome addition to Cantilupe Street providing friendly service and excellent local foods and other groceries. Sarah and Stuart Deacon offer a personal service to the local community. Home delivery is available either by visiting the shop or their website (www.4-sf.co.uk) with 5% discount to registered loyaltycard holders until the end of April. A monthly newsletter will alsobe available with recipes.

They are currently setting up a charity with the aim to assisting specific concerns within Herefordshire relating to food and environmental factors through education. They also have aninterest in the needs of vulnerable groups in Herefordshire eg theelderly and the homeless and hope to work with other localcharities. Sarah said ‘We very much see this as a community shop’.

Fresh produce such as meat, free range chicken, dairy produce,bread and cakes, fruit and vegetables are all stocked with a widerange of other goods also available. Tea and coffee are also servedso why not pop in to see what is on offer! Faith Ford

What’s white and green and cooks like a dream? Am I right inthinking that leeks would not be uppermost in everybody’s mind?The poor old leek gets a mixed press, some love them to bits andsome think they’re the most boring vegetable ever created, it alldepends on what we do with them. The Spanish smother themwhole (minus most of the green) in butter and black pepper, wrapthem in paper or foil and roast in the oven; the French lovesimmering them in red wine with smoked bacon, salt, pepper and apinch of cloves; the Italians enjoy them served with the white stemsboiled, drained and drizzled with olive oil and wine vinegar, blackpepper and course sea salt - served hot or cold any time of day ornight. Who needs asparagus? Leeks are one of the easiestvegetables to grow, have a long winter season, when not much elsegreen is about and are a useful source of potassium and folate. TheRomans used them to cure sore throats and this recipe will put ironin your soul - a bit fiddly, but worth it. Mo Burns

Ten local foodie websites of interest

4 Seasons Food - Slow Food for All

No computer or no internet?Remember there is

free internet accessat

The Riverside Centre (WRVS) every Thursday

9am to 3pmUse it to visit our website

www.jaba.org.uk

The Playgroup is having a '70sparty/disco on Saturday 19 May as a fundraising event. The party will beheld in the Skittle Alley of The Volunteer. Tickets £2 entry plus raffle.

Summer FeteThe Rainbow Nursery PlaygroupSummer Fete will be held on Sunday17 June 2-5pm at Scout's Corner.Everyone welcome!

St James' Church CoffeeMornings

Held on the 1st Saturday of eachmonth from 10am until noon in the Church. Excellent tea, coffee, cakeand biscuits. All welcome!

Apartments in St Owen’s Street?

Planning permission is being soughtto convert 130 St Owen’s Street to 5 apartments with a new vehicularaccess and parking off St James Road (taking away on-street parking).

Hfd Assoc for the Blind

Need a volunteer leader for the VIPclub which meets at Brierley Court on the 1st Wednesday of themonth, 10.15am - 2pm. Meal provided. Anyone interested in talkingabout this opportunity, please contact Mrs Pam Cartwright, tel01432 268371.

4 SEASONS FOODFARMER’S MARKET MEETS

TRADITIONAL GROCERYSHOP

For a refreshing shopping experience please visit our new grocer’s shop in Hereford.

We stock a wide range of products catering formost dietary requirements.

Our purchasing criteria is for it to be:

FRESH • LOCAL • SEASONAL • SUSTAINABLE

You may think that a small grocery shop offering time to treat each and every customer

with care is going to be expensive!Pay us a visit just check out our prices and

you should be pleasantly surprised.Find us at the corner of

Cantilupe & St Owen’s Street

Monday to Saturday - 8am until 7pmSunday - 10am until 2pm

FRESH LOCAL PRODUCTS NATURALLY ...

www.4-sf.co.uk

-Newsletter Issue 18 3/12/07 2:58 PM Page 3

Breaking news and regular columns, diary dates and local links are all on our website www.jaba.org.ukPage 4

Part 1 of this article sees intrepid local cyclists Malcolm and Ali preparing for the off on their epic journey of over 3000 miles.

Equipped with a day's experience on a borrowed tandem and a lotof naïve optimism, we decided that to mark the start of our lives together a tandem ride would be ideal. Where should we go? We decided that Hereford to Morocco had a suitably epic sound to it.How far was that?We did somemeasurements andit seemedsurprisinglyreasonable (in factwe had beenreading the mapscale wrongly and itwas twice thedistance, but weonly found this outonce we were wellon the way through France). Friends regaled us with tales of bikehelmets melting on their heads in the heat of the Spanish interior.And what about the luggage? Should we pile everything onto atrailer? How many changes of clothes were we allowed? Should wetake mobile phones/satnavs/laptops?

Eventually, taking the advice of Robin Thorn, maker of our tandemand a man who knows a thing or two about bike touring, wedecided to go ruthlessly minimalist. Out went the electronics (savefor a camera), all but two changes of clothes each, and whatcamping and cooking gear we needed for day to day survival. We

experimented packing it into our four panniers, and it fitted, just.

The weekend of the departure suddenly was on us, and it felt like there was still lots of things left to do, tying up the loose ends of our lives in a way that would allow us to take six months off. To cap it all we both had streaming colds and felt dreadful. But we realized we just had to do it: shut the front door behind us and wobble off into the warm light of a May evening, en route for the Forest of Dean and the first campsite of the hundreds we wouldstay in on our way south. Part 2 next issue ...

St James to Gibraltar - by tandem!

The Fruit Basket opens in Mill Street

The Fruit Basket, formerly Taylor’s Fruit Shop in Mill Street, has a new lease of life. Theresa Harries, who grew up in the area and still lives in Hereford with her husband and three daughters, has taken over the shop and will run it with familiar face, Anne.

"What appealed to me about the St James area is the fantastic sense of community and The Fruit Basket is right at the heart of it." says Theresa. The Fruit Basket is more than just a fruit and veg shop and Theresa has big plans, "People lead busy lives and a little extra help never goes a miss! The Fruit Basket has a weekly recipe boardto give busy customers new ideas with fruit and veg, and of coursewe would welcome any suggestions! We have a box schemeavailable with a complete selection; ranging from a small box to alarge box for a growing family. I have upgraded the quality ofproduce available, with seasonal local produce and, if requested,organic vegetables."The Fruit Basket even has free delivery forthose in the local area as well as good quality flowers for alloccasions. Visit The Fruit Basket for your weekly fruit, veg andflowers and a friendly face. Pam Hughes

Breaking news and regular columns, diary dates and local links are all on our website www.jaba.org.uk Page 5

Castle Green Clippings - news fromFriends of Castle Green

Midsummer Fayre 2007It’s March already so things aregearing up for the Summer Fayre. We’ve chosen a date - Saturday 30June and again we shall be havingmusic from local bands, a largemarket area and the usualattractions for children and thewhole family. This year we wouldlike to throw the stalls open to anycommunity groups that want topromote the work they are doing inHereford and the surroundingareas. In order to make this asaccessible as possible, we shall be the stalls at a slightly discountedrate for all groups that will not be trading on the day. Of course isyou want to sell things or do fundraising, I am afraid you will haveto pay full price! Anyone wanting a stall should contact Rebecca on01432 272605 or events@friendsofcastlegreen.org.uk

VolunteersAs with all community groups, what you put in is what you getout. The chair and committee can only get through so much eachweek, and it is important to remember that we all have lives too!

We desperately need the help of a small group of people to run our two annual Fayres. There isn’t that much work to do, but someonehas to take responsibility for all of the jobs that go to making these events part of the local community calendar. It is a fantastic feeling to see so many people turn up and have a great day - sothere is a pay off! Now that we have been running them for severalyears, the hard work has all been done. Please contact Mark on01432 272096 or chair@friendsofcastlegreen.org.uk

Riverbank Project - The Gentle ApproachAfter meeting with lots of different concerned parties, we now havea project proposal to go out and seek extra funding with. Learningfrom the mistakes of the past, the Friends are keen to work withnature rather than against it. Many people will remember a fewyears ago when council contractors were sent in to clear the bank.This was all done in a very short space of time and the result madethat part of the park look ravaged for a few months and then theundergrowth simply grew back again.

We are proposing to take our time clearing the bank, using a small team of people on employment training, working one day a week.On one Saturday a month, we will hold a volunteer day, when extrapeople can spend a few hours helping. In this way, we hope togradually get the bank under control over a period of 3 years - a farmore gentle approach. We hope the public will gradually get usedto the idea of the space being cared for again and be less fearful ofthe pace of change. In this way, we can also tackle the morecontentious parts of the project, for example the beech hedgerunning along the promenade. It is a magnificent beech hedge, butits height completely obliterates the river view for any children orpeople in wheelchairs on the promenade. The hedge alsoencourages people to drop their litter over it - out of sight, out ofmind. We propose to gradually reduce the height of the hedge,allowing a full recovery each year and enabling its lower branchesto fill out. At the end of three years we hope to have a healthy well-maintained hedge that even little people can see over!

In BriefThank you to Copper Beech Garden Design for offering to replacethe Dr Barnardos tree on Redcliffe Gardens, which died during theheat wave of July 2006. Hopefully the re-planting will take placesoon, so the tree has time to establish itself before the summer.

The huge hole in the bank that was illegally dug last summer has finally been filled in. Thank you to Tim Hoverd from Herefordshire Council archaeology department for organising this repair so sensitively.

Learning On The GreenMark Hubbard, Chair of the Friends has been meeting with various stakeholders in the City - Hereford Cathedral, the Museum Serviceand Herefordshire Council Officers. It is clear that a ProjectPlanning Grant will have to be applied for, so detailed work can beundertaken to flesh out a learning programme for schools on CastleGreen. Keep an eye on our website for details of how we areprogressing, www.friendsofcastlegreen.org.uk.

Herefordshire Meals on Wheels Service

Invite you to try our tasty & nutritious mealsOnly £2.40

For a complete meal delivered to your doorWe cater for a range of special diets

or you can order frozen meals of your ownfrom our brochure

For further information please phoneGill on 01432 267555

Seasonal fruit & vegetablesThe finest local produce with an organic selection

Fruit baskets and vegetable boxes availableFresh cut flowers • Hand tied bouquets made to orderSacks of potatoes • Free range eggs • Fresh herbs

Delivery service4 Mill Street, Hereford • Teresa Harris, tel 343104

The Fruit Basket

Put Saturday 30 June in

your diary and let's celebrate

our park!

-Newsletter Issue 18 3/12/07 2:58 PM Page 5

Breaking news and regular columns, diary dates and local links are all on our website www.jaba.org.ukPage 6

The Group meets at the ScoutsCorner hut off Eign Road. The1st Hereford Cubs meet onMondays 6.30 to 8.00pm and the Scouts on Wednesdays 7.15 to9.00pm. Both sections have an active and vibrant programmerunning. For more information about all Scouting activities, contactGroup Scout Leader Chris (Tosh) Ruffe on Hereford 354377 or07889 075225 or email: tosh@1stherefordscouts.org.uk.

Scouting Centenary has arrived!

Way back in 1907 Baden-Powell (or BP - Be Prepared) organised an experimental camp for 20 boys from varying backgrounds onBrownsea Island, Dorset. During the week activities such asstalking, survival, fishing, walking, swimming, tracking,‘backwoodsmanship’ and self reliance and respect were taught, asthey still are today! The camp was such a success that BP wrote hisbi-weekly ‘scouting for boys’ articles costing 1d (old money) andthe nation was hooked! Scout ‘Troops’, with boys forming in‘Patrols’ sprang up everywhere - our own 1st Hereford Troop beingformed by the local YMCA Youth leader Leonard Lewis (who wasthe local police superintendent) sometime later in 1909, meeting inSt Owen’s Street, YMCA building. The 2nd Hereford (St James’)Troop was formed some time later and became a leading force inJabaland – more of that next time!

The last three years has seen big changes to Nelson Street andGreen Street as a result of the redevelopment of the GeneralHospital site, first known as Hereford General Infirmary, to formover 80 dwellings. With the sale of the old Porter’s Lodge at thebottom of Mill Street at the end of last year, Laing Homes work wascomplete and management of the site passed to the residents of thedevelopment and land agents Trinity Estates.

The foundation stone for the Hereford Infirmary was laid in 1781and the building opened to less ceremony in 1783. Seen as elegantat the time, and remaining so, the plans included eleven wards,physicians' rooms, apothecary, laundry and staff quarters.

The 1785 diagram shows an imposing building of three storeys,with a roof pediment. The main building had wings on either sidewith a single storey flat roof running out to two storey pitched roof outlying buildings. The outlier to the north east accommodatedporter and kitchens. The lodge to south west included a washhouse and a brew house and even a brewery. Apparently, beer wasa requirement for both staff, and, on prescription, for patients.

In 1834 the ground floor wings were raised another storey, the first of many extensions. In 1865 a new lodge was built on the landbetween the Infirmary and Castle Green, which included the site ofthe former Castle Mill and was near the passage of the old townditch. Between 1887 and 1888 a new two storey block was added tothe north west end of the building. The new extension, VictoriaWard, was funded by an appeal to commemorate Queen Victoria’sJubilee.

We hope that Trinity Estates will take its responsibilities for this Grade 2 Listed landmark seriously, including the gardens and trees, as the building has been a part of the riverside architecture and City views for nigh on 225 years. Joe Nicholas.

Scouts Corner

St James School News

1st Hereford (YMCA)Scout Group

The Christmas Scout Post sorted and delivered some 50,000 cards andraised a healthy £7,500 towards the various group funds!

Breaking news and regular columns, diary dates and local links are all on our website www.jaba.org.uk Page 7

Johnson’s Hospital - Almshouseaccommodation for single ladies

Bartonsham Retirement Club

General Hospital to general housing

Johnson’s Hospital was established by charitable bequest in theearly Victorian period in order to provide affordableaccommodation to single and widowed ladies of retirement age.About 20 years ago the accommodation was relocated to the StJames area due to the proposed redevelopment of the CountyHospital Site where it was been formerly situated. A HealthAuthority building was converted to four single person flats.

Priority of occupation is given to residents in the Parish of St Peter’s and St James’. Residents make a monthly financial contribution to the upkeep of the flatlets which are all occupied. There has been some relaxation of the age of residents to avoid properties standing empty - currently they have to be over the ageof 50. Trustees who oversee its running are drawn from the congregations of our churches and Paul Towner is Chairman. Inrecent years the property has been improved including generalrepairs, new replacement windows, a safer door entry system to themain entrance and better fire alarm provision.

Recently, with generosity of the Wyevale Nurseries, three trees havebeen planted in the grounds, and one of the residents has paid fortwo water butts to be installed, with water conservation in mind.Planning permission has been obtained to convert the attic to afurther single unit and work should start this year. If any of the flats become available they will be advertised in the parishmagazine and JABA. Faith Ford

Ella Levett, a lifelong member of St James' Church, is current president of The Bartonsham Retirement Club. She writes"Meetings are held in No 1 Committee Room, Shirehall, Herefordon the second Wednesday in the month at 2.15pm untilapproximately 4pm. There are a variety of talks, demonstrations,slides etc, and a welcome cup of teawith biscuits. A pre-Christmaslunch is a happy event and anouting in the summer is usuallyarranged. During the year astrawberry tea and Bring and Buyare held for charity." If you are ofretirement age why not go along tojoin the club.

Contact Susan Crawshaw, Dip. ESS, MRSS.

Tel 01432 357859, email susan@shiatsusan.co.uk

Try Shiatsu ‘Massage’Have you tension, aches or pains?Low in energy or feeling ‘yuch’?Digestive, gynaecological or circulationproblems?

Depression, anxiety or emotional issues?Or do you fancy a regular or one-off relaxingtreat?

Try a FREE 30-minute ‘taster’ of thispowerful oriental therapy.

Shiatsu uses the same theory as Acupuncture,but without the needles – & feels great! It’salways fully-clothed & can be extremelygentle or very deep & dynamic, depending onneed. Usually treatments are on a padded maton the floor, but can be in a chair or on a couch.Gift Vouchers: Shiatsu makes a fantasticpresent – & you avoid the stress of shopping!Drop-in treatments available every Monday &alternate Saturdays at Café Green, St Owen’sStreet, from £5.00 for 15 minutes. Othertimes and venues in Hereford or Abergavennyby arrangement.

RecyclingIf you've been into the school recently as a parent or visitor, you may have noticed that St James Primary School has a new paperand card recycling station. St James is an eco-school and thisinitiative is just part of a new eco-drive. With the help of theirSchool Council they are trying to really make sure that they can liveup to the title! The paper recycling initiative, the school says, is away to make recycling more flexible for local people. Most localhomes do have doorstep paper and card recycling but if you preferto bring your recycling from home to the new facility it is mostwelcome.

The school is also making efforts to save energy and they have put into operation energy-saving ‘spot-checks’ taking place atplaytimes and include checking to see whether computers orclassroom lights been turned off. The school’s focus is, of course, onthe children. They believe that if they are seen to be recycling andsaving energy as a whole school, it sends out the correct message tothe next generation!

PE School AwardSt James CE Primary School has been recognised as the 2006Primary School of the Year – PE and Sport. Teacher Mr Pritchardattended the Herefordshire Sports Council’s Sports AwardsPresentation Ceremony in January to receive the award.

So … what can be recycled at the St James School paper station?

Yes No

Copier paper Heavy card (e.g. cardboard boxes)Magazines Plastic bagsCatalogues Directories (e.g. phone books)Brochures EnvelopesJunk MailNewspaper

Marches Telework Network

To provide a forum for discussion of teleworking, home officehassles etc, a new local email group based in and around Herefordhas been started. Catering for people working from home, theintention is to provide a forum for discussion and if you get a bitbored working at home all day, a medium for arranging coffeebreaks and the like! Join up at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marchesteleworkers/ oremail marchesteleworkers-owner@yahoogroups.com

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We are able to tell you exactly where your meal has come from and we're on your doorstep!

Open Monday to Saturday

Experienced, reliable &hardworking

cleaner/babysitteravailable.

Excellent references.Please phone Becky on

01432 358279

Ray is our local painter -But he tackles other thingsHe brightens many single lives,When starting work, he sings.

Had mention in our JABAFor brightening the place;Will move large bits and piecesTo make you larger space.

He watches out for neighbours,In case they’re needing careWhatever problem you have got -Be certain - Ray is there!

Copyright Elaine Canham 2007

• Ray Chorlton •The complete

painting,decorating and

propertymaintenance

serviceFor a Free

quote, ContactRay

01432 264371

Oliver’sNewsagents

53A St Owen’s Street, Hereford HR1 2JQ01432 276218

New extended opening hours

NOW OPEN SUNDAYS 6AM-12.30PM

Wide range ofNewspapers andPeriodicalsGreat selection of yourfavourite magazinesComprehensive selectionof Greetings CardsInexpensive Toys tokeep bored children -and adults - very happy

Soft drinks to quenchyour thirstConfectionary andchocolatesVarious convenienceitems and moreMobile phone top upsand Lottery

We look forward to seeing you

Herefordshire Farm Shop

-Newsletter Issue 18 3/12/07 2:58 PM Page 7