Countynews


new High sheriff sworn in


Mother-of-three elizabeth Murray,aformer city worker whoisamagistrate and custodian of llanoverhouse gardens,becamethe 39th high sheriff of gwentataceremonyatthe house,where shelives with her family, at theend of March. benjamin waddingtonpurchased llanoverhouse


and laid outthe garden in the late 18th century, usingastream that flowedintothe garden to create aseriesoflakes,cascadesand weirs. Mrs Murray,49, pictured below,studied botany


Dr Nicola Bradbear conference sows seeds


therewas lots of encouragementfor local communitiestoget plantingatacommunity food growingconference in Abergavenny. sandygreenslade, lead food officer with


adventa, one of theorganisersofthe event, said: “It wasanopportunity to be inspired, shareideas,network and swap plants and knowledge. “the 50-strongaudienceincluded


communitygroups, individuals,allotment holders,gardeninggroupsand associations with othersinterestedinthe health and social benefits of communal food growing. “the event highlightedthe supportthat


is available through Monmouthshire’s rural developmentplanand through thewelsh government’s tidy towns initiativeto encourage communitygroupstocreateand develop theircommunitygrowingspaces.” Inspiration camefromspeakerswho


includedrebeccastalker,acommunity gardener forthe national trustatKingston


lacy estate in dorset, where118 allotments have been made available forthe community, with fundingfromthe national lottery local food scheme and local Action group, sowing seeds. creatingquiteabuzz, therewas also


atalk from beekeeper andpresidentof gwentbeekeepers Association dr nicola bradbear,who founded thecharity bees for developmentin1993. the charity, which promotes simple,


sustainable bee keeping asaway of liftingpeople outofpoverty in poor and remote areasofthe world, hasashop and Information centre in Monmouth,informing everyoneaboutthe importanceofbeesand beekeeping. the conference,atMulberry house,


wasathree-way partnership between Monmouthshire’s tidy towns initiativeand twoprojectsunder Monmouthshire’s rural developmentprogramme.


town settoget rockingfor jubilee


It’s notonlythe Queen’sdiamond jubilee this year,but alsothe 60th year of thepop charts. chepstow town council plans


to mark thejubilee with ariverside bandstand concertand picnic featuringachart toppingsongfrom every year since the hitparadewas firstpublished in 1952. the ‘diamond disks,hit parade


picnic’ will be on thebank holiday tuesday june 5from1pm. everyone is invitedtobring a


picnicand up to 60 singers are needed. councillorned heywood who


organisesbands on thebandstand forchepstow town council and who cameupwith theidea, said “we want singers of all agestocome and perform to liveaccompanimentor backingtracks. the idea is to create avery special event forchepstow


usingthe talents, and stirring the memories, across thegenerations.” “A meetinghas been arranged


foranyoneinterestedintaking partorhelpingwith this great communityconcertatthe drill hall, lower church street,onApril24at 7.30pm. “Atthis meetingthe songsto


be performedwill be chosen and allocatedtomany of thesingers.we will split theconcertintodecadesand so we arelookingfor sixteam leaders to coordinatejust10songs possibly from theirteenage years or favourite musical period. so if youwantto perform or,equally importantly,help in the organisation,pleasecome to themeeting.” forfurther information,orifyou


want to take partbut can’t make the meetingcontact nedheywood on 01291624836.


new-look Chepstow library re-opened


chepstow library hasreopenedafter a£120,000 refurbishment. the refurbished library offers customers improvedinternet


access,with free wifi and laptopsavailable foruse within the library. thereisalsoanextensiverange of books,dvds and audio


books. other features include an updated children’s area,anarea


designed forteenagers andaquieter area forfamilyand local history research. the library hasarange of weeklyactivities includingbasic


It sessions,storytimefor underfives, baby rhymetimes and familyhistory research sessions. work on the library’s readinggardenwill continueready foralaunchonApril23tocoincidewith worldbook night.


formoreMonmouthshirenewsvisit www.monmouthshirecountylife.co.uk/news 13


at theuniversityofedinburgh and haspreviously worked in thecityoflondon andedinburgh as an investmentfund manager. shehas maintained thegardens at llanover


house since shemoved therein1999 with her husband of 25 years ross Murray and their three children Alice,sarah and hector. thehighsheriff of gwentisthe Queen’s


representativeinthe county formatters relatingto thejudiciary and themaintenanceoflaw and order. Mrs Murray said: “It is agreat honour to have


been nominated to be high sheriff,but especiallyso in theQueen’sdiamond jubilee year.”


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