MAY I use your page to warmly congratulate Joyce Thomas on being made a MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours .

Over the centuries Ross has been blessed with a good number of public-spirited people who have given so much to the town and the surrounding area - not least the community's two great benefactors John Kyrle and Thomas Blake. I can think of no-one, however, in the last quarter of a century who has had a finer record of public service than Joyce Thomas.

She has been actively engaged among all ages, being a founder of Ross pre-school playgroup and engaged with Age Concern, as well as serving as a governor on a number of schools including John Kyrle High School.

She has been a highly successful chair of the West Mercia Police Authority and vice-chairman of Herefordshire Council.

Add terms as Mayor of Ross and work with Citizens Advice Bureau and much else beside then we begin to get some measure of what an influential figure Joyce has been.

That she has been elected as an independent by large majorities is testament that she has not only served on public bodies but has also served people, and many would bear witness both to Joyce's availability and to her ability to deal with problems brought to her.

She will be a very tough act to follow and thoroughly deserves her honour.

Charles Crosland, Minister, Ross Baptist Church.