NEXT week the Friends of Ross-on-Wye Library will not only be voting to adopt its new name, but launch its programme for the coming year.

At 2.30pm on Wednesday, February 19 at the Library’s Dennis Potter Room, The Ross Library Development Group, which has transitioned from being in a position of saving the library in June 2011, to where it is today as being a supportive role for the town’s library to formally adopting its new name Friends of Ross Library.

This will be followed by Rhys Griffith, the senior archivist at the Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre, explain the ways in which personal mementoes photographs, letters and other materials - are preserved for the future.

He will be assisted by Heather Hurley, well-known local historian, and Jan Nesaratnam, senior librarian who will leading the preparations for an exhibition to coincide with Victory in Europe (VE Day) celebrations in May.

Ross residents are encouraged to bring with them any materials you have relating to the Second World War and VE Day that you wish to lend, donate and be preserved.

Ross had its own unique history during war, encompassing land and forest girls, evacuees, prisoners of war, army camps and conscientious objectors.

It is these notable examples that the Friends’ want to document more fully: There were 400 schoolgirls from Essex who were evacuated to the Chase Hotel and were on site, when a bomb landed in the kitchen garden.

A Prisoner of War camp was created on Chase Hill for German and Italian POWs. The Japanese Embassy evacuated wives and children into the Valley Hotel in Edde Cross Street.

But there are many more remarkable stories to tell.

The Friends’ are asking: “What have you got tucked away in drawers and cupboards that you would be willing to share with us? Do you have memories of being told about things that were happening in wartime?”

Nearby in Rotherwas was the munitions factory that employed many women from around Herefordshire, including Ross.

The factory was bombed in 1942 and again in 1944. Were any of your family working in the factory? Did they have tales to tell?

Elinor Kelly, a spokeswoman for the group said: “We hope that we can succeed in jogging memories that will otherwise be lost to posterity. Rhys, Heather and Jan will ensure that any materials you bring with you on February 19 will be carefully preserved and if required, returned once recorded. We hope you will come and bring anything that you think could be relevant.

The Friends’ hope to be able to raise funds for additional library furniture, equipment or activities through fundraising activities and events supporting or facilitating library activities such as author events, coffee mornings, library clubs and courses.

It is hoped that these measures will encourage greater use of the library and its services.

The name the Friends of Ross Library was chosen because similar titles have already been accomplished at other town libraries and this name change will bring Ross into line with them.