Writer and violinist honoured with blue plaques

Blue plaques have been unveiled to commemorate two important figures in the history of Herefordshire.

The first plaque, in honour of travel writer the Reverend William Gilplin, has been installed in a flowerbed at the top of Thomas Blake Memorial Gardens in Ross-on-Wye.

Gilpin was known for popularising the Wye Tour in his book, where visitors would journey down the river by boat, Ross-on-Wye Town Council said, adding the town became known as "the birthplace for British tourism".

The second of the two new plaques has been installed on a wall at The Corn Exchange, recognising violinist and composer Bernhard Molique Carrodus.

The council said Carrodus was summoned to Balmoral Castle to play for Queen Victoria in 1899 before relocating to Ross-on-Wye, with the Corn Exchange used as a venue for many of his popular smoking concerts.

The new installations follow a plaque unveiled at The Hope and Anchor pub and restaurant in August, in honour of two founding members of Mott the Hoople, Dale "Buffin" Griffin and Pete Overend Watts.

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