With the first week in January always being a very slow news week, I decided to search my photo archives and in the process, came across the pictures below. Back in the late '70s and early '80s, ROSS ROGUES (Ross Original Grockel United Eccentric Society) would hold at least one party every year. In the Society's early days, the parties were held at Brockhampton Court but in later years, the venue moved to Harvey's (now Jacqueline's Nite Spot).

Although I went to all of the parties, I only took a camera along to the one, an Oriental Dress Christmas Party in Harvey's back in 1982. The ROGUES dressed in military uniform on this occasion. I do also have a copy of what was the original invitation to the Rogues Summer Ball, held on Friday, June 29th 1979 at 'Brock'. This is shown below. A touch of nostalgia . . .

Leon, amongst others of his age group who have been impressed with the song, 'Pictures of Matchstick Men', when performed by the Zebras at various gigs have passed comment on many an occasion, in a kind of disbelief that the song was originally performed by Status Quo.

Well Leon, here is the proof. I found it again whilst searching for the 'Ross Rogues' invitation. The original single I bought back in 1968. Which incidentally was the first record I bought with money I had earned myself - doing a paper round. 'Round 5' for WH Smith, which covered in Sandringham Road, Derham Road, Oulton Crescent and Bradfield Drive in Barking, Essex. It still has the scrawl of a 15 year old boy on the label from the times I took it to parties which Mum didn't approve of. Two years later, I found myself becoming a regular at the Village Blues Club at the Dagenham Roundhouse every week, where Status Quo used to perform frequently - to the point where the regular 'Villagers' would groan, 'not Sta'us Quo agen!'

It's a matter of opinion, I guess but they did actually make two good records, the one pictured below and 'Ice in the Sun' - the second single. The one pictured below still plays with remarkably little scratching, considering its age!

Dear Mr Wood, I would be grateful if you could include the following rather late announcement in your lists: Ross & District U3A's next meeting will be on Monday, 15 January at 2.30pm at the Larruperz Community Centre. The speaker will be Mr Keith Mason who will give a talk on 'Nature in Herefordshire'. Prospective members are welcome. Many thanks, Rosemary Oddy (Chairman)

Apologies to weather statistics followers: I was sent the wrong week's weather information by accident this week - a repeat weather report from two weeks ago was put in the envelope by mistake. As I was in Cheltenham for twelve hours today - my absolute deadline day and was unable to start the final news preparation until 8:00 PM, I did not discover the error until it was too late to do anything about it.

Sorry, I will run weather stats for weeks commencing 1st January and 8th January in Issue 130 of Wyenot News.

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