A fun karaoke night was held at The Plough Inn, Overross on Saturday evening. Lots of people got up to sing, including our friend Steve Taylor. Steve is actually a great singer and is always game for a laugh.

Last time we went to a karaoke at The Plough, Steve sang 'Don't go Breaking my Heart' with his friend Vic. This time, Steve decided to serenade Vic's mum, Daisy by singing 'I Just Called to say I Love You'.

I decided to sing 'Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue,' which you can see in this week's WNTV News programme. Don't worry! I won't be performing at Jamstand.

Well, I did try to film the lunar eclipse during the early hours of Thursday morning and that bit of film can be seen on this week's WNTV News programme. However. In true to eclipse form, having been perfectly clear throughout most of this lunar cycle, the moon vanished behind a thick blanket of cloud, literally seconds before the eclipse began. I waited outside with the camera for a little over an hour but there was no end to the cloud in sight, so I decided to call it a day and went to bed.

I did not sleep well as my mind was still active and I had to be at the Corn Exchange the following morning. I fell into one of those dream states rather than deep sleep for the night and strangely, I dreamed that I was talking to my daughter, Sarah on the phone. In the dream, Sarah told me she could see the moon through her bedroom window. I awoke and looked out of our bedroom window. It was 4:00 am and the eclipse had finished just 10 minutes previously. Sure enough, the cloud was just beginning to break and the moon was reappearing in the night sky. I spent a half an hour, wondering whether or not I could be bothered to go outside and film it and at 4:30, returned to the garden, just to prove 'Sod's Law' (of eclipses) filming the moon just hours after it had been full - directly on the opposite side of Earth to the sun.

The 'natural' pond I have, just outside the door of the Wyenot News office is literally teeming with frogs at the moment. Evidently, it is the mating season for frogs and they make so much noise that I can hear them - not only inside the office, but in our bedroom.

The photos below were taken today, and I have filmed some of their antics for this week's WNTV News programme.

Congratulations to Robin Collett, my dad, who was 75 years young on Monday, 25th February. Dad celebrated his 3/4 century birthday with a big party on Friday evening.

There was a fantastic turn out of family and friends to wish him well and help him to celebrate his big day and it was lovely to see you all again.

Dad still keeps busy, running his business, Bromsgrove Bus and Coach Company, but he always has time for his family. I just want to say thank you Dad for being the greatest, for always being there, no matter what and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Love Tina and Alan.xxx.

You can see some of the party in this week's WNTV News programme.

Dear Sir.

I apologise for only discovering your website only today, 20th February 2008. Very interesting.

I discovered I am a Rossian (if that is spelt correctly), as I attended Ross Grammar School from about 1942 to 1947. Recently I have been thinking rather a lot about a schoolboy crush I had on Janet Turner, whose name appeared in front of mine in class registers, prompting the comment 'Vaughan is always after Turner'. Is the lovely Janet still around?

Looking at the photo of the late1940's, early 1950's, I am struck by the fact they all have a lot more hair than me. The 1930's photo has a Janet Turner listed, but that doesn,t coincide with 'my' Janet. Has she snook into that photo? I couldn't see her.

BI was saddened to read of the death of Mr Drabble. He was very much a lads favourite, and particularly mine because he rode a Scott Squirrel motorbike. This will really mean something to the motor cyclists amongst you. After I left I heard he had married one of the blonde and beautiful Marfell girls. This is the 'Mary' mentioned in your article, I guess. My sincere condolences to Mary.

Incidentally, is that wooden Honours board still in existence? I am on there somewhere with a lowly School Certificate.

Yours faithfully,

Derek Vaughan.
(Of Hoarwithy at the time, but now in Warwickshire, 10 miles from the NEC).

We later received the following from Derek:

Hello again,

Sorry, but I made a mistake in my earlier email. Janet Turner is listed in the late 40's early 50's photo, and I just might have spotted her.

Thank you for your letter, Derek. Not having grown up in Ross, I know little about Ross Grammar School. My only connection is that I cover the reunions for 'Wyenot News'. I do however know a man who does as he is currently arranging this year's reunion. I will put you in touch and maybe you can join the party.

Greetings,

I was evacuated from London to Ross during WWII (1939 - 1945) and lived in Walford Road, Tudorville. Despite returning to Ross five times over the interceding years, I have been unable to find any reference to Tudorville. I note that the area has now changed, with a housing estate bult over the old 'pull & push' railway line that ran to Monmouth. The old council school I attanded has long gone and during my last visit I see that a library is now on its old location.

My first job at (what was) Banister & Foxwell's (gents outfitters), I see from my last visit is now a sweet shop. I understand it has been the Council Offices. On my previous visit it was a car showrooms.

I note that the name Tudorville does not appear on the local map, which makes me extremely curious. Was there a dastardly deed done there that caused it to be erased. Enquiries made at the Market Hall during my brief visit last year, threw no light on the matter.

The UXB (unexploded bomb) at the top of the staircase (Market Hall) there, brought back memories. I remember the night it fell. I also remember the Mosquito fighter bomber that crash landed on the hillside between the old Army Camp and Tudorville. There was more damage done to that plane by the schoolboys, when they discovered it was partly built from balsa wood; than the German forces ack-ack.

I would appreciate any information you can give me about the vanishing Tudorville.

Cordially,

Bill Trower.

Thank you for your letter, Bill. Tudorville certainly has not vanished - it was still in the same place when I visited this very evening. I was hungry mid news prep and so visited Tudorville Chippy - the best chippy in Ross.

If the map you are referring to is the one on Wyenot - that particular map only covers Downtown Ross Vegas. Tudorville is still in it's same position, off Walford Road and off the map. There are in fact hundreds of mentions, and photographs of Tudorville on Wyenot, which you will find easily if you type 'tudorville' into the search engine on the front page, or on the 'back issues' page.

A.W.

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