Madam, I was surprised and delighted to see in your issue of the November 21st, my old photograph of the flooding in Brookend Street which occurred after the big melt.

I still have the original, together with shots of the snow in Broad Street. I worked in the old National Provincial Bank at the time. Conditions were so bad and trade so impaired during the snows that, on one particular day, we transacted no local business whatsoever!

I dread to think what would have happened to local businesses if today's pernicious Business Rates regime had applied then!

I was at the time, the Official Ross Gazette Photographer, and raced to all the local 'disasters' in my speedy Austin seven, with my trusty Agfa Speedex, proudly brandishing the 'official reporter' card provided for me by the then Editor, Gerald Hicks.

At the time, I was unable to obtain the high contrast printing paper necessary for good newspaper work, which was always a nuisance to the Ross Gazette.

I do not have a copy of the Strangford Bridge photo so cannot recall if I took that one. I do recall battling for ages through five foot snow drifts in the Churchyard to get to the view from the Prospect, only to find that the scene was too 'foggy' for me to obtain anything useful!

I am 88 years old now (still alive but not kicking much) and the memories of that winter are as clear to me as ever. I look forward each week to the dear old Ross Upset (as it was endearingly called years ago)Regards and thanks for the good work.

Mervyn Tommey