MADAM, With reference to the photo of the Spanish tea room in this week's Ross Gazette, I did not know it as the Spanish tea room but I instantly recognised the stairs. The photo was taken before the 1960s, as in the early 60s the establishment was called the Pottery Pantry or "Potters" as it was affectionately known.
It was where we youngsters used to hang out, before we were old enough to go to pubs. The door from the street led into a small area and from here a passage lead through to the main area.
Walking along the passage you started to hear music and as you emerged from it, the first thing you spotted was the juke box which was constantly playing.
I can still remember walking in to hear "Hippy Hippy Shake" for the first time – nearly 50 years ago, but it seems like yesterday. Along with listening to Radio Luxemburg, I think it was through going to Potters that I developed my love of 60s music, which continues to this day.
The stairs and the balcony in the photo were there in those days and in use all the time, as it was always packed out. I think some of our parents thought it a bit of a den of iniquity, and I remember some of my friends being banned from going there by their parents, but it was just somewhere to meet your friends and listen to the wonderful music of the day.
A few years later it was taken over by the Frost family who had a milk round in Ross at the time. The front part of the premises was where they sold their dairy products and the rear area was a café.
It changed hands several times through the 70s, 80s and 90s, but the stairs and balcony remained. In more recent years it became Cloisters and now it is called Zam Zams.
Janet Monnington,