MADAM, I am writing to say what a nice photo of the weathervane from St Mary's Church it was on the front page of the Ross Gazette last week. I have not seen it this close up since 1958 or 1959. I have a local joke with tourists and newcomers to the area that I have sat on the top of the weathervane on the church.
In reality it was taken down and delivered to my father's workshop in New Street to be gold leafed where an old black and white photo was taken of me being held over and sat on it. I was three or four at the time. I still remember when I moved at the age of seven to Redhill Road, my father built a shed and there was a lot of his painting and decorating things on the shelves. I was shown a book of gold leaf and told this was the left over from the weathervane.
I can also confirm that the old Ross rumour of the bullet hole is not true. I asked my father during a discussion we had enjoying a drink at the Rosswyn hotel in the 1970s. He told me when working on it he found nothing but old wear and tear which he filled before re-gold leafing.
At least I can still be honest and tell everyone I have sat on top of the cockerel on St Mary's Church.
Mike Barnard, Ross.