THE Romany descendants of the pristine Sherdley Park caravan site have been avidly following my recent pieces about old-time gipsy life.

This is the feedback I've had from Phil Hurst, their site manager for the past 14 years, who also assures me that there would be a very warm welcome should I care to pay a visit to these much misunderstood folk.

He adds that the site residents, some of whom have been there permanently for something like 30 years, have been delighted to see my favourable slant on what are "truly genuine people."

And they seem keen to make clear that, as true Romany stock, they have nothing at all in common with the modern breed of traveller and tinker, descending uninvited on any unprotected parcel of land and punting on the doorstep for path-tarmacing and double glazing work.

But while delighted with our readers' recollections of the old-time gipsy families' annual summer stop-offs on the fringes of the borough, they're keen to kill off a certain popular myth.

A couple of correspondents (one from Parr, the other from Peasley Cross) who used to visit their camps and strike up firm friendships during the 1950s, mentioned the time when a Gipsy King had become accidentally drowned.

They saw his caravan set ablaze after this and had always been of the impression that he had been cremated within it.

But, says Phil, they were mistaken. Although it was Romany tradition to burn caravan and possessions upon death, the Romanies did not hold with cremation. Burials were always carried out.

I'm pleased to clear up that point for the 20 permanent families at Sherdley Road and the 24 other families of Romany descent staying on the neighbouring licensed site.

EXPECT a goodwill visit from me in the near future...