I was wondering if anyone else had a relative who was part of this organisation? I know my grandad, Ivan Constance was one of them (and I really should visit The Laruperz Centre in Ross-On-Wye seeing as I only live in Kingstone, Hfds!). Anyone have any info/photos?

You could google:

British Newspapers on Line

and the 'word' Larruperz

There are a number of 'hits'

Initially you have one free go by registering - after that you can pay as much as you wish for credits - (these only last a few days)

Thank you! Will see how I get on.

What a post ! :-)
When I first saw the word "Larruperz" alonside your mention of pianos I immediately thought it was perhaps a Polish composer's name or maybe a piano maker, thought I might need to contact a pianotuner friend of mine. However a quick search revealed this wouldn't have helped at all !!,

"To “larrup” in the dictionary is defined as “to thrash”. Winifred Foley in her “Child in the Forest” refers to “larruping” as getting a good hiding for bad behaviour. But when a group of thirteen men banded together in 1921 and called themselves “The Larruperz” they had something quite different in mind. They meant “having a good time”, what today we would call “socialising”. They enjoyed each other’s company, drank a bit (not such a lot because as Mrs Taynton, the widow of Bob Taynton, one of the original thirteen pointed out, they didn’t really have a great deal of money to spend). They made music together and formed a dance orchestra. Obviously they had a great sense of fun and this is shown clearly in photos of the group at Ross Carnivals and on other occasions when they met together and enjoyed the comradeship. Most remained friends all their lives."

From http://www.thelarruperzcentre.org.uk/about.html
with a great photo too http://www.thelarruperzcentre.org.uk/ESW/Images/LARRUPEREZMEN.jpg

I know of (and have received) a good(?) larrup in the past, but would never have made the link, another great old word that's probably dying out rapidly.

As you say it looks like you really need to visit their centre, altho probably worth contacting them in advance first. Glad to hear you are local to the Dean, it's hard to tell as this forum gets many overseas visitors too, I'm an exile in West London.
This looks a subject ideal for searching-out in old newspapers, as well as writing letters to editors of current papers requesting help, have you tried these methods ?, I do think they'll help you.

Busy times here at the mo what with the school holidays, may explain why the forum's quiet (plus the curling today). I'll contact you asap re the Constances, take care, Jeff.

PS also see http://www.wyenot.com/news/2010-09-01-04.htm

Ah I see our Marvellous P. Griffiths is online today, hope you're well M and maybe on the golf course today/tomorrow at last now the sun's shining?

Sophie, this is the route I was thinking, particularly wrt your search for the Longhope Constances, but before you signup for the BNA site please consider the following pointers first which will hopefully help you. As MPG says the site subscriptions system is such that advance-preparation before payment will save money in the long run. Quite a lot can be learnt from just using their free search facility. However after a while it stops behaving, sulks and just requests payment - if you then stop for a few hours or so, it then forgets it's strop and lets you start searching again. A good thing as it can take a LONG time to find relevant items, even those you know are there and have found previously !. Still a great site though !!

Please see this related prior thread http://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=36876

Hi Jeff, yes I'm making the most of the Half Term to enjoy what I love doing best, researching my family tree! I work as a primary school secretary so the holidays are a real perk of the job! My own children are 16 and 13 so are good enough to let mum have some time researching now ... Although they really don't get it at all!

Now to look at that photograph!.... That British Newspapers site is brilliant too! Don't know what to do next, everyone is so helpful on here!

Many thanks

Sophie

I'm sure my grandad is the man playing the bugle! My dad plays the trombone and my uncle used to play the trumpet, my grandad was the organist at St Mary's, Ross too for a while:-)

The more I look at that photo the more I wonder if it's possibly my Grandad far right with the banjo. Seems odd but not impossible, he was an outwardgoing fun-lover and musical too, think he was involved with Longhope silver band as well as the church choir etc, Roos not away far via the GWR. His face looks very similar to me, can you date the photo at all, if it is my Grampy then I think its maybe late 30s, wotyereckon ??.

Am only able to get onto the computer briefly - as we're looking after two of our grand-children for a few days - and computer games are the 'norm' - role on tomorrow, and we'll get the computer back!!

Well Jeff that would be amazing if he was, he then knew my grandad! Would you mind telling me his name? (Although I'm sure you have told me with regard to the Longhope photo -just being lazy!). My first thought is to ask my dad if he knew the other members of the Larruperz from hearing his dad talk about it.

Kind regards

Sophie

That's very kind thank you.

Yes I have had a look at this site briefly, it seems very good and thanks for the tips on how to use it!

If you go to ww.thelarruperzcentre.org.uk there is a write up on how the Larruperz started & a photo, which may be the one you have already seen.
Petrina

Hi Petrina

Thanks for your message, yes I have seen that photo but thank you anyway :-)