Many conversations in 1967 contained an unusually large number of ooh-ars and phoney West Country accents were often heard.

This followed the release that year of Adge Cutler's first long-playing record.

Accompanied by his group The Wurzels, Adge sang a dozen songs he had written about the delights of his native Somerset, with such titles as Drink Up Thy Zider, Chew Magna Cha Cha and Champion Dung Spreader.

Like so many of his contemporaries, Adge Cutler's goal was the number one spot.

Off-beat songs had enjoyed chart success in the past with Purple People Eater and Witch Doctor reaching respectively the 11th and 12th spots in 1958 and more recently, Joe Dolce's Shaddap Your Face reached number one on February 7, 1981.

May 15, 1976, should have been the happiest day of the Wurzels' life but their joy was tinged with the greatest sadness because Adge was not there to hear the compere announce "It's Number One, It's Top Of The Tops, It's The Wurzels with Combine Harvester."

Tragically, Adge Cutler had been killed in a car accident two years previously.

Initially devastated, the group's immediate reaction had been to disband but after much agonising they agreed they should pursue Adge Cutler's dream of reaching number one.

The Wurzels took comfort in the knowledge Adge would have been so very happy his greatest wish had come true.

-Michael Parker, Brighton