It is with sadness I have to announce that long-time DPAS member Bernadette Maddison passed away in June.

An early recruit to the fan-club and a huge Blackmore and Purple fan, she rarely missed a show during the late seventies and eighties and was often on the guest list in later years. That's her broken Strat (personally presented by Ritchie) on the back of the Rock Profile album cover which she lugged all the way to Sheffield for me to photograph. I've spoken with her mother and expressed our condolences.

I'll have a longer piece in the next issue of the magazine.

Simon Robinson, 31/07/03