Marc Bolan / T. Rex (November 3, 1972) – “Pop Idol Marc Turns His Back On The Rectory” Feature - Western Daily Press
This Western Daily Press report reveals that Marc Bolan might never move into the ten-bedroom former rectory he had recently purchased near Ross-on-Wye. Although local residents had been preparing for the arrival of Bolan, T. Rex and an expected stream of fans, the property was reportedly bought purely as an investment and Bolan had not even decided whether to visit it.
Publication: Western Daily Press and Times and Mirror
Date: November 3, 1972
Country: United Kingdom
Published under the headline “Pop idol Marc turns his back on the rectory”, the article reports that Britain's leading pop idol Marc Bolan had a surprise in store for the residents of a small Herefordshire village: despite recently buying property there, he might never actually become their neighbour.
According to the newspaper, villagers had been preparing themselves for an influx of pop fans after Bolan purchased a country property in Weston-under-Penyard, near Ross-on-Wye. Local residents had apparently been expecting Bolan, T. Rex and their entourage to arrive at any time.
The article states, however, that this arrival might never happen. Bolan had not set his “glitter-dusted eyes” on the ten-bedroom former rectory, which the newspaper reports had been purchased the previous month for £67,000.
A spokesman for T. Rex told the newspaper that the property had been bought purely as an investment. With house prices continuing to rise, the article suggests that Bolan could potentially make a substantial profit if the property were eventually resold.
The report adds that considerable interest had been shown in the rectory before Bolan purchased it. Despite the apparent attractiveness of the investment, the article makes clear that Bolan had not committed himself to using it as a home.
At the time of publication, Bolan is described as being on tour in America. The newspaper reports that he would not return before Christmas and that he had not even decided whether he would visit the property.
The article therefore concludes that, one way or another, the peaceful character of the village was likely to remain undisturbed.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
This November 3 report is particularly useful when placed alongside later 1972 coverage of Bolan's American touring. Here, the newspaper explicitly states that Marc Bolan was currently on tour in America and would not be back before Christmas.
The clipping itself therefore establishes that T. Rex's American touring activity was still taking place in early November 1972. The main focus, however, remains Bolan's purchase of the former rectory and the revelation that the property was intended as an investment rather than necessarily as his new home.
The piece also captures the scale of Bolan's celebrity at the time: the possibility of his arrival was apparently enough for local residents to anticipate both T. Rex and visiting pop fans descending on the village.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Report on Marc Bolan's purchase of a former rectory near Ross-on-Wye
Era: 1972 Bolanmania era
Tone: Light-hearted and news-focused
Photography: No Marc Bolan photograph appears in the supplied clipping; the article is presented as a text news item
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
• Report that Marc Bolan had purchased a ten-bedroom former rectory for £67,000
• T. Rex spokesman describing the property as purely an investment
• Villagers anticipating the possible arrival of Bolan, T. Rex and pop fans
• Explicit statement that Bolan was currently on tour in America
• Report that Bolan would not return before Christmas and had not decided whether to visit the property
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