After marrying and moving to Wavertree in 1956, Des became a supporter of his local church, St Bridget's. He later allowed them to sell prints of some of his paintings as a fundraising venture, and in 2018 an exhibition of his works was held in the church hall. It was thanks to Wavertree Society member John Beese, who had helped to organise the exhibition, that I was put back in touch with Des. I re-visited him, and was pleased to discover that he was still painting every day, and producing new works on a regular basis. He had diversified his subject matter, alternating between scenes of Wavertree, Edge Hill and more general (and often very topical) Liverpool themes.

Des was enthusiastic about the idea of a partnership with the Wavertree Society, whereby we would promote and feature his work on our website and on our merchandise. He allowed the Society to produce an A4 version of his 2020 calendar - which he had already designed and commissioned for circulation to friends and via St Bridget's Church - as a Society publication. He also allowed us to use four of his colourful paintings of Wavertree cinemas as inlays within a set of coasters.

Des's work was celebrated in the Autumn 2019 issue of the L15 Wavertree Times magazine. Meanwhile his grandson Kevin Maddock had set up a 'Des Ross Paintings' Facebook page, to display a selection of his pictures and make them available as high-quality prints. The advent of Covid, however, in 2020 was a setback for all concerned. Our plans for a local exhibition of Des's work, and a new calendar, had to be put on hold. Later in the year, Des's increasing age and respiratory problems led to a move 'down south' to his daughter's home in Suffolk. Nevertheless he continued to paint - adding scenes of Bury St Edmunds to his repertoire.

The year 2021 saw the publication of not one but two separate 'Desmond Ross 2022' calendars. One (postponed from the previous year) was produced by the Wavertree Society, and the other (covering a wider range of subjects) by his family. Sadly, Des passed away in December 2021, after a short illness. His last hours were spent in hospital, surrounded by family members. He will be much missed, and - thanks to his prodigious output of wonderful paintings - long remembered.