An Australian Status Quo fan is set to return all the way from Down Down Under to see his favourite band in Rochester.

Peter Smith was among thousands of diehard Quo fans who turned up for the band’s Rochester Castle gig on July 15 last year, only to hear guitarist Rick Parfitt had been forced to pull out due to a stomach complaint.

But the disappointment that night cut even deeper for Mr Smith and his wife Jenny, who had travelled from their home in Melbourne and had been thrilled to see the unique venue on the afternoon leading up to the cancelled gig.

“We walked into the venue when the roadies started doing the sound-check, and we were thinking ‘how great is this going to be,” said Mr Smith. “We had a wander round and this is just a beautiful place.

“There’s nowhere in Australia that would have this atmosphere.”

Organisers were quick to announce that the show would be rearranged the following year, and despite Mr Smith’s disappointment, he remained determined to see the band on British soil.

“My initial reaction is to grit our teeth and come back on July 13, 2016,” he said that night.

True to his word, Mr Smith has now booked his tickets to fly to the UK in July, and will be hoping Rick Parfitt steers clear of any exotic food.

This time he’ll be coming with daughter Jessica, as his wife will have to stay at home to run the couple’s telecommunications business.

“It takes a lot to discourage us Australians, just ask our cricketers,” said Mr Smith. “We are delighted to confirm that we definitely will be coming back on July 13 to try again.

“Unfortunately, Jenny is not able to come – our shop is just too busy for us both to go this time and we have a new baby – a 12-week-old cavoodle (cavalier king charles spaniel and poodle cross) puppy.”