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Posted by Mark
on April 17, 2012, 4:11 pm
80.5.102.239
Somewhere, from years gone by, I have packed away my Shirley Bassey concert programmes for safe keeping....but I can't find them at the moment. I would like to share with you, if I may, my first Shirley Bassey concert. It was at the Guild Hall in Preston, Lancashire in, I think, 1973. If I could find the proramme I think my ticket cost about £3.00 and I was about six rows from the front of the stage, centre.
I remember messages being announced that smoking was not allowed in the auditorium and I think that the New Seekers were the support act. I saw Shirley at the Guild Hall several times after that over the years.
I remember Shirley coming on stage and saying how awkward the entrance on to the stage was, as she had to come out of a doorway on the right and turn, go up a few steps to get onto the stage. She said the night before she had been at the Royal Albert Hall and she just walk onto the stage from the back. I remember that she was wearing the wonderful peppermint green gown with the pearl strands down the back. This ties in with her concert at the Royal Albert Hall that we can see on YouTube and I think the concert was shown on the BBC.
The concert programme said that 'Miss Bassey will choose from the following songs' and then gave the list like a menu. I remember thinking at that point I am about to see a great star. I was 16 years old, out of touch with my friends in terms of my music preferences, went on my own on the train to Preston to see the concert.....and witnessed something spectacular.
I hope you have enjoyed my little trip back in time. I feel so honoured to have had the chance over the years since then to see Shirley in concert.
Best wishes
Mark
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