We were welcomed with drinks in the Metropole Suite at 4.30pm by Colin Paul, 'Nutty' Neil Williams and Phil 'Shaky' Shakespeare. We soon got rocking to the music of Billy Fury on disc by DJ Neil, and Shaky provided DVD footage on the big screen. Old friends greeted each other and we met new people who were at the Metropole for the first time. June Roth and Diane Wardle, who organise the event, were there to join in, together with granddaughter Jenny. Billy's mum, Jean Wycherley spoke to us and explained that Albie was not well enough to join us. We all wished him well and Jean will pass on messages to him.
After singing and dancing to Billy we went for our evening meal and got changed into our glad rags for the evening's entertainment. Colin Paul and the Persuaders played an hour of Billy's hits and Neil played discs for another hour. We had a welcome return from Graham Holly, who was with us last year. He played guitar and sang a lot of songs associated with Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry and Elvis. He was great as before. Mo and Bob Cooper were selling their wonderful range of rock'n'roll gear and the fan club set up our merchandise table. During the evening there was a raffle for the Fans of Billy Fury Music Awards. Colin and the band gave us another hour of rock'n'roll and Neil took us into the early hours of Saturday morning.
On Saturday BFITOY set up the merchandise stall and Jean came to join us and had a chat with everybody and signed CDs and photos. Sarahlea did her usual jive class, and this time she brought baby Grace, born in December, to meet us. She and Colin are very proud parents and rightly so as she is a beautiful little girl. The afternoon was free for people to do their own thing and after the evening meal Neil and Shaky set up the screen and we had a lot more old footage of Billy and other singers of his era. Colin Paul and the persuadres gave us another hour of brilliant music. They are always so professional. We welcomed back another singer from last year, Kenny Johnson who really rocked with several old rockin' standatds and got us all dancing. Rob Dee got up and sang a few Billy songs and was very popular. A guy called Mark, from Liverpool, who goes by the name of 'Little Elvis, sang a couple of songs in a gruff voice with exaggerated movements and brought the house down - he was so funny! When Colin took the stage afterwards he could not sing for laughing. Thanks Mark for such entertainment!
Colin paid tribute to Albie by singing 'Helpless' to everyone's delight. He said 'Our great friend Albie Wycherley who is usually here with us is not well and we should all send our thoughts to him to wish him well'. During the day we all signed a big card for Albie which Jean took with her on Sunday.
Another raffle was held for the Billy Fury Music Awards and Neil took us into the night with more discs.
On Sunday morning there was the usual jive competition which was won by 3 pairs of dancers. Colin sang for us again and called Jean onto the stage and she sang 'In Thoughts of You' beautifully to a great round of applause. Several singers got up and sang their favourite Billy songs - all very good. Jean held her raffle for the Nobody's Child charity. Diane thanked us all for coming and presented Jean with a bouquet of flowers and Mo gave a donation from her stall as always. After a late lunch we said goodbye to old and new friends and Mrs Roth was taking bookings for the next event in November. Colin read out details of Billy's Birthday Bash which is taking place in Liverpool on 17 April. All the staff at the Metropole were thanked for making the weekend possible.
We were welcomed with drinks in the Metropole Suite at 4.30pm by Colin Paul, 'Nutty' Neil Williams and Phil 'Shaky' Shakespeare. We soon got rocking to the music of Billy Fury on disc by DJ Neil, and Shaky provided DVD footage on the big screen. Old friends greeted each other and we met new people who were at the Metropole for the first time. June Roth and Diane Wardle, who organise the event, were there to join in, together with granddaughter Jenny. Billy's mum, Jean Wycherley spoke to us and explained that Albie was not well enough to join us. We all wished him well and Jean will pass on messages to him.
After singing and dancing to Billy we went for our evening meal and got changed into our glad rags for the evening's entertainment. Colin Paul and the Persuaders played an hour of Billy's hits and Neil played discs for another hour. We had a welcome return from Graham Holly, who was with us last year. He played guitar and sang a lot of songs associated with Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry and Elvis. He was great as before. Mo and Bob Cooper were selling their wonderful range of rock'n'roll gear and the fan club set up our merchandise table. During the evening there was a raffle for the Fans of Billy Fury Music Awards. Colin and the band gave us another hour of rock'n'roll and Neil took us into the early hours of Saturday morning.
On Saturday BFITOY set up the merchandise stall and Jean came to join us and had a chat with everybody and signed CDs and photos. Sarahlea did her usual jive class, and this time she brought baby Grace, born in December, to meet us. She and Colin are very proud parents and rightly so as she is a beautiful little girl. The afternoon was free for people to do their own thing and after the evening meal Neil and Shaky set up the screen and we had a lot more old footage of Billy and other singers of his era. Colin Paul and the persuadres gave us another hour of brilliant music. They are always so professional. We welcomed back another singer from last year, Kenny Johnson who really rocked with several old rockin' standatds and got us all dancing. Rob Dee got up and sang a few Billy songs and was very popular. A guy called Mark, from Liverpool, who goes by the name of 'Little Elvis, sang a couple of songs in a gruff voice with exaggerated movements and brought the house down - he was so funny! When Colin took the stage afterwards he could not sing for laughing. Thanks Mark for such entertainment!
Colin paid tribute to Albie by singing 'Helpless' to everyone's delight. He said 'Our great friend Albie Wycherley who is usually here with us is not well and we should all send our thoughts to him to wish him well'. During the day we all signed a big card for Albie which Jean took with her on Sunday.
Another raffle was held for the Billy Fury Music Awards and Neil took us into the night with more discs.
On Sunday morning there was the usual jive competition which was won by 3 pairs of dancers. Colin sang for us again and called Jean onto the stage and she sang 'In Thoughts of You' beautifully to a great round of applause. Several singers got up and sang their favourite Billy songs - all very good. Jean held her raffle for the Nobody's Child charity. Diane thanked us all for coming and presented Jean with a bouquet of flowers and Mo gave a donation from her stall as always. After a late lunch we said goodbye to old and new friends and Mrs Roth was taking bookings for the next event in November. Colin read out details of Billy's Birthday Bash which is taking place in Liverpool on 17 April. All the staff at the Metropole were thanked for making the weekend possible.
BLACKPOOL FEBRUARY 2010 - Report and photos by Margaret Dewick
