Being a David Essex “groupie”

Family and friends that really know me are fully aware that I am a bit dotty about the 70’s pop star David Essex. He is also an actor, composer and musician. In the 70’s he was a good looking pop star all the young ladies had his poster up in their bedroom. Long flowing dark hair down to his shoulders and blue eyes to could swim in.

I never saw him “live” in those days….but was always aware of his records etc.

I had a dear friend Janet and we were thinking of going to see Michael Ball in concert and regretted not going to see him so we must go to see the next “star” that was appearing at the then Civic Hall in Guildford. I was asked if I fancied going to see David Essex at £12 a ticket…I said “I like him” so my answer was yes and that was my first concert of  6 concerts, 3 musicals and a Question/Answer thing

I never went alone and always managed to find someone to go with me. Three concerts with Janet, Two with Clare, Two with Mandy, One with Lena and one with David…and I nearly forgot one matinee performance with hubby….”Aspects of Love” in which he dies…I felt I was the only one weeping cos of his death amongst all the pensioners at the matinee….it was in my pre pensioner days

The concerts were fantastic…the vibe in the theatre was electric, excited, noisy chattering women of all ages….slowly building to the moment when the theatre dimmed and he walked onto to stage…just stood there with his arms open wide. Then two hours of magic…..singing along with, enjoying the old favourites, enjoying the new songs, listening to his jokes etc. After the first couple of songs the first 6/7 rows would rush the stage…yes I joined in…we were so close you could actually make eye contact which made your night. I only got stopped by security once from getting too near the stage. His last song was “It’s Gonna Be Alright”…..you could hear a pin drop. I want that sung at the end of my funeral.

Musicals were fantastic too. Once “Aspects of Love” where he ages to 80 and dies at the end….it was sad. I have seen “All The Fun of the Fair” which he stars with one of his twin sons…Billy Cook (Cook is David’s real name). The songs are all magic and one brilliant scene is when David and Billy ride off stage and over the front seats in heavy powerful motorbikes. AWinters Tale was also sung in this show but not at first by David but his love interest.

The Question and Answer was a wonderful surprise bought for me by my very dear friend Dave…….and I actually got to speak to him and actually touched him on the shoulder when Dave took my photo and he signed the novel that he was advertising.

After the Civic Hall concerts, we would all dash around to the stage door and get his autograph….lots of fun.

He looks a bit different these days as he has let his hair grow into the close-cropped silver fox look but he still has those amazing blue eyes

He is always my number 1