Mary Long - Diamonds Are Forever--Shirley Bassey: A Celebration of My 50 Years as Her Greatest Fan

I do not know when I first heard Shirley Veronica Bassey sing, but I remember vividly the day I first saw her in concert: it was Good Friday, 12 April 1963, and that was the day I became an ardent fan.

My mum and dad had been fans for several years prior to 63. I can remember my parents always listening with a special intensity whenever Shirley came on the radio, and particularly enjoying Miss Bassey on television. Living in the London suburb of Ilford in the early sixties, we didnt have a record player, let alone a radiogram, so those televised appearances presented us with the rare opportunity to see Shirley and hear her incredible voice. So when, by chance, on a March evening I bought an evening paper and saw the advertisement announcing the fabulous Shirley Bassey would be appearing in concert at the London Palladium, I couldnt believe my eyes. Would it be possible to go to this famous theatre and attend my first concert? What a place to start.

Fortunately, the April date fell close to my mums birthday, so my dad didnt need much persuading when I suggested we take Mum as a birthday treat (I hasten to add it was a wonderful treat for us too). As I seem to remember, my dad, almost immediately, telephoned the London Palladium box office, from the nearby telephone box, and reserved three tickets for the Good Friday concert. In the sixties it was quite normal to reserve theatre tickets that were then paid for on collection from the theatre box office at some stage prior to the concert.

A few days later we walked into the box office, located immediately to the side of the main theatre entrance, looking down on us were black-and-white portrait photographs of the worlds greatest entertainers Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin etc. all of whom had performed at this legendary theatre. Shirley was no stranger to the theatre; her Sunday Night at the London Palladium television appearance in 1961 had brought her to the attention of many in the early days of her career. Now, however, she was recognised as a star and heading the bill.

We headed to one of the ticket-office attendants from whom we were separated by the glass screen which had a small semicircular opening through which our tickets would be dispensed. First, Would you like to see the seating plan? Yes please, came my dads reply and the attendant held up the plan, which showed every seat in the theatre stalls, royal circle, upper circle and boxes. Your seats are here, she said as she pointed with her pencil to three seats in the front row of the royal circle, A24 to A26. She continued, they are very good seats. I couldnt believe it. My dad paid the money, 60 shillings (3) in total and those lovely green tickets slid through the opening of the glass window. I was over the moon, although the four-week wait seemed a lifetime.

Good Friday, 12 April was upon us and I found it hard to contain my excitement. As we had decided to make a day of it, we travelled to London in the morning. Miss Bassey would be giving two performances and we were booked to attend the first, scheduled to commence at 5.30pm. I dont remember what we did prior to arriving at the London Palladium. We must have walked around and gone to eat, those things I cant recall, but once at the theatre the memory cells certainly played the role I required of them.

It was late afternoon when we walked round to the backstage-door entrance of the theatre. There were a number of people waiting by a set of wooden gates, which opened to expose an area large enough in which to park a removal van. At the rear a few steps led down to a dark-red stage door, but there was nothing glamorous about this scene. I had spoken to a few of the people gathered outside but nobody knew for sure if Miss Bassey was inside the theatre or if indeed she was due to arrive. I was just sixteen and although experiencing butterflies got up enough courage to go down the steps and open the stage door. On the other side I immediately faced the stage doorman, sitting inside a very tiny office, and I nervously but politely asked if Miss Bassey was in the theatre.

He easily recognised me as an excited fan and said, We are expecting Miss Bassey to arrive shortly. Thanking him, I retreated as gracefully as I could and took up a position by the edge of the gates. I had come prepared for the moment: I had an 8- by 6-inch black-and-white photograph of Miss Bassey in hand, which I had recently purchased, and my biro was at the ready.

I didnt have long to wait before I heard cries of, Here she comes from the crowd, and moments later a large limousine came to a halt at the very spot where I stood. I glanced through the window, then the car door opened gently against me and I was facing Miss Shirley Bassey. Could I please have your autograph Miss Bassey, I mumbled. She looked at me and for a moment I thought it was to be. Then Miss Bassey said, If I sign for one, it will be very disappointing for everyone else, and she was quickly ushered down the steps I had recently trod to the stage door. I know what you are thinking: I must have been disappointed. Well, actually, I was not. I kept thinking about Miss Basseys words and realised how disappointed I would have been if she had signed an autograph for someone else. To me Miss Bassey had considered all of the fans waiting to greet her and I respected her decision. I knew then that one day I would get her autograph and I would value it all the more. Right now I was on cloud nine, having seen her up close. I remember everyone around me chatting happily; the air seemed filled with excitement. Gradually, the crowd that had gathered slowly started to disperse, the majority heading to the main entrance of the theatre.

The London Palladium dates back to 1910 and in the sixties it was one of the best-known theatres in the country. As I stepped on the red carpet, climbing the stairs to the royal circle, it seemed magical. The atmosphere sent shivers down our spines and we sensed we were about to experience something very special.