It was either 1979 or 1980, I’m unsure, but it was a time of my life when I was a single man, foot loose and fancy free after the breakdown of my first marriage.

I met a young lady from Tunbridge Wells and after a few ‘dates’ in that area I asked her if she’d like to see a show in London.
Two things completely shocked me. The first was that she’s never been to London (she was about 30) and the other thing was that she’d like to go to the Tommy Steele one man show ‘An Evening with Tommy Steele’.

The cost didn’t mean anything. My brother worked for the Robert Stigwood Organisation and could get me tickets to most shows for nothing. I’d been to all the Lloyd-Webber musicals plus a few more on top.

It wasn’t that I disliked Tommy Steele. I had great admiration for a man who knew his trade, his audience and had, in a way, turned down an immensely successful career in the USA to be back in his roots etc.
It was simply not my kind of thing. But I said OK, arranged the tickets and the day arrived.

We started off the day early morning. I knew London fairly well as I worked there for a number of years and showed her around all the touristy spots and posh bits! I wasn’t short of a bob or two in those days and enjoyed a nice meal in the Swiss Centre, Leicester Square.

Evening came and into The Prince of Wales Theatre we walked. Upon sitting down I noticed quite quickly that it was a sell out. ‘Fair enough’ I thought, he’s a popular artiste and can bring them in, but thoughts of ‘The Little Red Bull’ were ringing in my ear and I was all ready for a pretty average evening.

The auditorium lights dimmed and the curtains rose. Suddenly hundreds of white lights dazzled around a simple stage. Tommy Steele sat at the Piano and launched into, I think, Neil Sedaka’s ‘That’s where the music takes me’ (someone may like to confirm this?).
Within a minute I was completely gob smacked, it was incredible, this man sold himself in less than 60 seconds. The audience went crazy and Tommy Steeles teeth got even whiter!

In all the shows I’ve been to, I think this was the one I shall remember for sheer professionalism and getting a captive audience. He sang ‘Half a Sixpence’ and had of the audience crying. ‘Like putty in his hands’!!!

The show itself is in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest ever running one-man show in London Theatre History - and when you see who else has done them, it speaks for itself. It ran for 14 months.

Now into his 70’s, Tommy has recently stormed the stage and got brilliant reviews for his portrayal as Scrooge. It’s been a long journey from the East End in the early 50’s when he was part of ‘The Cavemen’ and covering American Rock and Roll standards!

May he go on for a long while yet!

What happened to the young lady? I know not. I can’t recall the details, but the relationship was not to be and we went our separate ways. But I often wonder where she is and if she recalls a great day out and watching a great man do the job he does so well - that’s entertainment!

Interesting Fact
Tommy Steeles father was a Winston Churchill lookalike and employed by the Government during WW2 to double as him!
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