Joe Longthorne super-fan to give singer's dressing room '˜uplift' at Winding Wheel

Bernice Coates, aged 60, will be meeting Longthorne, who has battled back from cancer twice, on Thursday night.

The retired landlady of The Wellington Hotel, Spencer Street, Chesterfield, nearly “collapsed with joy” after her number 13 ticket was drawn at random - meaning she would have the opportunity to decorate his dressing room at a venue of her choice.

“When he said number 13 I nearly collapsed with joy,” Bernice said. When I went to the front of the room to hand over my ticket I was shaking with excitement.”

Bernice travelled to Lytham St Annes for a ‘meet and greet’ with Longthorne, after his initial season in his home town of Blackpool in November 2014 was cancelled due to his cancer treatment.

She said: “Joe came to each table and chattered to us and he spoke about the mid 70s when he starred at the Aquarius nightclub and what a lovely welcome he always gets in Chesterfield.

“As the afternoon progressed he spoke of his charity work for DCWC NEPAL and we all purchased tickets.”

“Joe announced the next ticket would be a special prize which would be to do up the dressing room at a venue of the winners chose.

“He said ‘stop crying woman’ which caused a raw of laughter around the room.”

Bernice, of Monkwood Road, Dunston, that she will be using Longthorne’s song ‘Say it with flowers’ as inspiration.

Longthorne had been due to appear at the Winding Wheel in November 2015 but again, due to having more cancer treatment last year, the show was cancelled.

Bernice added: “When I have done my duty back stage I will be taking up my front row seat.”

Tickets are available from the Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre.