Dan’s Shirley Bassey gift proves diamonds are forever
When singing icon Dame Shirley Bassey turned 80 in January 2017 there were not many people as excited by the milestone than long-time fan Dan Osmond.
Dan, who helps with shows on Sandwell Hospital Radio, even celebrated by playing a one hour retrospective of her dazzling career in show business. So when it came time for Dan to celebrate a milestone of his own, his colleagues reached out to the superstar.
Station manager Phil Blackstaffe wrote to the singer in February this year, to see if she could assist in helping Dan to celebrate his 30th birthday with a signed photo as a surprise.
And he and was delighted when the singer, who has lived in Monaco’s Monte Carlo region for many years, responded.
Phil wrote to Dame Shirley: "This would be the icing on the cake and I know he would cherish it forever.”
Fortunately, it was not a case of Never, Never, Never from the singer, who sent back a large signed photo, personalised to Dan.
On receiving the photo Dan said: “I knew Phil was up to something, but I wasn’t expecting this. When I opened it and read the letter that came with it I just shocked. I’m still in shock."
Sandwell Hospital Radio, which provides entertainment for those on wards at Sandwell Hospital seven days a week, celebrated its own 30th birthday back in 2015, and hopes to welcome a whole new generation of patients to the airwaves when Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust opens the Midland Metropolitan Hospital in 2022.
