Rockin' On Like Fury
In New Zealand
Home . Page2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8
The following pages are dedicated to a very dear friend of ours by the name of Moya Gleave who now lives in New Zealand. Moya has worked tirelessly in the name of Billy since she first met him in 1958. You can find out more about Moya's work by logging on to www.billyfury.org where you will find a fantastic site all about the great man & most people connected with him during his short life. Moya is now famous for her charity work in New Zealand & has received many great accolades for her fundraising efforts towards very needy causes since departing these shores in 1973. Moya is without doubt one of the most inspiring people we have ever had the pleasure of meeting We shall never forget her kindness during her visit back home in October 2002.
Here is the incredible story of how we met
We (My wife Jean & I) purchased our first ever computer in Jan. 2002. Both of us have very limited knowledge of computers so we set to learning the basics. In Sept of that year we decided to get connected to the internet & by the 1st of Oct we were on line. We typed Billy Fury into google & up came www.billyfury.org A fantastic web site run by someone else who as since become a friend by the name of Harry Whitehouse. We were absolutely mesmerized by the wonderful content, information & detail i.e. pictures, sound files, video footage e.t.c. with a constantly active message board. We kept visiting the message board with interest for the next week or so. Never daring to publish a message ourselves. Throughout these visits one name kept cropping up all the time. Moya this & Moya that. So, one day whilst my Jean was at work I decided to write an e-mail to this Moya person as she was the most active person on there. I called up her e-mail address and proceeded to tell her that I was new on the computer, new to the web site & that this was the FIRST e-mail I had ever sent. I explained that I had just re started my career as a singer & had decided to do a Tribute to the songs recorded by the late great Billy Fury.
Once I had finished the e-mail I rang my Jean at work & told her what I had written. Straight away she said "Have you sent it" to which I replied "No I'll wait until you come home & we'll send it together" I don't know what I was thinking I guess I was just too nervous about the whole thing. When my Jean came home from work she read through it & we clicked the SEND button together !!!
We logged on again around 9pm that same evening with our first incoming mail sign from billyfury@paradise.net.nz . We couldn't believe it. We had received a reply & what's more it was from New Zealand. Moya's e-mail explained that she had been the president of the Billy Fury Fan Club for the last 44 years & that she now resided in N.Z. She was also chuffed that I was doing a tribute to her Billy & helping to keep his name & songs alive. Moya went on to say that in a matter of a couple of weeks she was coming home for a visit and in now, what we have come to learn of in typical fashion said "Where did you get that back drop on the photograph you sent me and can you get me one" I WANT ONE. She said that she had just one Saturday free whilst over here & was I gigging anywhere. I wrote back saying that I just had 1 gig that weekend & that it was in Preston.
As she was coming home to stay with family in Manchester she said that she would come to the gig (To pick the backdrop up of course) She had already decided that it was hers for the taking by then! She gave us the date she was landing & a contact number to ring her with directions e.t.c.
We gave her a couple of days to settle in & rang the number it was answered by a noisy version of "There'll always be an England" it was unmistakably Moya. We chatted as though we had known each other for years. We then told her that she could have the back drop to assist with all the charity work that she does in N.Z.& made arrangements to see her at my gig on Fri the 25th of Oct.
This night turned out to be probably the worst weather of the year. We had set up in the afternoon, arranged for some tickets for Moya's party & were awaiting a call to say they had set off. She rang & said that they had set off at 6:30. So we made our way to the venue. I was due on stage at 8:15pm but there was no sign of Moya.By this time we had learned that there had been an oil spillage on the motorway just before the junction I had instructed Moya to come off at. We managed to delay & delay the show until 9pm when it was decided that whatever the outcome I had to start the show. Two minutes to nine I am ready & about to go on stage & my Jean said I'll have one last look, as she said that she looked out of the dressing room door & was being summoned to the desk as our guests had arrived. Within a matter of two minutes she was back introducing Moya to me. It was just like meeting a long lost friend. Moya then declared that she had a surprise for me, stepped back & in walked Jean Wycherley (Billy's Mum) You could have knocked me down with a feather. Here I was about to go on stage already nervous about singing in front of Moya so you can imagine how I felt at the prospect of performing in front of Billy's mum as well. My introduction C.D. started & I was off. Nothing could have prepared me for the next 45 mins. I was a total wreck, dry throat, shaking, but in a strange sadistic way enjoying the show. As I sang A Thousand Stars, Moya came to the stage & presented & pinned a Billy Badge on me. This is known in the trade as being Billy'd. I was so proud. Moya had also brought her cousin Jean & her family along and also a friend of hers who was kind enough to bring Billy's Mum. After the show we chatted & danced with Jean signing autographs, having photographs taken, talking to friends of people who couldn't make it on mobile phones e.t.c. They did not leave the venue until 1:30a.m.Moya had even managed to raise a tenner for the bronze fund from some unsuspecting people who said "Billy Who" A couple of weeks after that we spent a couple of days with Moya, Sue (Moya's friend & companion on the journey) & Jean at the Billy Fury Weekend in Blackpool. We are now firm friends & are to visit New Zealand soon. We also keep in touch with Billy's mum too. Jean is such a wonderful beautiful lady & we are so grateful of having the chance to stay in touch. So, that's how this fantastic roller coaster of a journey started for us and we thank you Moya from the bottom of our hearts. We are so proud to be classed as your friend. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Click Here to go back to the story of our trip.
. Page2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8