Photos Frank Leppard
Superstar Tom Jones blasted out hits from What’s New Pussycat? to Delilah, and You Can Leave Your Hat On when he took to the Dreamland stage this week – and brought back memories for one man who introduced the singer when he last visited the venue in 1966.
Mick Tomlinson, who was at the gig last night (July 28) with wife Shirley, was a young DJ at Dreamland when Sir Tom first visited the town on tour 57 years ago.
The former Margate mayor and now new chairman of the Dreamland Heritage Trust even has a copy of the original gig poster amongst his Dreamland memorabilia.
Mick worked on the management at Dreamland, planning events and publicity, and was also known by many as DJ Mick Tee, appearing in the Ballroom and Bars in the late 60s and 70s.
He was working a Wednesday record night when the star first graced the Dreamland stage.
Mick said: “The poster is a copy of the original from when Tom Jones was at the Dreamland Ballroom, now called Hall by the Sea.
“I was doing the Wednesday record nights and I went to see him and I was asked if I would introduce him, this was in 1966. He had really got a name for himself in around 1964 so he was already a star.
“The entertainment manager then was Raymond Iles, a cousin in the Iles family, and he used an agency in London called Starlight Artists and would be lucky and get groups that were top of the charts down to the Dreamland Ballroom.
“I can remember watching what all the young ladies were doing while I watched Tom Jones from the bar! He was great then and when we went last night he was great too.
“Having Tom Jones in Margate for two nights is just fantastic. He was on stage for a good two hours and at 83 years old is still brilliant.
“Being there really felt like being a part of the history. It’s bringing people into the town and the people last night loved it. It brought back lovely memories”
Sir Tom wowed fans on both Thursday and Friday’s sell out gigs with a trail of knickers by the stage proving he has lost none of his Sex Bomb appeal!
