Charlie discovered that Brian and Roger would be at WWRY Birmingham for the press night on 2 July and she had 2 tickets so I took her spare one!

I had to work during the day and I was booked on the 16.30 train from Bristol. I had straightened my hair at work and was wearing shorts and tshirt to walk to the train station as it was a lovely sunny day. I set off to the station at 4 and said to my colleagues ‘If it starts raining, I will cry!!’. I walked outside and the sky went bang! The heavens opened and it started pouring with rain, I had no choice but to carry on or I would miss my train. I stopped briefly under a bridge to check my phone and I had a text from work who were very amused that it was pouring! I carried on the station and the rain was still just as heavy. By the time I arrived at the train station, it had stopped raining and I was soaked right through! I got so many strange looks when I got on the train! I found my seat and had to kick someone out of it – but I had to have it as it was next to the plug socket! I got changed into my dry clothes, waited for an hour then straightened my hair again!!

Arrived in Birmingham at 6 where I met Charlie and we walked over to the Hippodrome. The first person we see is Rufus Taylor, son of Roger and drummer in the WWRY touring band. We said hello and I got him to sign my tour leaflet. He looked slightly shocked at being asked for his autograph! The girl with the Roger doll was there (minus the doll) and gave Rufus some flowers to give to Roger, gave him a hug and then gave him a pin badge!

We then went round to the stage door after talking to Frank, Jen, Sue, Dave and Terry who were in a café opposite the venue.

Met Danielle and Siobhan, and Danielle’s boyfriend Dan at the stage door and we waited for people to arrive – we saw Jasper Carrot and Dan said ‘I love Golden Balls!!’ to him! We then saw Tommy Iommi from Black Sabbath arrive.

Later, the girls were standing away from the stage door when I spotted Jonathan Wilkes inside (there was a big glass door!!) and shouted ‘THERE HE IS’. I have never seen 3 people jump towards the door so fast – as they thought I meant Brian May!! I smiled at Jonathan through the glass and came out and asked if I wanted a photo! I explained to him that I had got his single ‘Just Another Day’ but I had forgotten to bring it with me so I would see him in Bristol to get it signed! He looked impressed! He then walked bare foot down to the main door where Terry saw him – apparently he gave his mum some tickets! Ben Elton arrived in a taxi and we said hello. I spotted Anita Dobson inside chatting to some people I didn’t recognise but there was no sign of Brian!

Charlie and I went into the show at 7.20pm, leaving Danielle, Dan and Siohban outside (where they met Roger – he finally arrived about 9pm!!). We had good seats on the righthand side of the stage – saw Jim Beach and Sarina sitting in row J about 7 seats away from us! There was a gap on the end of the aisle and who sits in it – BRIAN MAY and Anita Dobson!!! Ben Elton was sitting 2 rows in front of Brian! It was hard not to watch Brian during the show and he looked like he was enjoying himself, he joined in with some of the clapping along and saw us clapping during Radio Ga Ga. But there was no sign of Roger and I was panicking! They’ve added Michael Jackson to No-one But You.

I spoke to Sarina during the interval; she said I looked well and that the surprise ending to the show would be good! Brian didn’t come back after the interval but everyone else did. Not very many people stood up during Rock You/Champions but they did during Bo Rhap. Brian arrived on stage then Roger came whizzing across the stage on his drum kit. Brian was walking backwards and crashed into the drum kit then fell over and knocked over a cymbal. Nigel ran straight over and stood it back up and Brian got up and carried on playing! Roger looked amazing and did the licking his teeth thing – I was screaming!! At the end, he patted Rufus on the head when they were taking their bows. Brian and Ben made a speech ‘Get off facebook, f**k youtube, get to the theatre’. Brian, Roger and Ben hugged!

We went to the stage door and saw various people leaving. Rufus looked very smart in a black shirt and tie. Dean arrived in a black Bentley so we knew it was time for Roger to leave. I went to say hi to Dean and asked if he remembered us from the Electric Fire tour – and he did! Who could forget!! Sarina left first and said bye. Roger then walked out and happily signed some things and said to Charlie that Brian shouldn’t reverse when she mentioned the crash! I asked for a photo and he posed doing a thumbs up so I did one too! It was the best photo I’ve ever had with him! I asked how the solo work was coming along and he said ‘Very well’. I then said ‘Solo tour?’. He shrugged and said ‘Yeah?’. Brian left around 12.30 and he saw us first and smiled, saying ‘Aww it’s you guys!’. He didn’t enjoy signing things and even said to one guy ‘Straight on ebay then’. He said that Roger appeared much faster than in rehearsals! After posing for some photos, he got in the car with Anita. The driver got his laptop out before leaving and Brian started using it as they drove off, not before giving us a smile and a wave!

I stayed at Charlie’s and the next day, we got the newspaper on the way to the station which had frame by frame photos of Brian falling over! Went to the see the Freddie statue too!