SIR BOBBY ROBSON ANOTHER ( K) NIGHT TO REMEMBER

When the Sir Bobby Robson 80th Birthday Celebration event at the Sage Gateshead was announced late in 2012, the tickets sold out in 24 hours. By the time the concert took place on 18th February 2013, excitement was at fever pitch. Local heroes Mark Knopfler and Joe McElderry shared the stage with footballing celebrities Andre VillasBoas, Alan Pardew, Steve Harper, Shola Ameobi and Stuart Pearce. Also performing were soulqueen Ruby Turner, kings of comedy Brendan Healy and Alastair McGowan, the Voice Russell Watson and teenage sensation Faryl Smith, Maximo Park s Paul Smith and Gomez s Ben Ottewell. Darlings of the folk world The Unthanks, rootsy quartet The Cornshed Sisters and the sassy Scarlet Street all performed and the actors from Alf Ramsay Knew My Grandfather completed the bill. All was held together by revered sports presenter Jim Rosenthal and Lindisfarne s Billy Mitchell assisted by The Boot Boy Band and Northern Sinfonia. The many memories of Sir Bobby were emotional and sometimes hilarious,