When a dream came true for two young South Tyneside music lovers

The two friends, 11-year-olds Jacqueline Rowe and Elisabeth Pearson, met their heroes during the North East leg of a national tour.

The two girls described the group (whose big hit, Pass The Dutchie reached No 1 in the charts in 1982), as “really friendly”.

Can you tell me any more about the girls’ meeting?

* Meanwhile, the recent articles about Status Quo playing locally has prompted lots of you to take to the Gazette’s website to post comments.

Sanddancer68 says: “I remember the concert very well at Temple Park.

“I won a competition and was lucky enough to go backstage and meet Status Quo.

“They also signed one of their guitars and gave it to me, and I still have it.”

MadNotMad adds: “I remember this concert well.

“I was working there at Temple Park that night and saw some of the gig from the lighting rig at the back of the venue.

“Fantastic view, and the place was bouncing to Rockin’ all over the World.”

GeordieLady comments: “First time I ever saw them live was before their 1991 concert in South Shields was when they were one of the support acts appearing at Rod Stewart’s Vagabond Heart tour, when it came to Gateshead.

“When they came to South Shields Leisure Centre on November 29, 1991, we took our two children, and we all had a great time.

“When they returned in 1993 we all went along again to see them, but I thought the date was December 1, 1993.

“We had a great time at both the South Shields concerts that I can remember and the two sons were standing dancing and waving their arms in the air.

“We wouldn’t have gone to see them (as at the time we had different tastes in music) had we not seen them at Gateshead as a support, where they had been brilliant as well.

“I can remember standing in a long, winding queue in the freezing cold to get into the leisure centre.

“In fact, there were so many people there, I didn’t think it would be able to accommodate us all.

“Some of the fans had been fans for numerous years and their hairstyles were similar to the groups, while a lot of them had a selection of different Status Quo T-shirts on.

“Obviously we had to buy them T-shirts for the dates, but I’m not sure whether or not they still have them.”

* Meanwhile, Bobby Burns took to social media to respond to the series of articles about the day South Shields took on the glamour boys of QPR in the FA Cup – and did themselves and their home-town proud, despite losing to the Second Division big-spenders.

“Anyone remember the full line-up back then?” asks Bobby.

“I’m sure Len Smith was in it. He worked for Peter Johnsons back then.”

* The photo of the little boy praying (Time Of Our Lives, April 20) prompted Carol Anne Burr to get in touch.

She said the little boy pictured was her brother Malcolm Tollett, who is now 60.

“The photo was taken during a Good Friday march, in Jarrow,” reveals Carol Anne.

“It was from the Sunday school. At the end of the march, the children got an orange. It was a pleasant surprise to see the photo.”

* What are your favourite memories of watching groups or singers performing on South Tyneside?

Please get in touch.