AMMANFORD is going all out to bring singing star Gary Barlow to town as a rather special present for a local superfan.

Claire Flint could easily be named as the singer’s biggest fan and friends have been rallying round to beg Gary to come to Ammanford and sing at her 40th birthday party on May 7.

With a twitter hashtag of #getgarytoclaires40th friends have been plotting to get the Take That and X Factor star for 15 months, ever since Claire, who runs Cwtch Coffee Shop on High Street, planned her Take That-themed party.

But the campaign took a huge step forward last week after Gary announced on Twitter he would be looking to appear at some milestone parties this year.

“If you have a ‘milestone’ birthday this year start your campaign now!,” Tweeted Gary “21, 30, 40, 60, 110 !!!!! I’ll come and sing at your party.”

Claire has been a fan since she was 17.

She’s travelled all over to see him and even got buses to London on her own as a teenager just for the chance to meet him. And after meeting him a few times, her devotion is stronger than ever.

“It’s got worse as I’ve got older,” says Claire. “Everyone knows how much of a fan I am – customers come in and tell if they’ve seen him on TV.

“I’ve been planning the party for ages, red carpet, Gary beer mats and we’ve been trying to hint to him via Twitter.

“And then when he Tweeted that he’d do parties this year I thought – this is it, I’ve got to do it. After all there’s no reason why I won’t succeed .

“I just can’t imagine what it would be like if he did turn up though.

“I’m overwhelmed by the support from the town and I just hope everyone gets behind this – let’s bring Gary to Ammanford.”

 


 

Claire’s friend Caroline Lines has been a huge part of the plot.

Caroline met Claire a few years ago through their devotion to Gary.

Calling themselves Welsh Girls on Tour, the duo have seen and met Gary several times – even managing to make him a cup of tea one year.

She said: “We really wanted to get him to come to her birthday so started tweeting him ages ago but since he made his Twitter offer we’ve gone all out, we are determined to get him to come.

“We’ve been around the shops and town and everyone is backing us by displaying posters – it’s brilliant.”

You can support the campaign by tweeting the hashtag #getgarytoclaires40th or contacting @caz9012 for more details.