Main Photo Thanks to Jessica Heffernan
Strictly Come Dancing
The week started with an appearance by Rod on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing …Or maybe not?
The show introduced its first ever ‘Icons Week’ that saw the contestants and their professional partners dance to memorable tunes from music legends such as Tina Turner, Queen, The Beatles, Shirley Bassey and KISS.
The judges also joined in with Shirley Ballas dressing as Cher, Motsi Mabuse as Tina Turner and Craig Revel Horwood as Barry Gibb from The Bee Gees.
But the show stealer was Anton Du Beke who dressed as a 70’s verion of Rod, complete with a blonde mullet and leopard skin suit, although he later admitted that he looked more like Bet Lynch from Coronation Street.
Earlier Anton posted a selfie of himself with Rod and Penny saying “Get ready to tune in tonight at 6:30pm – we’re all very excited as it’s Icon week here at @bbcstrictly! And look who’s here… such a pleasure to catch up with the wonderful Penny Lancaster and… my icon for the evening… Sir Rod Stewart!”
Scottish Cup
Meanwhile the real Sir Rod was spotted at the Scottish League Cup Semi-Final on Saturday.
Rod was with his youngest son Aiden to witness Celtic win 6-0 against Aberdeen sending them to the final against Rangers in December.
The next morning Rod called at Grovehill playing fields Hemel Hempstead to see the other Celts.
On Wednesday night it was back to Scotland for spectacular Champions League night at Celtic Park
For what turned into an explosive win on fireworks night against the German Giants RB Leipzig when after goung 1-0 down Celtic went on to win 3-1
On the Soccer A-Z podcast this week Rod recalled the moment a former Celtic footballer felt the need to apologise to his wife Penny after a sweary outburst in front of her.
Rod invited Celtic to his house to use his full-sized football pitch in the grounds of his Essex home so they could prepare for pre-season matches.Gordon Strachan – who was the team’s manager at the time – pre-warned the players not to use any bad or offensive language in front Penny, who was sitting watching.
Rod said “Celtic came down twice and they borrowed West Ham’s goals to put on my pitch so they could play.
“I remember Aiden McGeady. Gordon Strachan told the boys, ‘Mrs Stewart is going to be watching on the touchline so don’t swear’.
“So anyway, they’re training away and the ball went out of play. McGeady put it out of play and he went ‘Oh f***ing hell’.
“Immediately he went up to Penny and said, ‘Oh I’m sorry miss, I’m sorry Penny’. It was a wonderful moment.”
Rod also talked about being starstruck when the Celtic stars came to his home and had to be convinced to go and meet them. “I was actually frightened. I look upon footballers like my heroes. I remember Penny saying, ‘Oh go down and meet the team’.
“I said: ‘I’m too scared’ but I did go down and watch them in the end.I was very, very star-struck with the Celtic boys. Idon’t know what it is, you know that?
“They’re all bl**dy 20 or 30 years younger than me. It’s just because, in my eyes, it’s what I wanted to be. I love Celtic, and they’re right up there, in my opinion. I feel like a schoolboy sometimes.”
Antiques Roadshow.
Rod had another suprise TV slot on Sunday night when a gold disc he had swapped with Rangers legend Sandy Jardine in return for a Scotland cap was featured on the Antiques Roadshow.
Rod was friends with the late Scotland international and would often go on nights out with him and Sir Kenny Dalglish in the 1970s. During one conversation, Scotland fan Rod told Sandy how he would love to own a Scotland international cap.and Sandy told Rod he would like to own a gold disc, the pair agreed to a swap deal andRod arranged for a framed disc of Atlantic Crossing to be given to Sandy.
It was valued by Antiques Roadshow expert Raj Bisram at between £1,500 and £2,500 after sandy’s widow Shona brought it along when the BBC show visited Thirlestane Castle in the Borders.
The Vagabond Old Boys Charity Match
On Sunday 3rd November 2024, Rod Stewart’s Veterans Football Team ‘ The Vagabond Old Boys’ reunited for a 2nd Charity Football Match to raise money for The British Heart Foundation in honour of Rod’s brother Don – their esteemed Referee for over 20 years and for brother Bobby who was at every match played at Woodhouse – Rod’s former residence in Epping.
The teams were called ‘Maggie May’ and ‘Hot Legs’ and the winning team this year was ‘Hot Legs’ – 7 vs ‘Maggie May’ – 3.
As of 4.11.24 they had so far raised £540 and Rod has promised to match the total!
If you would like to donate to this amazing cause please use the link below or if you would like to put a bid in on the match day signed football or one of the two signed shirts please send Jessica Heffernan a What’s App message on 07932 695892.
Bidding will close on Sunday 10th November.
FIRST BID ON FOOTBALL: £50
FIRST BID ON XL T-SHIRT :£100
All photos thanks to Jessica Heffernan .
Some Guys Have All The Luck
It was good to see some SMILER members at the all new Some Guy’s Have All The Luck the Rod Stewart Story on Sunday when the show came to Buxton Opera House in Derbyshire
The show is still a must see night out for fans of Rod, and still tells the story of how Rod started out in the 60’s and went on to be one of the biggest selling artists of all time
Paul Metcalfe has evolved the show over the years and has cut down on the talking parts to fit in more songs from the opening ‘Can’t Stop Me Now’ to the encore ‘Maggie May’ many of Rod’s big hits are included along with a few others that Rod doesn’t include in his set
In the concert style second half of the show Paul managed to get the normaly reserved Opera House crowd dancing in the aisles not something many acts can do! ..A thoroughly enjoyable and highly recomended Rod themed night out.
To catch a show near you go to https://someguyshavealltheluck.com/dates.html
Simply Rod Stewart raises £1,327 for community council
A big well done to another superb tribute act ‘Simply Rod Stewart’ who helped to raise £1,327 for the Crossgates Community Council Fife at an event which took place at the village’s British Legion on Friday.
The funds will go towards essential community causes, including the village’s Christmas lights and seniors’ Christmas dinners.
James Frew, the man behind Simply Rod Stewart, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to host the event. I have a lot of amazing supporters in Crossgates, and it was fantastic to be able to repay them for their support and see the community come together for such a good cause. We’re already looking forward to coming back in 2025.”
A percentage of ticket sales was donated to the cause, alongside the proceeds of a raffle and the auctioning of a football signed by Rod.
Geoff Garoghan, 1958 – 2024
Last week we lost one of our members who has been with SMILER since day one Geoff Garoghan
Geoff was a huge fan of Rod’s and will be known to many members from our SMILER and Rod Squad events and concerts from past years, In recent years due to health issues he was unable to attend but still contributed to the SMILER message board and long time members will remember Geoff was on the team in the early years helping the club to grow.
Members will also know Geoff’s wife Jean who has sent this link so anyone who would like to attend his funeral can do so. Dstance will be a big issue for most so Jean has organized a live stream. and refreshments will be at Bridge Hotel, Brandon afterwards.
https://geoffreygaroghan.muchloved.com
Manor Lounge Stockport
Back in 2016 Rod supported the team from The Manor Lounge Apreciation group from Stockport who were raising funds for a blue plaque to be put on the site of the 60’s venue where Rod and also The Small Faces played early gigs
After 8 years trying to deal with the site owners The Stockport Music Story announced this week that they will be installing a Stockport Music Story commemorative plaque in honour of the much celebrated Manor Lounge club.
Pam Howes who Rod sent the signed photos to said this week
‘GREAT NEWS TO SHARE. After many, many years we are finally getting our commemorative plaque for our wonderful mid-sixties club, The Manor Lounge, where we first saw Rod Stewart with Steampacket, The Walker Bros, Small Faces, The Who and hundreds more. I’m so thrilled to be announcing this at last’
Anyone in the Stockport area on December 8th go to 289 Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK2 6ND, at 12 noon the unveiling will be followed by music from The Tall Faces in The Blossoms.
Faces Documentary
Rod told Tim Lovejoy, Helen Chamberlain and Robbie Knoxthe on the Soccer A-Z podcast this week that he was working with Kenney Jones and Ronnie Wood on an official Faces documentary saying “I’m meeting up with the last two members of The Faces tomorrow, and we’re working on a documentary, because next year will be our 50th anniversary, or 60s.
“I don’t know what it is, but when The Faces were together, and we’re trying to put out an album. So I shall be with Mr. Woods and Mr. Jones.
“As far as gigs, I got three before Christmas, then next year is really, really busy over the US and Europe.”
Stay tuned for more information on the project soon!
Jesse Jones
The SMILER team sends our Sincere Condolences to Kenney Jones on the loss of his son Jesse
Kenney posted a statement on Thursday
It is with a broken heart that I share the devastating news that my son Jesse has passed. I don’t have the words right now to fully express how I am feeling. But I want to thank you all for your kind wishes at this indescribably painful time and ask for continued love, respect and privacy as we try to navigate this profound loss as a family.
And Finally….
SMILER winners have been receiving the great flight case prizes from Wolfie’s this week, John Rafferty said Thank you Wolfie’s for sending me my SMILER – Rod Stewart Fanclub competition prize and thanks to SMILER for doing the competition
A very limited number of flight cases are on sale ..Check out Wolfie’s for details
And in other good news your favorite whisky is back on offer at the steal of a price of £25 with your clubcard at Tesco
So if we don’t see you down the spirits aisle we will see you next week…