Young Dionne Warwick fan overjoyed as star goes out of way to sign poster

A Co Down child has been left overjoyed after singing sensation Dionne Warwick spotted him singing from the stage at her recent Belfast show and signed the poster that he was holding.

Jake Walker and his parents Alison and Dean moved to Holywood from Hertfordshire six years ago and his parents had been holding out on bringing him to his first. With both of his parents being Dionne Warwick fans, they decided that her 'Don't Make Me Over' show would be the perfect way to introduce their son to live music.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Jake's father Dean explained how his wife booked the tickets for the Ulster Hall show as soon as they had been released.

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"Both myself and my wife are pretty big fans, more so my wife who has been a big fan all her life. It has been a big part of our history and my wife managed to bag front-row seats which we were chuffed at," he said.

"Jake was quite keen to take a poster and wrote a message on the back for Dionne which she very kindly read and autographed on the front.

"Jake wasn't feeling very well and had a bit of a cough but we took him along regardless and hoped that he wouldn't make too much noise. We had gone to the toilet and my wife was left by herself listening to the last few songs.

"When Dionne left, Dave Wooley who had been interviewing her on stage came down and wanted to get a picture with Jake and the poster. My wife asked him to give the poster to Dionne and a guy took it away. We weren't expecting to see it back but when we came back from the toilets Dave came rushing out with the poster and explained that Dionne had read his letter and signed the poster for him."

Dave took a picture which he forwarded to Dionne and Dean explained that it was "hard to believe" that Dionne Warwick has a picture of their son on her phone.

"My wife is completely over the moon. They had noticed Jake singing along to the songs and when they came out for the second half they pointed him out."

Jake, a pupil at St Patrick's Primary School in Holywood, told us that his teachers were overjoyed when he brought the signed poster and photographs into school.

"I have heard so much about Dionne and it was so shocking when I saw her signature on my poster," the 10-year-old said.

"I love everything about her music. I like the music quality, and how she sings and it makes me feel really good.

"Most of my friends don't really know Dionne Warwick but all of the teachers did. They thought it was excellent."

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