Friday Funnies: Whitby out of tune with the times!
THIS week gossip columnist and man-about-town John Duckers discovers City Council leader Mike Whitby may be a little out of tune with the times.
A classic Whitby postscript to the recent Caribbean Food Festival held in Birmingham’s Victoria Square.
Celebrities included Wolverhampton pop star Beverley Knight, Levi Roots, Rusty Lee, 80’s pop legend Jaki Graham, weather girl Genelle Aldred and presenter Marverine Cole.
Heart FM’s Ed James was the stage host.
Anyway, Council Leader Mike Whitby officially opened the event, courting controversy from the outset and drawing gasps when he used the phrase ‘go sisters’ to describe the female Jamaican athletes, Jamaica being one of the sprint teams coming to train in Birmingham during the 2012 London Olympics!
Just before his speech though all the stars were waiting in the Council House to go on, when Beverley Knight introduced herself to Whitby.
And the conversation went something like this…
“Hi Mike, I’m Beverley.”
“Now which Beverley are you, what do you do?”
“Er, I’m the singer?”
“Singer? Well, I’ve never heard of you,” laughs not-so-with-it Whitby.
The poor diva’s agent then steps in. “You must have heard of her – Beverley Knight, pop star, MBE.”
“No, afraid not, no idea who you are,” retorts Mike. “Anyway, nice to meet you!”
Her agent was apparently fuming. Bev seemed embarrassed. Mike looked his usual bemused self!
Moral of the story – always read your briefing notes.
• For more questionable gossip, tittle tattle and trivia from Birmingham’s business community see Duckers & Diving .
