THE WORLD’S last seagoing paddle steamer, Waverley, is set to steam back into South West Wales this summer, with scheduled stops in Tenby, Fishguard, and Milford Haven.

Waverley will sail the Bristol Channel from June 2 to June 25, offering a series of scenic day trips and evening cruises. Among the standout voyages is the Pembrokeshire Islands Explorer Cruise departing Milford Haven on Monday, June 2, taking passengers around Skokholm, Skomer, and Ramsey islands — a rare chance to take in some of Wales’ best wildlife and coastal scenery from the deck of a historic steamship.

Tenby residents will want to mark Tuesday, June 24, in their calendars, as Waverley makes her only appearance in the town this year. The day includes a cruise from Penarth to Tenby’s picturesque harbour, followed by an evening sailing past Caldey Island and along the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline en route to Milford Haven.

Waverley will round off her Welsh visit on June 25 with her first public sailing from Fishguard in more than three decades — a momentous occasion for the port town.

Other highlights in the packed itinerary include three trips to the remote Lundy Island (June 3, 15, and 17), where passengers can enjoy time ashore exploring the rugged island where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic.

As part of this year’s Railway 200 celebrations, Waverley will also link up with three heritage steam railways — the West Somerset, Brecon Mountain, and Lynton & Barnstable lines — offering passengers a unique opportunity to combine steamship travel with a nostalgic train ride.

This season also sees more evening cruises than ever before. On June 9, passengers can enjoy a tranquil evening journey up the River Severn from Penarth, passing under its iconic bridges. Another evening cruise, taking in the Holms islands on June 20, will help raise funds for the restoration of the historic Motor Vessel Balmoral.

On June 18, the Captain’s Choice Cruise sails from Porthcawl to Minehead before tracing the dramatic Exmoor coastline to Ilfracombe. Passengers from Porthcawl will also have the option to take the West Somerset Railway or explore the towns of Minehead and Ilfracombe — or even head over to Lundy.

While on board, passengers can experience the magic of steam travel — hear the ship’s telegraph ring, peer into the Engine Room, and watch the paddles turn through portholes. With full catering on board, guests can enjoy anything from a light snack and afternoon tea to a hot meal in the saloon or a drink in one of Waverley’s period-style lounges. A souvenir shop is also available for those looking to take home a memento.

The iconic vessel is currently in Glasgow receiving over £1 million worth of maintenance and upgrades ahead of the 2025 season, which also marks 50 years since Waverley was saved for the nation and began sailing in preservation.

Captain Dominic McCall, Waverley’s skipper, said: “We’ve put together a fantastic schedule for South West Wales so that both locals and visitors can enjoy a trip on this unique vessel. I’m especially looking forward to cruising the Bristol Channel again — it’s one of my favourite stretches of water.”

To help make sailings more accessible, coach pick-up points have been arranged at various locations including Bridgend and Chepstow.

Special ticket deals are available throughout the season, including ‘kids for £1’ (ages 5–16), free travel for under 5s, and free companion tickets for seniors on selected dates.

Cruises start in Scotland on May 16 before Waverley heads south to Wales.

Tickets are on sale now and can be booked via www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk or by calling 0141 243 2224.

DUST off your platforms, grab your flares and head to the Torch Theatre for a night of glitter, groove and pure pop nostalgia. The UK’s top ABBA tribute show Thank ABBA For The Music is back – and it promises a high-energy, two-hour celebration of one of music’s most iconic bands.

ABBA, the Swedish sensation that took the world by storm in the 1970s, continues to dazzle fans of all ages with their timeless hits. From Dancing Queen to Waterloo, SOS, Mamma Mia, and Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, this live concert experience delivers all the songs you know and love – with added sparkle.

Expect stunning vocals, dazzling choreography, pitch-perfect harmonies and spectacular stage costumes. A talented cast, interactive video projections, and a dash of tongue-in-cheek Swedish humour combine to create a glitterball-fuelled party atmosphere. Audience participation is not just welcome – it’s encouraged!

Whether you’re an ABBA superfan or just fancy a fun night out, this show has won rave reviews across the country. The Times and Star called it a “FABBATASTIC NIGHT OUT”, while The Sands Centre, Carlisle crowned it “THE BIGGEST PARTY WITH THE UK’S BEST ABBA TRIBUTE.”

So go on – take a chance! Fancy dress is optional, but highly encouraged.

Thank ABBA For The Music comes to the Torch Theatre on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 June at 7:30pm. Tickets are £25 and selling fast. Book online at www.torchtheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

ONE of Hollywood’s poshest hotels had an unexpected guest. A global icon was relaxing in his executive suite, preparing for the party of all parties and the concert of all concerts.

Outside, Keith Williams, from Neath in South Wales, padlocked his rusty old bicycle in the bike rack. The two-wheeler was all he could afford as he tried to make a name for himself, creating ideas for pop videos. Surely bands could do more than just stand there, strumming, he told everyone. Could they maybe act out a story?

Keith nipped into the toilet to adjust his plastic yellow bow tie and bright red spectacles. He was ready. What was this invitation all about? He glanced again and again at the mysterious, gold-embossed invitation card. Just the address and time. Was it a prank?

Burly bodyguards appeared and ushered Keith along a grand corridor to a suite fit only for millionaires. Keith peered into the lavish surroundings. There, waiting with his entourage, was Elton John. Megastar of the 1980s.

‘I saw you cycling down Santa Monica Boulevard, dear, and wondered whether I should knock you down in my Bentley,’ Elton joked.

Memories came flooding back. The last time Keith and Elton had met was five years earlier at the star’s house in Windsor. Keith was sleeping on a bedroom floor while he worked on videos for Elton’s early tracks.

Now the great man had seen Keith’s credits on MTV. Was Keith’s video really the first to appear on the groundbreaking channel? Yes, it was. The video to promote the hit by the Buggles, Video Killed the Radio Star, was all down to the aspiring Welshman.

The evening had only just begun. Keith was ushered downstairs by elevator to the hotel car park, where a chauffeur awaited. His car was due to follow Elton’s limo as it snaked out of the hotel grounds.

A hefty police escort had been assembled with red flashing lights, blaring sirens, helmeted cops on motorbikes and more officers holding back traffic at junctions.

Their destination: The Universal Amphitheatre, venue for the evening’s concert.

Keith found himself in the middle of a pre-concert party. Elton appeared in a massive purple wig. His new wife, Renate, was there too, smiling gracefully at everyone.

A dazzling Indian buffet had been prepared by leading chefs, especially flown over from England.

The concert was beyond spectacular, with Elton performing at the peak of his career. It was far from a one-off reunion. Keith could look forward to thoughtful birthday cards, sent on the dot from Elton every year.

Thriller

Keith’s telephone started to ring non-stop. Soon after arriving in Hollywood, with his dream of creating pop videos for the stars, a music producer was on the line. News of that MTV video was spreading.

‘Have you heard of Michael Jackson?’

‘Er…no…who’s he?’


‘One of the Jackson Five.’

‘Oh, I’m not really into Motown.’

‘He’s gone solo. He’s got a new album coming out. Something called Thriller. Sounds promising. Needs storylines for the videos.’

‘I’m up for that,’ Keith answered enthusiastically.

‘Have a listen to two of the tracks. Billie Jean and Beat It, they’re called.’

Another chauffeur-driven limo appeared, whisking Keith to Michael’s home in Encino, an upmarket part of Los Angeles.

Inside the palatial property, there were flowers everywhere. Michael appeared, gliding into the reception lounge as if on roller skates.

When Michael spoke, Keith stared at him, aghast. No one had told Keith that Michael talked in a high-pitched squeak, like Mickey Mouse. Keith’s pitch for the video was tricky, as he tried to keep a straight face.

Keith had listened to Michael singing on the two tracks, but they sounded like a normal, impressive singing voice.

‘Hey, you’re talented, I really like those ideas,’ Michael squeaked.

On the set of Billie Jean, a surprise lay in store. Michael approached Keith. What did the star want on such a busy day?

‘Can I touch you on the forehead?’

Keith was mystified, never having had such a request before.

‘Sure,’ Keith nodded, allowing Michael to prod his brow.

Michael smiled, then walked back onto the set to continue singing. What was all that about?

It turned out that Michael was a fan of ET, in fact anything by director Steven Spielberg; touching the forehead was all the rage in LA. Keith had just had a close encounter with a future giant of the music industry.

Keith was now a long way from Neath. Back home in his bedroom, he recalled how he wasn’t allowed to put up posters of his idols. Now he was being whisked from exotic location to exotic location, working with them, and calling the shots.

Soon, Keith was filming Holding Out for a Hero with Bonnie Tyler when the downdraught from the helicopter almost blew her over the edge of the Grand Canyon. She was reluctant to venture close to the sheer drop again. Luckily, Keith’s mum, living just up the road in Skewen, had sent over some Valium for her son. Keith gave a pill to Bonnie, and she was able to perform her worldwide hit on the edge of a precipice.

His next phone call with an emerging singer proved to be fruitful, but there was a downside.

‘Hello, is that Madonna?’

‘Hi, Madonna here.’

‘Hi, I’m Keith.’

‘Keith?’


‘Keith from Neath. It’s in…it’s in Wales.’

‘You’re the guy who does the videos? You’re from…Wales?’

‘Yes, and I know you’re going to be very famous in Wales!’

A few ideas from Keith, delivered to the bamboozled Madonna, and then: ‘Oh, I like that…oh, I like that.’

Keith composed the video story for her 1984 hit, Borderline. Madonna plays the girlfriend of a Hispanic man. Keith’s idea was to break taboos about interracial relationships.

All was not plain sailing with Madonna, though. Keith had no idea she was going to be a global sensation and pursued other projects instead of sticking with her. Also, he was given custody of the master tape for another future hit. Keith admits in his book…he lost it.

Calls from agents flooded in. The promotional video for the Ghostbusters film was Keith’s creation.

Then, another call out of the blue from a prominent agent.

‘Would you be free to meet Barbra Streisand?’

‘Let me check my diary.’

A microsecond later: ‘Yes, I appear to be free.’

The next day, a black limousine pulled up, whisking Keith along the Pacific Coast Highway to Ms Streisand’s beach residence in Malibu.

Five residences, actually. Not on the beach itself; her estate was set well back, lying at the end of a one-track lane. Streisland, more like it, Keith thought.

Barbra appeared at the door. ‘Would you like some coffee?’

Keith took a while to get his head around sitting in Barbra Streisand’s kitchen while she put the kettle on.

As they discussed potential videos, Barbra paused and said: ‘You’re brilliant.’

Keith wanted to know what she did with so many houses.

‘Well last night, I had dinner in the house over there, I had a bath in another, and then slept in this one!’

The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Billy Idol, Phil Collins and so many stars of the ’80s used Keith’s concepts for their videos. Olivia Newton-John adored the Welsh ‘ideas man’, taking him all over the world on her video shoots while he came up with more and more story outlines for her.

Keith was thrilled to be credited as the writer on Olivia’s Twist of Fate collection of music videos in 1983. That was some honour, working with Olivia and John Travolta.

Keith’s many other memories include Tina Turner on his lap in the back of an opulent limousine, glugging from a rapidly emptying champagne bottle, and sheer elation as one of his videos made it to No. 1 in America.

One of the funniest incidents in a tragic and shocking situation stayed with Keith, and he related the story many times.

TV presenter Peter Ivers was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in Los Angeles. Keith was dragged into the affair because one of his best friends, David Jove, happened to be a main suspect. The late Mr Jove was also implicated in a drugs bust involving the Rolling Stones in England.

Actor Paul Michael Glaser, who knew Peter Ivers well, turned up at the crime scene, heartbroken over the brutal crime. A rookie cop recognised Paul, who starred as Detective Dave Starsky in the all-action TV cop series, ‘Starsky and Hutch’.

‘Excuse me sir, what should we be doing to find the killer?’ the rookie asked Starsky, loud enough for everyone to hear.

‘I don’t know!’ Paul Michael Glaser replied as laughter was disguised as polite coughs. ‘I’m not a real cop. I’m an actor!’

Keith Williams died in 2023 at the age of 73. He had written his memoir, The Boy Who Went to Hollywood, including many of these fascinating stories and more.

His friend and collaborator, Disney producer Paul de Vos, decided that Keith’s escapades in Los Angeles would make a fascinating book.

With more than a little help from Paul’s friends, Keith’s adventurous life is now published for music fans to read.

The Boy Who Went to Hollywood was an Amazon hot new release and bestseller as soon as it came out. Keith would be delighted to read the reviews!

The Boy Who Went to Hollywood is edited by David Meikle and Paul de Vos. You can purchase it HERE

Article by David Meikle