Westlife fan's cost of devotion is £30k - and a husband
IT may have cost her £30,000 and a marriage but Jane Holmes' devotion to Irish boyband Westlife is unbreakable.
The 44-year-old mother-of-two, of Exeter Road, Forest Fields, has sung and screamed her way through 60 of the band's concerts at venues all over the UK and Ireland.
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Faithful fan: Jane Holmes has seen Westlife perform at 60 concerts during her £30,000 spending spree on the grou. Her ambition is to meet the band before they call it a day next year.
The pub cleaner has tattoos of the band – Shane Filan, 32, Mark Feehily, 31, Nicky Byrne, 33, and Kian Egan, 31 – on her legs.
She also has two Westlife logos on her left arm and all the boys' names on the inside of one forearm.
Her ambition is to meet her idols – famous for hits including Mandy, Uptown Girl, You Raise Me Up and I Have A Dream – before they call it a day after a farewell tour next spring.
"I'm a complete Westlife nutter," admitted Jane. "With their music, you can hear every word they are singing. The shows they put on are excellent."
But she admits her love of the band was a factor in the break-up of her marriage.
"My husband knew before we got married that they would come before him. The thing that he couldn't hack was the attention my love of them brought," she said.
"My favourite is Mark. He's got an absolutely amazing voice. He's a fairly good looking chap as well."
Jane says her favourite song is Flying Without Wings and she plans to get one last tattoo featuring the words 'Westlife Flying Without' and a pair of angels wings on her back.
She is also hoping to get the groups' autographs which she plans to have tattooed above or below their pictures on her legs.
Jane added: "I saw them in Doncaster on July 30 this year. I was right at the front holding a massive banner saying 'Westlife – Will You Autograph My Portraits Of You All? Nicky kept looking at it but didn't say anything. They called fans onto the stage but I was not one of them. I was gutted.
"I'm camping outside HMV in Manchester the night before they release their Greatest Hits CD on November 21st. There's no way I'm missing out on them signing my copy."
Although Jane's son Stephen Fogg, 17, is not a Westlife fan, 19-year-old daughter Lyndsey is and accompanied her mother to the boys' tenth anniversary concert at Dublin's Croke Park.
She said: "Mum's mad but I've grown up with it. I always go with her to the concerts. I like Nicky the best."
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by maryofdungloe
Tuesday, November 15 2011, 1:03AM
“"she's allowed to spend her money on what she wants, as long as she isn't harming anyone else"
errrrrrrrrrrr try explaing that to the poor man she dumped for a boy band she isn't very likely to meet. Giving up a good relationship and marraige.”
by maryofdungloe
Tuesday, November 15 2011, 12:58AM
“Amzylouise
I totally agree with you. Don't get me wrong I like Westlife too and saw them a few times 1st time around.
This woman is absolutely crazy though, who if their right mind would give up a loving marraige for a boy band who she isn't likely to ever meet, and who are quiting the msuic industry next year, which makes a possible meeting all the more rarer.
I'm half Irish so i'm into Irish bands and music, but I wouldn't give up a romantic relationship up over a boy band.”
by MarkXBSSensor
Monday, November 14 2011, 2:17PM
“Oh, WestLIFE!
What are they?”
by MarkXBSSensor
Monday, November 14 2011, 2:16PM
“You'd have thought she would have seen the light and dumped them...........
Like they dumped the Broad Marsh!”
by amzylouise
Saturday, November 12 2011, 10:20PM
“I think you will also find that i am entitled to voice an opinion because what this woman spends her money on is her business - but when she puts it across all media forums it is in the public eye. She does this purely to get attention, if its negative so be it.
I feel sorry for her daughter because i hear she gets a lot of negative attention at school because of this.”
by amzylouise
Saturday, November 12 2011, 10:15PM
“You'll find i make a sweeping statement because this woman was a pub cleaner in Hucknall. You'll find i know she only works part time - all of which I have not mentioned.
Im not saying she is a lowly cleaner, im saying I KNOW she doesn't earn the money to pay for this.
I think your statement regarding my pupils is disgusting; I encourage children's interests and strengths. I do not encourage them scrounging off the state whilst spending most of their money on a bizarre obsession with a boy band.”
by nicnottingham
Saturday, November 12 2011, 8:12PM
“amyzlouise - I pity the pupils you teach. I hope you are not as judgemental in your classroom as you are on here. How can you make such a sweeping statement? There are numerous scenarios that may explain how she funds her passion - many of which do not mean her children 'go without'. I respect your right to reply and we all have our own opinions. Like you, I am bewildered by the depth of her commitment but I do recognise her dedication - something which I would expect a good teacher to nuture in a classroom.”
by sime64
Saturday, November 12 2011, 7:45PM
“What business is it of anyones what this woman spends her money on? For all you know she may have had an inheritance, a win maybe? Are you suggesting that a 'lowly' cleaner can't do nice things and have nice things? Personally I think its a shame she lost her husband over what is a basically a 'covers' band but she has made her choices and seems happy enough. Its her life and as long as she is doing no harm why can't she live it how she chooses without ridicule?”
by amzylouise
Friday, November 11 2011, 3:16PM
“Firstly, i comment on this because it is a forum and this woman going to press obviously wants to achieve this or she wouldnt have brandished her self across the newspapers and television. That makes it my right to comment on such stories.
Secondly, this woman is a pub cleaner who probably only earns £100 a week so 45% of your weekly income spent on such a thing is ridiculous when you have two children. I think its dire that you would even mention the money being spent on such a thing as booze, i just assumed she might want to spend it on her family perhaps. Silly me.
I clearly do not have an issue with budgeting but you're clearly a comedian. What i do think, however, is that with a child my spare cash is spent on my family. Not covering myself in ridiculous tattoos.
Im entitled to my opinion, as you are. But, if this woman didnt want this discussing she wouldnt have publicised herself in the vain hope westlife might see it and pity her enough to meet her. Incredibly sad.”
by CatInadustbin
Friday, November 11 2011, 1:20AM
“Amzylouise - why do you feel the need to comment on this ? She's spent £45 a week (correct me if i'm wrong - you are the teacher) on seeing this band. Maybe she ought to spend it on booze and fags ?
As a teacher you must be earning £26 - 34k plus 13 weeks holiday a year ? If you need help with budgeting your household bills then the Citizens Advice Bureau are very good. You can find them through any search engine.”