THE ISLE OF WIGHT TODAY NEWSPAPER: DURAN FAN IN POP EPIC
By Gavin Foster
A RYDE mother is so besotted by pop group Duran Duran that she is taking a three-week holiday to
follow the band on all 14 dates of its UK comeback tour.
Irene Turner, 35, will travel with two Duran Duran pals on a countrywide trek taking in shows in London, Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff and a VIP show in Glasgow. She will travel on boat, plane, train and car - possible a Kia Rio in honour of one of the band's biggest hits - during her pop odyssey. While she is away, patient husband Ralph, who works as an electrical technician at AMS, Cowes, will look after sons Arthur, eight and Aaron, six, as mum racks up the miles. She will undertake the trip with two fellow Duran Duran fans she met on the internet, Ally Hughes-White, 36, of Birmingham, and Sana Thakore, 34, of South London. Former IT lecturer and maths and computer science graduate Irene, of Marlborough Road, said: "When we first talked about going to all the shows there were only going to be a few but it has grown and grown and more dates have been added. "I just pray that they do not add any more!
"I dread to think what it will cost but the tickets are £35 each and VIP tickets for Glasgow around
£200. "Ralph has been pretty cool about things but he raised his eyebrows every time a new date was
added and the tour got bigger. "I just can't wait. I have seen the band several times before but I
think this time will be the best ever. "I have loved Duran Duran since about 1980. I love the whole
package - the look, the music. There is a special magic when the five get together. They are all mates and it shows when they are on stage. "It is their first UK tour as a group for 18 years and we are all really excited about being a part of it." In the time she has followed the group, Irene has built up a massive collection of Duran Duran memorabilia including bags, posters, badges, towels, flags and even rubbish bins as well having all their records. When it is on display, the collection takes up an entire room.
