BROKEN toe notwithstanding, skiffle king Lonnie Donegan appears at Trimdon Labour Club on Saturday - though tomorrow's gig at The Arc in Stockton is off. "He might have to sit on a stool. He won't be getting quite as carried away as usual," says John Burton, the prime minister's constituency agent - and concert chairman for the night. Lonnie's 69, lives in Spain, won the MBE - sponsored, apparently, by music loving Mo Mowlam - in the birthday honours. He's also due to sing at one of the receptions at next week's Labour party conference, on the same guest list as Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell. Next year he celebrates 50 years in show business, these days advertising his albums in Saga magazine but with half an eye on another long playing record. Cliff Richard, 60 next month, has 40 years between top ten hits - Move It in September 1958 and Can't Keep This Feeling In, October 1998. Lonnie first entered the charts with Rock Island Line in 1956 but hasn't been in the top ten since The Party's Over (rather appropriately) in 1962. There's talk, however, of a jubilee release, possibly featuring Van Morrison and Elton John. Trimdon will be happy to see him back on his feet: the £17.50 a head show is a sell out.
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