Russ Abbot, the legendary musician and comedian best known for hosting The Russ Abbot Show from 1980 to 1996 and later work on Radio 2, recently surprised a local Somerset dance group with a heartfelt message. He thanked them for choosing one of his well-known hits as the soundtrack for their routines, delighting the participants.
Tina Blackwill, affectionately known as the ‘Pom-Pom Lady,’ runs dance sessions in care homes across Somerset, from Frome to Weston-super-Mare. Her goal is to bring joy and fun to residents through movement and music. Speaking to Somerset Live, Tina, 56, described her work as a privilege: “I just find it lovely. I find it a bit of a privilege. They’ve had lives, they’re people. They’re not just a number or a name.”
She chose Russ Abbot’s 1984 hit “Atmosphere,” which reached number seven on the charts, for its infectious energy and uplifting spirit. Tina said, “It’s such an uplifting, happy song.”
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While hosting a pom-pom session at Highfield House care home in Castle Cary, a resident mentioned that Russ Abbot now lives in Portugal. Tina decided to reach out to the comedian to share how much he had inspired them.
After some research, she found out that Russ still occasionally plays golf in England. Tina contacted his golf club to tell them about the dance group’s tribute. She admitted she wasn’t sure if he would respond, saying, “I thought, ‘he’s going to be busy sunbathing and playing golf’.”
To her surprise, the golf club replied within a week with an attached video message from Russ himself. In it, he warmly thanked the group and Tina for their support and praised her dedication: “I must commend you and applaud you for the wonderful work you do. It’s truly commendable, honestly.”
Russ added a humorous touch, saying he would love to come and sing “Atmosphere” with them but couldn’t remember the words. He joked about the possibility of living in a care home in the UK one day and putting on a show with his own pom-pom girls.
He concluded his message with warm wishes: “In the meantime, have fun, enjoy yourselves, always be happy. Well done, Tina. Keep up the good work. Enjoy yourselves. Oh, what an atmosphere! I remember that bit. Bye!”