Meeting pop star James Morrison was a dream come true for Grimsby hospice patient

A SERIOUSLY-ILL hospice patient said she will draw strength from meeting pop star James Morrison.

Kellie Gray met the singer-songwriter backstage at Rasen Rocks, at Market Rasen Racecourse, where he performed to a packed stadium.

GREAT FUN: Alex Arundel and Abigail Glover at the Market Rasen gig.
BELTING IT OUT: James Morrison at Market Rasen. Pictures: John Aron
Picture Submitted by John Aron [mailto:johnaron@hotmail.com] James Morrison at Market Rasen
MORRISON-MANIA: Nichola Curtis and Alice Brading.
'YOU GIVE ME ...': James Morrison gives it his all.
ROCKING: One half of the Proclaimers – Charlie Reid on guitar.
FAMILY FANS: Raychel Dolby and her mum, Julie, were lucky enough to meet The Proclaimers.

Kellie, 32, is suffering from Gastroparesis, caused by diabetic complications, and uses St Andrew's Hospice, in Grimsby, for regular support.

The condition reduces her stomach's ability to digest food and can lead to malnutrition, dehydration and weight loss.

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But while her illness can make her weak, her heart was full of strength after the chart-topping star told her to "stay strong".

And James Morrison told the Grimsby Telegraph that he felt privileged his music – which frequently plays in the hospice's therapy room – was helping those in need. He said: "I have always felt very lucky to be able to help a person through my music. I never thought I would be that person and I still find it quite hard to get my head around.

"I like to think I am quite a compassionate person and the fact I am able to share my compassion on such a bigger level means a lot to me. It is why I do what I do."

James signed a programme for Kellie, writing: "It was a pleasure to meet you Kellie. Stay strong."

Kellie has been a fan of James Morrison for a number of years and listens to his music as a way of coping with her illness. She was brought to tears after meeting him, describing him as a "lovely guy".

She said: "It was so surreal to meet him. It was fantastic. He is a really nice, down to earth, lovely guy. His music touches me.

"He reaches out to people. Whenever I think of this moment I will smile sweetly to myself.

"The lyrics of his songs are so inspiring and helps me through the bad and the good days."

Morrison, whose mum is a nurse, also recorded a sound-bite for the hospice's Christmas e-card saying: "Support St Andrew's Hospice" which will be sold to raise money for the charity.

He added: "Some people just tell me they like my music, but then you get people like Kellie who really listen and take every word on board. They are the people I try to reach out to when I am writing my songs. It is those people that I am doing my job for."

Also among the meet-and-greet crowd were cheeky friends, Amber Roe-Gammon, 21, from Cleethorpes and Holly Aisthorpe, 20, from Tetney.

Dared by her friends, Amber pinched the star's bottom.

She said: "He just said 'go for it!' and stuck his bottom out! We also asked him for a shout out on stage. We are both big fans so it was great to meet him. He was a nice guy."