THE minute she walked in the joint, Joe could tell she was a girl of distinction, a real heart-render.

For Joe Longthorne, who made his name with impressions of stars like Shirley Bassey, was looking at a walking miracle.

When he last set eyes on Barbara Hobbs she was in a wheelchair, having suffered horrific neck and back injuries on her way home from one of his concerts five years ago.

At the time a distraught Joe visited her in hospital, sent flowers, and when she was recovering, pushed her wheelchair into the theatre for one of his shows.

Since then, Barbara has made a full recovery - thanks not only to the work of surgeons and therapists, but to inspiration from the singer she calls Mr Therapy.

She has loyally travelled far and wide to see him in concert, on average once a month.

But she never thought she would get the chance to talk to him face-to-face again - until last weekend's chance meeting with Citizen managing editor Bob Gray.

Bob, hearing her story, arranged for her to go backstage after Joe's North Pier performance on Saturday night.

And now, Barbara may get the chance to return the health-giving inspiration Joe gave her.

For Joe is suffering from a back injury, the result of an accidental fall which impedes his stage act, once full of energy, and Barbara, an aromatherapist and former nurse, has vast experience in alleviating back ailments, not least because of her own recovery.

She keeps a candle constantly burning for him in what she calls the healing corner of her aromatherapy centre in Wakefield, where she is a remedial therapist and produces aromatherapy products.

"I was overwhelmed to see him again," she said, "and he was very pleased to see me.

"He is such a gentleman. We had a lovely chat."

Barbara writes reviews of his concerts for other fans in Joe's friendship club.

Following his North Pier performance she has written a special review for the Citizen.

In it she writes: "I spend my life helping people feel well, using essential oils and a healing hand.

"My oils have various therapeutic values, and here, standing in front of me, was a man who has every one of these values.

"He is a tonic, he is uplifting, yet he is relaxing. He is, of course, an aphrodisiac, and his voice is so very healing to just about everyone who listens to him.

"To me, and many more, he is Mr Therapy."

Joe Longthorne appears on North Pier from Wednesday to Sunday every week until November 1.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.