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fortnight passed, then a month, and still no word came. A month turned into six weeks, Shirley was seriously out of work, and even Mrs Mendi was downcast. All the girls were growing anxious, devastated by the knowledge that the Tiger Bay community was beginning to enjoy a laugh at their expense. ‘That’ll teach the little madams to brag about their wonderful American show,’seemed to be the prevailing sentiment. What nobody had pointed out to worried girls was that the delay was absolutely typical of show business at that level, and that rehearsals rarely began on time.
    And then the call came. The Bay Girls took a train to London and presented themselves for their final audition at rehearsal rooms opposite the Windmill Theatre in Soho. A black stage manager named Bennie marshalled the girls into a row and introduced Eddie Reindeer, the star of the show and the only white face in the entire company. Reindeer flashed his ‘star’ smile at the girls, and asked what they were going to sing.
    Shirley, supposedly toughened by her years on the pub and club circuit, was the natural spokesman for the group. But tough or not, this was London and the big time, and she was scared to death. Nervously, she stepped forward and muttered that they would sing ‘Walking My Baby Back Home’. She then had the difficulty of trying to sort out the key with the pianist, but at last they got under way and delivered the number.
    Eddie Reindeer thought the group sounded a bit ragged, and asked to hear Shirley sing on her own. He pronounced her ‘not bad’ but, ironically in view of her future career in which she came to utilise arm movement to dramatic effect, said, ‘Not so much of the arm movements dear, you’re not directing the traffic.’ To Bennie, Reindeer said, ‘Nice loud voice. We’ll give her a song.’
    The Bay Girls in a state of stunned disbelief mixed with euphoria, returned to Cardiff. They had one week at home before starting rehearsals and going on tour in a professional show. Shirley’s mother, bursting with pride atthe news that her daughter had been given her own song in a real show, decided to give a party. All the Bay Girls came, of course, several with boyfriends, and some of their families, and toddlers and ‘aunties’ and ‘uncles’. By the time the party really got going and the toddlers were fast asleep in corners, the guests were so numerous that they overflowed and everybody went along to the Lord Wimborne pub. When the pub finally closed, those – including Shirley and her family – who still weren’t ready for bed, moved on to the lounge of a nearby hotel and partied the night away.
    There would be other nights and other parties all around the world for Shirley. But this one was special – the first and one of the best. She was surrounded by those who loved her, with her mother by her side. She had a glimpse of an exciting new life.

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L OUSY H OUSES , S TINKING D IGS , G ET Y OURSELF A B OY W HO’S R ICH !
    THE GRAND THEATRE, Luton, always had standing room only on Saturday nights. Both houses on Mondays were sparse, but things improved during the week and filled up by the weekend, when people were looking for a night out. Few houses in Luton had television in 1953, and a trip to the Grand was usually a good night out. You were guaranteed an orchestra with lots of brass, bright lights and pretty girls – a good show.
    It was at the Luton Grand that Shirley Bassey fulfilled her first truly professional engagement, appearing twice nightly for a week in
Memories of Jolson
. The Luton people were full of this new show ‘from America’, noting that ‘Al Jolson’ wasn’t a real darkie, ‘he wears greasepaint.’ The girls were good, too. Real American coloured girls.
    The Ben Johnson Ballet had been engaged for the show, and the Bay Girls were delighted to discover that Louise Benjamin from Tiger Bay was in the ballet company. She had come to London some months earlier and foundherself the job