'It has always been about entertaining'

The latest news from clubland with Dave Norman

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In this week's clubland we pay tribute to the local, legendary Drag Queen artiste and charity fundraiser Bobby Mandrell, who has announced his retirement and is hanging up his gown for the final time.

Always guaranteed to bring some glamour to proceedings, Hull's own Ray Millington, much better known as Bobby Mandrell, his glitzy stage alter-ego and LGBQI icon.

A Hessle Road lad, Ray was born in 1953 down Wassand Street in Hull. He said: "The house was always full of fun as I lived with my grandparents, mum, dad, aunt and uncle, which wasn't unheard of in those days.

"My dad was a fisherman and my mum worked as a barmaid for over 28 years, pulling pints in most of the well-known pubs down Hessle Road".

Ray was always around music as his great-grandmother was an old-time music hall singer, his dad sang and played the piano at the old Granada Club on Anlaby Road and his uncle and aunt were both country and western singers.