Legendary broadcaster Tony Blackburn OBE has come full circle, returning to Bournemouth Pavilion more than six decades after taking his first steps into showbusiness at the venue.

The broadcasting icon was recently back in Bournemouth with his popular Sounds of the 60s Live tour, but before taking to the theatre stage, he paid a special visit to the Pavilion Ballroom, where his career began in 1962 as an 18-year-old singer and guitarist with the resident Jan Rafini Orchestra.

Joined by Pavilion archivists Hilary Porter and Kelly, Tony stepped back into the ballroom and immediately recognised the spot where he used to perform.

"This is the exact spot I would stand in," he said. "It seems so small up here now. I can't believe we used to have a 15-piece band on here."

Born and raised locally, Tony attended school in Parkstone and studied at Bournemouth College. He joined the Jan Rafini Orchestra after teaching himself to read music, fulfilling a promise made by the bandleader that he could join the orchestra if he learned the skill.

The band played quicksteps and foxtrots in the ballroom, with Tony stepping out from behind his guitar to sing the latest pop songs.

“I wanted to be a singer from the age of four or five,” he says. “I don’t know why. My dad was a doctor in Poole and my mum was a nurse. There was no showbusiness background at all. I just always loved music.”

Seeing Billy Fury perform in Bournemouth strengthened that ambition.

“I remember seeing Billy Fury and getting quite depressed because I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do,’ but the chances of getting discovered are very few and far between.”

Tony knew he could play a little guitar, so he decided to approach bandleader Jan Rafini.

“I said I’d love to be in your orchestra and he said, ‘Can you read music?’ And I said, ‘No, I strum a bit like everyone else!’

“He said, ‘Well, if you go and learn to read music I will give you a place in the band.’ So I got a guitar tutor and about six months later I came back and Jan gave me a place in the band. He said I could sing as well, a bit.”

Tony also formed his own group, Tony Blackburn and the Swinging Bells, performing three or four times a week at local hotels and venues. But it was the Pavilion Ballroom that provided something he desperately needed; the chance to perform in front of a real audience.

Glancing around the ballroom 65 years later, he said;

“This was valuable as it gave me a chance to perform to an actual audience and I’m really grateful for that. So, this place really started me off. When I performed here, I always wanted to be in a proper stage show,” then, with a grin, he added, “and here we are!”

Alongside his ballroom performances, Tony was also a regular performer at Bournemouth Pavilion's famous Big Beat Nights in the early 1960s, appearing as a young singer and bandleader while Bournemouth's thriving music scene welcomed acts including The Beatles, Manfred Mann and Georgie Fame. However, he’ll never forget Bournemouth Pavilion.

"I will always remember this as the place that gave me my first chance," he said.

From Bournemouth Pavilion, Tony's remarkable career took him to Radio Caroline, where he joined the pioneering pirate station in 1964 before becoming the first voice heard on BBC Radio 1 when the station launched in 1967.

Now aged 83, Tony continues to entertain audiences across the UK with Sounds of the 60s Live, combining stories from his career with music from one of the most influential decades in popular culture.

Tony's return to Bournemouth Pavilion marks a remarkable full-circle moment for one of Britain's most recognisable broadcasters, revisiting the venue where a young musician first discovered his passion for performing before going on to become a national treasure.

As he performed to a sell-out audience this week, it was clear that Bournemouth Pavilion remains a special part of the story that started more than 60 years ago and is still being written today.

Bournemouth Pavilion is operated by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.

On behalf of BH Live, Nicola Coney, Entertainments and Events Manager, shared;

"Bournemouth Pavilion has a rich history of nurturing talent and hosting some of the biggest names in entertainment, so it was fantastic to welcome Tony Blackburn back to the venue where his professional journey began. His memories of performing in the Pavilion Ballroom provide a fascinating link to our past and highlight the important role the venue has played in Bournemouth's vibrant cultural and music scene for more than 90 years."

Bournemouth Pavilion has welcomed millions of visitors since opening in 1929 and remains one of the South Coast's leading entertainment venues.

As the venue approaches its centenary in 2029, its archive team is inviting residents and visitors alike to search their attics, basements, and cupboards for memorabilia that could help complete the theatre’s remarkable story.

Every artefact adds to the story of a building that has entertained generations and continues to inspire pride in Bournemouth. By sharing your treasures, you can help ensure that the Pavilion’s legacy is preserved for the next hundred years.

For more information, get in touch with the team at pavilion.archive@bhlive.org.uk.

For more information about Bournemouth Pavilion, including tickets and What’s On, visit bournemouthpavilion.co.uk.