Sir Tom In the News, What's New, Pussycat?
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The Day Has Arrived: Arise, SIR Thomas Woodward!
Wednesday, March 29th, 2006The BBC website has video and an interview with Sir Thomas. These (Associated Press) photos are from their site:
Here’s the BBC story:
Singer Tom Jones has been knighted at Buckingham Palace for services to music.
He was invested as Thomas Woodward, his real name and the one under which he began singing for relatives as a boy in the 1940s south Wales valleys.
The 65-year-old miner’s son said accepting the knighthood was a “great and humbling honour”.
Speaking after the investiture, he said: “It is fantastic. It was lovely to see the Queen again.
“I love seeing the Queen and I have always been a royalist. She is lovely and she still is lovely.
“She has got a great smile and her whole face lights up when she smiles.”
Here’s the story being reprinted around the world from the Associated Press:
LONDON - Welsh singer Tom Jones is getting used to meeting Queen Elizabeth II — but Wednesday was something special as she dubbed him, “Sir Tom.”
The 65-year-old singer, a coal miner’s son from the Welsh town of Pontypridd, received the honor from the queen at Buckingham Palace.
Jones said he had met the British monarch “six or seven times, maybe more,” starting with a royal charity performance in 1966.
“I love seeing the queen and I have always been a royalist,” Jones said after the investiture. “She is lovely and she still is lovely.”
The big-voiced belter, who was accompanied by his son, daughter[-in-law] and granddaughter, said receiving the knighthood was “just tremendous.”
“When you first come into show business and you get a hit record, it is the start of something,” he said.
“As time goes on, it just gets better. This is the best thing that I have had. It is a wonderful feeling, a heady feeling.
“Sometimes you just can’t believe it, you think you have been dreaming.”
Born Thomas Jones Woodward, Jones began his singing career at age 3. His string of hits started with It’s Not Unusual in 1965, and includes What’s New, Pussycat?, Green, Green Grass of Home, Help Yourself, She’s a Lady, and I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.
After the ceremony, Tom and Mark look ecstatic. Mark, Donna and granddaughter Emma accompanied Tom to the ceremony. He was allowed three guests. He also was congratulated (and did congratulate) singers The Beverley Sisters, awarded MBE’s for services to music. Photos from the Sky News website.
Here are a story and photos from the BBC website March 28:
Tom goes to palace for knighthood
Tom Jones is to be knighted at Buckingham Palace for services to music.
He will be invested as Thomas Woodward, the name under which he began singing for relatives in 1940s south Wales.
He will be joined by the former Wales rugby coach Mike Ruddock who will collect an OBE for guiding Wales to their first Grand Slam in 27 years.
The former president of the National Farmer’s Union Peredur Hughes will also receive an OBE.
Tom Jones has come a long way since humble beginnings in Treforest, near Pontypridd in the south Wales valleys.
Known as Jones the Voice, the 65-year-old has sold millions of records amassed a huge fortune, and retained a devoted fan base while reinventing himself to appeal to a younger, trendier crowd.
He began his career in 1963 as a vocalist in the group Tommy Scott and the Senators then changed his name to Tom Jones and was a regular in working men’s clubs in south Wales, before moving on to fame and fortune nationally and internationally with his second single, It’s Not Unusual. His live performances made him a Las Vegas favourite and he moved to the US in the 1970s.
However Jones has always kept strong links with Wales, and last year gave a homecoming concert in Pontypridd’s Ynysangharad Park to mark his 65th birthday.
Wales Labour Party stalwart Anita Gale underwent her own name change when she became Baroness Gale of Blaenrhondda said she does not believe Jones the Voice will change now that he is Sir Tom.
“He’s a valleys boy,” she said, “and it will be strange for valleys people to call him Sir Tom. “But I think there will be a great deal of pride from local people that he’s got his title.”
March 29th, 2006 at 7:05 am
Today is finally Sir Tom’s big day! What a thrill, there are some great photos of him if you Google today’s news. I’m really excited for him, what an honour! He is so fabulous ; ))
March 29th, 2006 at 9:13 am
Thanks for all the great pictures. I haven’t seen a number of them. It’s wonderful Tom has his title although I wonder how often he will be referred to as Sir Tom. He should be very proud of himself!
March 29th, 2006 at 9:43 am
Congratulations Sir Tom! Great story and photos…thanks TJI!
March 29th, 2006 at 11:53 am
Wow! Look at all the photos/video stills you have now! He looks marvelous, I bet Queen Elizabeth was thrilled to see him too ; )) Anybody else think it was just coincidence there was a full solar eclipse today too? Not me! Tommy has the world rockin’ on it’s axis.
March 29th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
These photos are wonderful. The one of him between the two guards is priceless. Sir Tom is indeed a cheeky monkey (as my British friend, Kathleen, would say). It’s all good!!
March 29th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
Ok, one last post on this glorious day (knight!). This website has offered the most comprehensive and quickest delivery of the coverage of this amazing event and I wanted to say thanks to Ellen & Ursula for providing such a great website about all things Tom. You ladies are the BEST!
On that note, I’m heading home to mix up a martini and will offer up a toast of congratulations to our newly knighted Sir Tom Jones.
March 29th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Indeed Ellen and Ursula, you two should be responsible for http://www.tomjones.com. Keep up the good work! And don’t forget, thanks to all the fans that wrote to Downing Street!
March 29th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
In repsonse to Andre & Fay…..I very much agree that Ellen and Ursula are most definitely the best webmasters when it comes to delivering the goods on Sir Tom!!!
March 29th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
The official Tom Jones website has nothing on you girls! We USA fans really can’t thank Ellen and Ursula enough for all your hard work and dedication.
March 29th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
Thank you Ellen and Ursula for the great coverage of Tom’s special day! I worked all day into the evening and was as anxious to get to your site for the news. It was all there waiting for me to read. You girls made my night. We are all so proud of Sir Tom!
March 29th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
I thank you too Ellen and Ursula.
Sir Tom looks like if he feels as good as I, when he gave me his autograph on March the 4th. at MGM Grand. (I can compare it) Course we’re all very proud!
March 29th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
What’s a girl to say at the end of such a beautiful day for our Tom!!! Congratulations to the Man who really earned this honor. All his fans adore him for his many years of sharing that great voice and personality with us!! I am so proud to see this day happen for Tom!! And, wow, many thanks to Ellen and Ursula for all the great pics and news of the event. It is really great Tom is getting so much coverage on Google also.
March 30th, 2006 at 12:30 pm
What a most wonderful day for TJ!!!! What a great honour for him and it could not happen to a more deserving person. He has given so many people such great pleasure with his voice and personality over the years. I loved the picture of Tom, oops I mean Sir Tom, with the Queen, one of the best ones was of him with the beefeaters…..hope they werent escorting him to the Tower to have his head chopped off!!!!!!!!! I love ya Tommy and rock on!!!!!!!!! My thanks also to Ellen and Ursula for doing such a good job on their website. We almost had the news of the investure as soon as it happened.
Shirley CA