Diehard fan who fell for the wonder of Elvis

Audrey Playforth has idolised Elvis since she was just 12 years old and the 67-year-old has since dedicated her life to collecting more than 10,000 items of his memorabilia which now fill much of her home.

The rock ’n’ roll legend even has his own bedroom at Ms Playforth’s house in Leeds, which is fronted with specially made ‘Graceland’ gates.

Ms Playforth said: “I love him. It’s all about his legs, his lips and his looks.

“I fell for him instantly. Just looking at him makes me happy.

“I will never have enough Elvis stuff, he is my life.”

Littered around Ms Playforth’s house is more memorabilia than Elvis could shake his hips at, and his face is the focal point of every room.

Among piles of books, CDs and calendars are six clocks, two of which sing Elvis tunes on the hour, as well as gold records, plates, mugs, glasses and bingo dabbers.

At the top of Ms Playforth’s stairs there is even a cardboard-cut out of Elvis himself, and the bedroom he has dedicated to him comes crammed with towels, number plates, Christmas baubles and even an Elvis bedspread.

“Everyone thinks I’m mad,” said Ms Playforth.

“I will never buy enough stuff, and no matter how crazy my family think I am, they always pick me up new bits and pieces whenever they see anything.

“I would never throw anything away that had anything to do with Elvis.

“And none of it gets used, it’s kept in pristine condition.”

Anyone who telephones the grandmother-of-four causes the house to fill with Elvis’ music as her two singing phones begin to sound.

Her partner of more than 20 years, Trevor Blakeley, is forced to play second best to the music legend.

Mr Blakeley, 70, said: “Audrey loves him but I love him too and we love dancing so it’s a good combination.

“We go to a lot of rock ’n’ roll nights and when we are out and he comes on we love to get up and show the others how it is done.

“Someone bought me an Elvis onesie so that she would let me get into bed with her!”

Ms Playforth has even gone as far as to have an Elvis Presley credit card, after she opened an account specially with the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Of course the card, which comes with a classic picture of the rock ’n’ roll legend, has never been used and sits firmly within Ms Playforth’s purse.

She said: “I wouldn’t use it, it would be disrespectful to Elvis.

“The bank won’t renew it because I don’t use it, but I’ll keep it forever.”

Ms Playforth’s children, Gary, 46, and Tina 45, mock their mum’s obsession, and joke that they had a far from conventional upbringing.

“They always say all the other kids were singing ‘humpty dumpty’ but they didn’t know the words because they were too busy singing Elvis,” said Ms Playforth.

“They both joke that I’m mad but I always get something Elvis from them for my birthday and at Christmas.”

After Elvis Presley’s death in 1977, Ms Playforth was devastated by her loss.

She said: “When he died I was heartbroken.

“All my friends and family were ringing me up to check I was all right.

“It was awful, so sad.

“I’ve still got all of the newspaper cuttings from the time of his death.

“They’re all yellow and worn now but I would never throw them away.

“I’ve got a copy of his death certificate, as well as his birth certificate.

“If he hadn’t married Priscilla, he would have wanted me.”

Ms Playforth isn’t sure how much her collection is worth, but it is estimated to a six-figure sum.

“I would never sell any of it,” she said.

“Not even if it was worth millions.”