Hyndburn Elvis fan is all shook up by trip Down Under (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Hyndburn Elvis fan is all shook up by trip Down Under

8:00pm Sunday 15th January 2012 in News By Emma Cruces, Reporter

AN Elvis fan from Hyndburn is all shook up after being invited to recite his poems on stage at the Sydney Opera House.

Darryl Ashton only published his volume of poetry nine months ago and has already been invited to Graceland and on an Elvis-themed cruise.

Now he has been asked to perform at a special event Down Under to mark the 35th anniversary of the King's death.

The summer event will be screened on TV across the country and is also expected to be syndicated around the world.

The former QE2 restaurant manager said he has been ‘flabbergasted’ at the response to his poems ‘Happy Birthday, Elvis’ and ‘An Interview with the King, Elvis’.

The 52-year-old, of Great Harwood, said: “It’s amazing and I can’t wait to travel to Australia and take part in this amazing event.

“It’s really exciting because it’s been one thing after another and the response has just snowballed. As well as the opera house and being invited to Graceland, I’ve been asked to appear at Elvis festivals in Europe and to read my poetry at hotels. It’s fantastic that people enjoy what I have written so much.”

Darryl started writing poetry five years ago, following medical retirement from a career in hospitality that included the post of Silver Service Restaurant Manger on the QE2.

He originally found fame as a stand-up comedy poet on the local circuit of poetry clubs and published his first book of poetry My World of Poems in April last year.

After Darryl’s triumph in being invited to Graceland was featured in the Lancashire Telegraph, our online story attracted the attention of the Sydney Opera House.

To read Darryl’s poetry visit www.comedypoet.wordpress.com