Review: Noddy Holder was in his element during joyous Walsall homecoming gig

Fans travelled from across the country, as well as Europe and Caldmore, to attend the gig which was full of Noddy's old school friends, bandmates and family. And Slade fans delighted to be in the presence of Noddyness again.

The 77-year-old, who is celebrating 60 years as a professional musician, told countless stories from his time growing up in Caldmore and the Beechdale estate and his rise to stardom.

He also chose songs which were seminal in his life which Tom Seals and his band performed with a helping hand from Noddy on the microphone. The first song was the Al Jolson number his window cleaner father used to sing to his mother in local pubs to get out of the doghouse.

He said: "My father had a great voice, but he never wanted to sing professional, everyone knew him in Walsall. He would barter a lot, he would clean the butchers windows to get some meat and the barbers so me and him could have a hair cut."

Noddy was at his mischievous, irrepressible best holding the audience in the palm of his hand as he told anecdote after anecdote about bygone days in the Black Country.

Dressed impeccably with a leopard skin hat, despite approaching his ninth decade Noddy's wit is still razor sharp delivering one liners and easily dealing with over-exuberant fans bellowing from the darkness.

Peppering his chat with perfectly timed expletives Noddy showed he still has the rebellious Rock Star spirit. And Noddy was not afraid to tell tales of his wild days, including waiting for lothario Robert Plant to finish carnal relations in the back of his dad's window cleaning van as they toured local venues including swimming baths, working men's clubs and long demolished pubs of yesteryear.

Noddy joked: "Oh now Planty is a rock god, you don't hear stories like that anymore."

Tales about the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Status Quo, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Stevie Wonder and host of other stars were interwoven with ones about the mates he grew up with, and his family. Explaining how his mother meeting Michael Aspel on This Is Your Life finally made her realise he had done well for himself was another highlight.

His warmth shone throughout, and he had nothing but praise for his former Slade bandmates, and he even took time out to explain the widely believed story about Dave Hill sacking friend of 60 years Don Powell by email was not true.

Tom Seals played it perfectly, realising the home crowd wanted Noddy. However, fast becoming a star in his own right, Tom's musicianship was a joy to behold.

Noddy's fans loved every minute.

Especially lookalike Peter Hevican, who was returning to Walsall from his new home in Cornwall where everyone calls him Noddy.

The 68-year-old said: "This is just brilliant, too see Noddy in Walsall is fantastic. He is such a great bloke. I've come up from Cornwall for this and would not have missed it for the world."

Belgian fan Michael Van-Overstraeten said: "Slade blew my mind when I moved here in the early 1970s and I have been with them ever since. Noddy is just wonderful."

Brierley Hill fan Neil Shilvock added: "I've loved Slade since I was seven-years-old. They are still my favourite band. It is great to see Noddy on such good form."

Noddy would probably still be on stage now if he had his way, this local boy done good is a true Black Country treasure.