THE ROCKET MAN LANDS IN AIRDRIE

Elton will be in full focus

Thousands will pack Airdrieonians’ Excelsior Stadium this Saturday night to rock along with Sir Elton John – but few will be able to see the icon with the crystal clear vision of the team from Hughes & McHugh opticians.

The kind-hearted husband-and-wife team behind the Airdrie town centre practice – Kate and Arthur McHugh – snapped up 30 tickets for the long-awaited gig for them and their “dedicated and hard-working” staff.

The Anderson Street business – run by the couple for 29 years and based in Airdrie for 22 years – took advantage of its close links with Airdrieonians to get its hands on the much sought-after briefs.

Operations manager Kate, from Coatbridge, explained: “We were notified in advance of the tickets going on sale by email through our partnership with Airdrieonians Football Club.

“I thought it would be a fitting reward for our dedicatedde and hard-ard-workingha team of staff to buy tickets for the concert for them alll and immediately snapped up 30.

“We have 34 staff in total but someone of them will be away on annual leave so everyone that can go to see Elton willillwi be there, including Arthur and I.

“We’ve all got seats together, so we’ll be the rowdy ones that everyone can hear!

“It’s brilliant to be able to be a part of such a massivema local event and our team cannot wait for Saturday night.”

While Kate and company’s excitement growsgro for Sir Elton’s Airdrie bow this weekend,we it won’t be the first time optician Kate has got to feast her eyes on the Rocket Man. She said: “I saw Elton perform at the Hydro in Glasgow last year and also saw him at another gig a number of years ago.

“He sang all of his back catalogue at the Hydro concert and it was a superb show.

“It will be extra special to see him perform in Airdrie, though, as it’s not

every day something like this comes to your doorstep.

“IamIam a fan ofElton’smusicandwillofElton’smusicandwill be singing along on Saturday night.

“We close at 4pm on a Saturday, so we’ll have plenty of time to get prepared for, and head to, the concert.” And whatofwhatof the chances of the Hughes & McHugh team furnishing Sir Elton himself with a new pair of glasses? “If he came and asked us for a pair, we’d be only too happy to oblige!”, said Kate. “Only thing is I don’t know if we’d have a pair flamboyant enough for him!”