CHRISTMAS

Superfan’s whirlwind trip to pay respects to music hero George

A George Michael lookalike made a Last Christmas pilgrimage from Cleland to his idol’s former home to mark the first anniversary of the singer’s death.

Brendan Carr, 50, made the 16-hour round trip to Goringon-Thames in Oxfordshire on Christmas Day to pay tribute to superstar George who was found dead at his home on December 25, 2016.

Brendan, who has been taking his George Michael tribute act to venues the length and breadth of the UK for five years, joined fans from around the world to lay flowers at George’s front door along with a card promising to keep the singer’s memory and music alive.

When Brendan returned from holiday having grown a goatie beard five years ago, a number of friends commented on his striking resemblance to George.

That prompted Brendan to perform some of George Michael’s songs – and his tribute act, I’m Your Man, was born.

“Like many other people, I was having Christmas with my family in 2016 when I received a message asking if I’d heard the news of George’s death. My reaction was one of total shock,” said Brendan, of Bellside.

“I was getting people phoning me up asking if I was okay. Even though George had been through a difficult period in the couple of years before his death, it was so unexpected. He had been very hidden away from the media by his own choice and this came as a major shock.”

Brendan says making the trip to his homes in Goringon-Thames and Highgate was something he had wanted to do all year.

“I knew from social media fan websites that people were making the journey from different parts of the world on Christmas Day,” explained Brendan, who says many fellow fans commented on how like their idol he was, with one even commenting that he thought he’d seen a ghost.

“When I got there, it really hit me. I did not realise how emotional an experience it would be to be among the tributes and the flags.

“The love that was out there for the guy and still exists is amazing.”

While standing at George’s front door, Brendan comforted a sobbing woman who had travelled from Denmark for her fourth visit to the singer’s home since his untimely death.

“I spoke to his neighbours who were out walking their dogs near his house, which backs on to a beautiful lake. They were telling me how much he was loved in the village. They were so nice and told me to keep doing him proud with my show,” said Brendan, who works as an operations manager with the Kairos group of companies in Newhouse.

Lookalike Brendan, who says he’s fast becoming one of the UK’s top tribute acts to the star, will next perform his I’m Your Man show at the Parkstone Hotel, Prestwick, on January 20.