MY LESSONS life FROM
Singer and TV presenter Cheryl Baker (64) talks to Yours about friendship, the importance of following your dreams and that age is just a number...
Home is where the heart is
I changed my name to Cheryl Baker in 1975; my maiden name was Rita Crudgington. I was told it wasn’t ‘stagey’ enough. Family and friends said, ‘What do we call you?’ I said, ‘Rita. I’m still me.’ It’s like there’s two of me – the real me and the stage me. Rita Stroud is the homeloving one who lays on the bed in her dressing gown tickling her dog’s belly. That’s reality. I hang Cheryl Baker in the wardrobe.
Follow your dreams
I left school at 16 and was a shorthand typist in the city earning a good living, but all I wanted to do was be a singer. At 21, I rang my mum and said, ‘There’s an advert for a singer. What do you think I should do?’ She said, ‘Ring ‘em, they can only say no.’ She and Dad could’ve said,
‘No, Rita, be sensible.’ They were very ordinary people. They allowed me to follow my dreams, they didn’t smother them. I’ve done the same with my twins, Kyla and Natalie. If you don’t, you’ll never know.
Listen to fate
My husband Steve and I have been together 26 years, but it took 12 years of friendship until we went out. He was a bass player dating a friend of mine. She took me to see him play in a pub, then our paths kept crossing. I did backing singing on New Faces and he’d be in a band playing. When Bucks Fizz did Song for Europe with Making Your Mind Up, Steve was in the band who came third. The first tour we did, our label said, ‘Would you take Kate Robbins as your support act?’ Steve was in her band. Her band were better than ours, so – next tour – we borrowed hers. Fate offers a helping hand. You need to listen if it’s trying to fling something in your direction.
Think positive
I don’t see the glass as halffull, my glass is overflowing. I’m a really happy person. Steve tells me to cheer down rather than cheer up. I’m a true believer that, if you’re thinking good things, you bring good things to you.
Age is just a number
My late mum said: ‘Reet, I know I’m in my 80s, but in my head I’m still 19.’ That’s how I am. That’s why I did Dancing on Ice. I don’t let it hold me back. Your skin goes a bit saggy, but I don’t care. I’ll never retire. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.
Friendship takes priority
My dearest friends are my school friends. We get together every six weeks and, once a year, we’ll have a long weekend. If ever any of us have problems, we’re there for each other. If I’m offered a job the same time as a girlie weekend, the girlie weekend takes priority. Friends are more important than money. I don’t want to go to my grave with a fat bank balance. I want a heart and head full of wonderful memories.