ROD Stewart's concert at Portman Road will be remembered for many reasons - from the torrential rain which failed to dampen fans spirits to the sterling performance given by the veteran rocker.

ROD Stewart's concert at Portman Road will be remembered for many reasons - from the torrential rain which failed to dampen fans spirits to the sterling performance given by the veteran rocker.

But for one Ipswich woman, it will be remembered as the day one of her lifelong dreams came true.

Ask Theresa Worne when she first fell in love with Rod Stewart and there is no hesitation.

“From the first time I heard him sing Maggie May, I was 12-years-old, I started liking him more and more and I've adored him ever since.”

So when Theresa discovered she would be meeting her idol before his Portman Road gig on Tuesday, she couldn't believe her luck.

And that luck came thanks to Theresa's niece, Paula Titshall, who was the winner of The Evening Star's competition to win tickets to the show and the chance to meet Rod.

“I was so excited about the show, I'd already bought tickets and I just wanted it to be here,” said Theresa, of St Peter's Close, Woodbridge.

“Paula came round and she said she had entered and won the competition and I just said 'yeah, right', I thought she was winding me up. But she said it was serious and she wanted me to have it. I just started crying and I was shaking.”

So as well as her daughter, 26-year-old Miranda Worne, Theresa went to Portman Road with Paula and her mother Yvonne as well.

And before Rod took the stage, Theresa and Yvonne were taken backstage to meet the man she has idolised for years.

“I took my copy of the 1981 album, Tonight I'm Yours, with me for him to sign,” said Theresa.

“I told to him I've loved him for 37 years and he said it was really nice to hear and that he hoped we enjoyed the show. We were both talking to him and it was all over so fast. He came across as a really nice man.

“A lot of stars give you the idea that they are there to be looked at and you can't touch them but he wasn't like that at all, we asked if we could put our arms around him to have the picture taken and he laughed and said 'of course'.”

And with their daughters waiting outside, Theresa said she and Yvonne made the most of the once-in-a-lifetime meeting.

“I came out and I was sobbing, I was just totally blown away by it,” said Theresa.

“The concert was fantastic and meeting him was just a dream come true - I'm still trying to calm down now!”

Were you there? What did you think of Rod? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk