A 12-year-old Port Alfred girl’s birthday wish to meet the drummer of British boy band One Direction, nicknamed 1D, came true on Saturday.The musician came to visit his grandparents in Port Alfred – and she got him to sign a mountain of merchandise.
Not wanting to miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime, 1D fan Nakita Avis got tattooed heartthrob Josh Devine to sign a tog bag full of photos, books, cushions, posters, CDs and DVDs of the band after he agreed to meet her at popular West Beach.
“I am so excited! I love One Direction!” she gushed.
Devine, who arrived in his grandfather John Clayton’s old model Toyota sedan, with gran Kathy and his dancer girlfriend Holly Farnworth, had no problem posing for pictures with Nakita and patiently signing her One Direction collection.
Although Devine is not one of the five good-looking English-Irish singers recruited by music mogul Simon Cowell to front One Direction, the session drummer has become a vital part of the band after they asked him to play with them.
Nakita’s mom, Geraldine Avis, said her daughter was such a big fan there was hardly an inch of space left on the walls of her bedroom, which were “covered floor to roof” with band posters.
Two months ago the youngster was hoping Devine would find time in his busy tour schedule to visit his grandparents and attend her One Direction-themed birthday party.
At her party, youngsters feasted on a massive One Direction cake, complete with faces of the band members, and were even given 1D emblazoned facecloths to take home to remember the occasion.
Although the 23-year-old used to visit his grandparents every two years in Port Alfred, he has been unable to come for the past six years as his music career took off.
“I love coming here. It is very chilled,” he said.
Avis has known Devine’s grandparents for years and they set up the meeting.
Accustomed to being mobbed by 1D fans, Devine said it was great to get away and walk on the beach with his girlfriend without people recognising him.
“It is fun having all the hysteria, but it is also nice just to chill and not have to deal with people getting in your face every 10 minutes.
“I feel I have the best job out of everyone in the band. I get to experience the highs of being on stage and still remain a little more low-key than the others.”
Devine’s parents have roots in Africa. Although he was born in England, his mother grew up in Durban and his father in Zimbabwe.
He said he had been playing drums since he was three when he was given a drum kit by his parents and a sound-proofed closet under the stairs of their house for him to practice.
Although Nakita is an uber-fan of One Direction and Devine, she is not his number one fan.
According to Devine, his “biggest fan ever” is his grandmother, Kathy Clayton.
The proud Port Alfred pensioner said it was “absolutely fantastic” how her grandson’s career had taken off since he joined the band.
“One Direction is the biggest boy band in the world, but it has not gone to his head. He is still plain old Josh. He is a real sweetie for making time to see his old granny, but that’s just the type of boy he is.”
Dream Devine for Kowie girl
Not wanting to miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime, 1D fan Nakita Avis got tattooed heartthrob Josh Devine to sign a tog bag full of photos, books, cushions, posters, CDs and DVDs of the band after he agreed to meet her at popular West Beach.
“I am so excited! I love One Direction!” she gushed.
Devine, who arrived in his grandfather John Clayton’s old model Toyota sedan, with gran Kathy and his dancer girlfriend Holly Farnworth, had no problem posing for pictures with Nakita and patiently signing her One Direction collection.
Although Devine is not one of the five good-looking English-Irish singers recruited by music mogul Simon Cowell to front One Direction, the session drummer has become a vital part of the band after they asked him to play with them.
Nakita’s mom, Geraldine Avis, said her daughter was such a big fan there was hardly an inch of space left on the walls of her bedroom, which were “covered floor to roof” with band posters.
Two months ago the youngster was hoping Devine would find time in his busy tour schedule to visit his grandparents and attend her One Direction-themed birthday party.
At her party, youngsters feasted on a massive One Direction cake, complete with faces of the band members, and were even given 1D emblazoned facecloths to take home to remember the occasion.
Although the 23-year-old used to visit his grandparents every two years in Port Alfred, he has been unable to come for the past six years as his music career took off.
“I love coming here. It is very chilled,” he said.
Avis has known Devine’s grandparents for years and they set up the meeting.
Accustomed to being mobbed by 1D fans, Devine said it was great to get away and walk on the beach with his girlfriend without people recognising him.
“It is fun having all the hysteria, but it is also nice just to chill and not have to deal with people getting in your face every 10 minutes.
“I feel I have the best job out of everyone in the band. I get to experience the highs of being on stage and still remain a little more low-key than the others.”
Devine’s parents have roots in Africa. Although he was born in England, his mother grew up in Durban and his father in Zimbabwe.
He said he had been playing drums since he was three when he was given a drum kit by his parents and a sound-proofed closet under the stairs of their house for him to practice.
Although Nakita is an uber-fan of One Direction and Devine, she is not his number one fan.
According to Devine, his “biggest fan ever” is his grandmother, Kathy Clayton.
The proud Port Alfred pensioner said it was “absolutely fantastic” how her grandson’s career had taken off since he joined the band.
“One Direction is the biggest boy band in the world, but it has not gone to his head. He is still plain old Josh. He is a real sweetie for making time to see his old granny, but that’s just the type of boy he is.”
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