SIXTIES pop star Billie Davis' first visit to Evesham almost ended in tragedy and cost her the glittering career that many people were predicting for her.

That was in September 1963 when, after appearing in Evesham, the chauffeur-driven car in which she was travelling collided with a Midland Red bus in Fladbury, leaving her with a broken jaw.

Which makes it all the more surprising to discover the singer's official fan club and website are both run from the town.

John Fisher, owner of Recent & Rare Records in Bridge Court, met the singer about four years ago, when she was in Evesham visiting friends, including that other pop icon of the 1960s, PJ Proby.

John, who used to run Proby's fan club, was introduced to Billie while she was browsing through the vinyl records at his shop.

"I'd never seen Billie in the 60s though I knew about a couple of her records," admits John.

However, he was clearly bowled over the star, whose biggest hit, Tell Him, reached number 10 in the charts in 1963.

John says Billie, who still performs alongside other 60s stars such as Jess Conrad, has fans throughout the country.

"She is so versatile for a lady singer. She has got a vocal range that other people haven't got," says John.

"She can sound like a little girl, a country singer or a soul singer and she has done some jazz of late."

The admiration is clearly mutual. At her home in London, Billie describes John as "a very nice man who certainly knows his vinyl".

She admits it is strange how her life has come full circle to link her to Evesham once more but proclaims she has a special bond with the town.

She recalls the night of the crash near the New Inn in 1963, when she and her then boyfriend Jet Harris were returning from Worcester, where he had gone to pick up an award.

"Jet and I were asleep in the back. His head hit the ashtray and I helped him out of the car. There was red stuff everywhere," she says.

"Fortunately there were some fans coming by on their scooters and they helped us."

Harris was taken to Worcester General Hospital and Billie was taken to Evesham cottage hospital, where she was given the all-clear.

It was only later that night, when she woke in pain, that she realised something more serious was wrong and it was discovered her jaw was broken.

For the singer, who was 17 years old, the news was devastating.

"I was out of action for a year while I should have been promoting my record.

"In that time Sandie (Shaw) and Cilla (Black) came along, both sporting the Billie Davis bobbed haircut," says the artist.

Her second solo release, He's The One, peaked at number 40 and after that none of her singles achieved the success of her first record.

She did have a brief re-emergence with her song I Want You To Be My Baby in 1968.

Now, more than 40 years on from her fateful crash, Billie's links with Evesham are stronger than ever.

She regularly visits her Evesham-based friend, singer and vocal coach Ria Keen, and the pair are planning to take a five-piece vocal group out on the road later in the year, which Billie promises will be performing in the town.

"I love Evesham to bits and I have a lot of mates there. I would love to come and live there," says Billie.

John Fisher believes interest in the star is likely to grow following the release last month of her definitive anthology CD Tell Him - The Decca Years.

She is due to feature on Red Dwarf star Craig Charles' BBC Radio 6 Funk Show later this month and her new CD is currently being played on local stations across the country.

The official Billie Davis Fan Club can be contacted c/o Recent & Rare Records or by calling John Fisher on 01386 422123. The club website is www.billied.teg.co.uk