SWTPandre - By Kate Pounds<br /><br />Meet André Rieu's biggest fan - an OAP who has 100 photos of him in her flat including a life-size cardboard cut out she greets every day.<br /><br />Lil Rolfe, 80, first fell head over heels when she saw Andre in the Royal Command Performance ten years ago.<br /><br />Since then she's been obsessed with the Dutch violinist's relaxing music and luscious long hair. <br /><br />The number one fan has 100 photos adorning her one-bed flat, and has a weekly 'date' with him every Monday when she watches one of the dozens of DVDs she has featuring the conductor.<br /><br />The grandmother has all his major performances on CD which she plays in her flat from morning until night.<br /><br />And when she heads out she wears one of her range of facemask featuring the musician.<br /><br />She says 'good morning' and 'good night' to a cut out of her idol she keeps at the foot of her bed.<br /><br />Bizarrely the retired factory worker has never been to one of his concerts.<br /><br />She was due to go see him in Birmingham during the pandemic but wasn't able to attend due to Covid restrictions.<br /><br />Widow Lil from Brighton said: “People visiting me always get a shock thinking I have a man in my bedroom - but he can visit my bedroom any time.<br /><br />“I love everything about him - his music is so relaxing.<br /><br />“I also think he really cares about people, and he gives a lot to charity.<br /><br />“He doesn’t like people to be late I’ve heard, and I’d be the first there every time.<br /><br />“I’ve read the book about him written by his wife and it's the only book I've read since leaving school.<br /><br />“I’d love to meet him, but I think I’d just stand and stare with my mouth open.<br /><br />“My heart would beat so fast, but I’d love a photo of us together.<br /><br />“I’d tell him to always carry on with his music, because it makes people happy.”<br /><br />Lil has lived alone since husband Ronald Rolfe died aged 55 in 1992.<br /><br />Most of her photos are on a dedicated 'Andre wall' in her living room, which also has a violin hanging on the door.<br /><br />She owns more than 50 CDs and DVDs.<br /><br />Her favourite photo is one of Andre sitting with his chin on his hand, in a thinking pose, and one of him in a pink jacket.<br /><br />“I just like the way he looks in those,” Lil said.<br /><br />“He’s smiling in all but one of my pictures - I love that about him.<br /><br />“I love it when he does his little Calypso dance. It really tickles me.<br /><br />“I’d love to see a photo of him in his swimming trunks.”<br /><br />ENDS
