An Abba superfan has devoted up to 14 hours a day and spent more than £850 handcrafting fabulous costumes ahead of the band's forthcoming UK shows. Retired chief council officer Jane Henry, 57, attends Abba events with daughters Lucy, 27, and Chloe, 23, every few months.
She is such a big fan of the Swedish supergroup that she even makes matching costumes for her youngest girl’s 19-month-old Yorkshire terrier-Pomeranian cross pooch Simba.
Jane, who lives in Tynemouth, North Tyneside, with her husband Richard Robson, 58, chairman of a property group, said: “As a family, Abba has been a constant source of happiness. We just love dressing up, as it’s such fun.
"And since we got Simba, he’s a part of our family, so he loves getting dressed up too. I wouldn’t dream of making a new outfit without making one for him.”
Jane spent nearly four months making Greek-themed outfits for her daughters and Simba for a Mamma Mia party which they attended in London in March. She said: “It took me a long time to make the outfits, three months as I hand stitched all the stones. But we all looked absolutely amazing, especially Simba.”
Now the clever seamstress says her focus has shifted to the nine sequin-festooned outfits she needs to finish as part of a wardrobe of tribute gear to watch the band’s avatar concert, Voyage, in London in May and June this year.
Jane said: “I’m going to Voyage on the opening night on my own and I’m making myself and Simba an outfit. But he can’t come unfortunately.”
She added: “Then we’re all going together on June 10, so I have to make everyone’s outfits. I’m doing white bomber jackets with ABBA on the back, leather belts with feathers. It’s going to be amazing.
“Apart from my family, my life is Abba."
Jane has wanted to see her idols in concert since they won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with Waterloo. Jane said: “Abba never really split up for me. They have always been in my life. Their music, their costumes.”
Every few months, Jane goes to an Abba-themed event – often with her daughters – and has now had many fellow fans ask her where she buys her amazing tribute gear. When they find out she makes all the costumes, they always ask if she could make some for them.
Jane said: “This is a labour of love for me, but it does take a lot of effort and time more than the money, so I don’t have time to make them for other people. When I go to Voyage, for me it will be Abba on the stage. I don’t understand avatars, but it’s like magic.
She added: “I have always wanted to see Abba live. It’s my dream and I’m going to see them. It’s just pure magic. I never thought I’d see them together again and I am. I am not sleeping as I’m so excited.”
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