Arise Sir Rod

Just minutes into his superb Ageas Bowl concert last week, Rod Stewart promised he had a really big announcement to make later in the evening, even giving the exact time we could expect to hear the news.

I was already in the know thanks to an embargoed media release from Buckingham Palace, but the thoughts of his fans didn't seem to be anywhere near to a knighthood, despite the timing the night before the Queen's official 90th birthday.

The main topic of conversation seemed to be whether his wife Penny Lancaster was expecting a new addition to the Stewart family.

Working the crowd into even more of a frenzy, the Maggie May singer denied the rumours buzzing around the bowl, confirming eight children was quite enough thank you.

That got the crowd worried as they predicted their idol was to retire. Letting the emotion show, he put them out of their misery right on cue, confirming he was to become Sir Rod Stewart to hearty cheers and applause.

This was in the middle of a concert which also saw a tour de force of his many hits, everything from You're In My Heart to The First Cut is the Deepest and from Rhythm of My Heart to Having a Party, signed footballs being launched into the crowd and the legend in trademark flamboyant form.

These are memorable moments.

I know the gig wasn't without its faults. There were complaints about security and I know finding an easy way in and out of the Ageas Bowl can require local knowledge and military planning at times.

But getting 27,000 people safely in and out of any venue rarely goes completely without a hitch.

Of course lessons can be learned, but we must support the inclusion of Hampshire on the tour schedules of these international music icons.

Not only is it great for the area's economy. A new report has revealed that 890,000 music tourists visited the region in 2015 to attend a live concert or music festival. These visitors generated a staggering £455 million in total for the local economy, and helped sustain 5,032 full-time jobs across the South East.

But it's the stuff memories are made of.

In years to come, you won't remember the taxi queue, the bar prices or getting rained on in the open top bus as you were driven through gridlocked traffic at a snail's pace.

You'll remember a 27,000 strong singalong to Maggie May or tears in the eyes of Sir Rod Stewart as you watched history being made right before your eyes.

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