A few of the media attending the Andalucian Open met a real character on Saturday night and as it turned out, he’s a bit of a celebrity.

Alan Laud along with wife, Susan run the Bus Stop Bar in Torremolinos and just across the road from the Sol Principe, and one of the officials hotels for the week.

Bernie with ex-Hedgehoppers Anonymous band member Alan Laud

The bar is lined with nearly 100 model buses, bus signs and other bus memorabilia, and also is a shrine to Alan’s favourite football team – Manchester United.

However it was not the buses but the fact that Alan, who’s just turned 65, was wearing an Australian t-shirt caught my eye straight away.

In checking further, Alan was once a member of the successful 60s group – Hedgehoppers Anonymous.

And no sooner had Tour Miss, myself and three others were sipping on a cold beer and Alan put their 1965 smash hit ‘Good News Week’ on the CD player.

The group formed in 1960 under the name ‘The Trendsetters’ before changing to Hedgehoppers Anonymous.

Alan said all but himself were serving RAF personnel at RAF Wittering near Peterborough in England.

‘Hedgehoppers’ was the nick-name given to low-flying aircraft.

“Good News Week went to No. 5 on the charts and we had a couple of other hits but not near as successful,” said Allan.

Naturally, among the other tunes Alan played for us was the Hollies big hit – Bus Stop.

Alan later continued his career as a stand-up comic and singer at Manchester’s renowned Embassy Club.

He’s been on the Costa del Sol for six years and invites anyone travelling to the area to drop in for either a drink or a meal.

And I can assure you it will an experience well worth the visit.