Lorna celebrated her birthday at her home in Mumbai with close friends and family.
Adding to the celebrations was a group of friends and fans who travelled from
Goa to make her feel special. “We wanted to make her birthday special and it
was a dream come true as fans to meet and wish her for her birthday. It took us
a train journey followed by a flight to get to her, but it was worth it as
Lorna has always been a part of our lives through her music,” says Savio, who
travelled along with Bambino Dias, Alvito Fernandes, Norman Fernandes, Priya
Rawat with gifts and a birthday cake.
Savio adds, “We also went to her home in Dobhitalao, which is an
old heritage building, and had lunch at an Iranian Café. We informed her that
we would be coming for a cup of tea and we were right on schedule. We didn’t
want to disturb her siesta time.”
Lorna was also
presented a framed copy of the Herald Café edition dated August 9, 2019 which
featured two articles on her. Alvito Fernandes handed her the frame and she was
surprised to see the articles on her. “She was completely stunned and very
happy. She told us that she needs time to read through the page and will do it
peacefully later in the day,” adds Savio.
She also sent out a
thank you message on a video to Herald. She also shared her UK experience.
Kevin Mendes, a noted
musician who has performed for many concerts with Lorna, also travelled to wish
her. “On her milestone 75th birthday, I was celebrating and reminiscing with
Lorna at her Mazagon residence in Mumbai. In Kampala, Uganda in 1971, as a kid,
I had heard my father’s friends rehearsing ‘Sorg Tujea Dholeani’, and years
later in 1995, I played this very song with my then band ‘The Cream’, for
various weddings. I also had the opportunity to perform with Lorna for her main
comeback show in Goa in 1998 with my band, ‘The Cream’, for the Don Bosco
Festival with just a quick rehearsal on stage. I later backed Lorna, with the
band ‘India’, from 2001 to 2002, for several shows all over Goa, with no
rehearsals at all. She would mesmerise and captivate her receptive and adoring
audiences everywhere, with her melodious voice and heart touching as well as
powerful singing”
This
special morning, Lorna and I really enjoyed this cordial interaction with so
many mutual, dear unforgettable memories,” says Kevin, as he presented Lorna
with a cake along with Lorna’s nephew, Ashley, and his brother-in-law, Conrad.
