With a little help from the Croydon Guardian, Jamaican-born singer Bobby Sparks has recaptured his sparkle after meeting with former-Fame Academy student Audley Anderson.

Bobby's wife Janet wrote a letter to this newspaper after reading an article about Audley asking us to help her husband by organising a meeting between Bobby and singer/songwriter Audley.

Performer Bobby, whose real name is Derek Lightbody, is used to being the life and soul of the party in his native Jamaica where he wowed audiences with his repertoire of reggae and Motown classics, but since moving to Upper Norwood to be with Janet, opportunities for him to sing have been limited.

Janet, who met Bobby while working on a Caribbean cruise ship, puts Bobby's gloomy period down to the fact that he misses the buzz of performing in front of a crowd.

Janet said: "It breaks my heart to see him so despondent. I know I'm biased but I think he has a great voice and it's a shame he can't use his talent. At the moment he is not the man I married."

So after receiving Janet's plea for help, the Croydon Guardian decided to help put the bounce back into Bobby's step and organised a meeting between Audley and Bobby.

After the meeting, where the musical duo had a chance to draw up an action plan, a rejuvenated Bobby said he is sure his meeting with Audley will kick start his singing career.

"It's a pleasure for me to talk with someone like Audley. I know that I can start singing again because I know he can help me.

"Audley coming here today really is like a miracle. I feel reincarnated. I'm the happiest I've been since coming to England, I've got my spark back."

After meeting with Bobby, Thornton Heath's Audley admits he is flattered that people look at him as an inspiration: "Being able to talk to people like Bobby is an inspiration to me and sharing whatever knowledge I have with others confirms I'm doing the right thing with my life."