FROM THE ARCHIVE 562 -2008-

In 2008 Dame Shirley Bassey had a health scare and was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night in Monte Carlo. Due to those health problems she was not able to perform at Nelson Mandela’s 90th. birthday. But she was at the opening of a luxuries hotel in Dubai that year.

Dame Shirley Bassey arrives on the red carpet at Hotel ?Atlantis, The Palm? on the artificial island ?The Palm Jumeirah? in Dubai, UAE, 20 November 2008.

WALES’ most famous Big Spender was back in fighting form at the opening of a hotel built with her famous song in mind.
Dame Shirley Bassey was one of the guests of honour at the £13.5m launch party for the extravagant Atlantis hotel in Dubai.
Proving she is fully back in action after a stomach operation in May this year, 71-year-old Dame Shirley shared drinks with hard-living Welsh actor Rhys Ifans.
“I feel fine and I’m having a great time,” Dame Shirley told reporters. “It’s not work, it’s fun. Yes, I’m 71 but who cares. I don’t feel 71, I feel ageless.”
The Butetown-born diva donned a stunning leopard-skin dress for the glittering bash at the 130-acre resort on the man- made Jumeira Palm islands. She joined some 2,000 celebrities including Robert DeNiro, Lindsay Lohan, Charlize Theron, the Duchess of York and Lily Allen as they guzzled Dom Perignon Champagne and feasted on Michelin-starred grub.