Adele's secret trip to Taihape revealed

Taihape retailer Allan Thomas hasn't a clue who Adele is.

But he's adamant she came into his shop on March 25 and bought a headband.

He even put up a sign to register the meeting of music superstar and small town shopkeeper.

The notice in the window of Taihape Producers Market in Hautapu Street in Taihape. Photo/Lin Ferguson

There are no photos, no CTV and no till receipt but Thomas says "it was her all right".

Thomas, a jewellery maker who works part-time in Taihape Producers Market shop, said he had the doors propped open on that Saturday when a "largish" blonde woman came in with two men.

Taihape retailer Allan Thomas reckons he sold Adele a headband. Photo / Lin Ferguson

Two other women with them had walked on down Hautapu St.

"I thought they were going to the cafe next door for a coffee."

The blonde woman walked to a model's head on display opposite the door and took off its the knitted grey-and-red headband and put it on her own head.

"She said she wanted to wear it.

"I said I'd better take the price tag, $10, off first. One of the men with her was very tall, thin and extremely muscular. He never left her side and the other man was smaller. I think it was her husband."

Thomas said the shopper had a distinctive London accent, was very friendly and a "lovely woman".

About five minutes later the other two women came back.

"One was blonde with a German or Scandinavian-sounding accent and the second was tall, very dark-skinned and had an English accent. She was very pretty."

"They each bought one of my necklaces, a lapis lazuli and a red tiger bead necklace.

"They said they were backing singers and they had to get back to Auckland for a concert that night.

"It was about 10.45am. They said they had driven down from Auckland in a mini bus and stayed in Palmerston North the night before. They said they had driven through the Manawatu Gorge with the plan of driving via the Napier/Taupo Road but decided on going through the main route instead."

It wasn't until later Thomas said he figured out who the woman was.

When he got home an ad on TV for the Adele concert that night in Auckland stopped him in his tracks.

"It was her all right. Without all the makeup and stuff but it was her all right."

The 74-year-old said he hadn't recognised Adele when she'd come in the shop.

"Well I'm still back in the 60s when it comes to pop music.

"And I don't have a cell phone but I wouldn't have thought to take a picture. My daughter in Australia is really angry with me."

Why did no one else see her?

Thomas said the town had been virtually empty that morning.

"It was rugby registration down at Memorial Park."

A small hair salon at the rear of the shop is owned by Michelle Donovan who makes the headbands.

"I'm just rapt Adele bought my headband.

"I so wish I'd been there but I was in Auckland for Adele's concert for heaven's sake. How mad is that?"

Taihape Development Trust assistant manager Michelle Fannin is happy to believe Thomas' encounter.

"Allan's a lovely man and I believe him. I just wish we had evidence and could prove Adele was here and really put Taihape on the world map. What fantastic publicity that would be.

"And I wanted to be at Adele's concert that night too. I'm a big fan."

This story originally appeared in the Wanganui Chronicle and is republished here with permission.