A bingo caller who worked in the industry for 40 years has helped deliver a baby mid game, organise proposals and appeared on television.
Steve Barlow-Linder, from Bootle, has worked for many clubs across Merseyside during his career. The 66-year-old retired on November 18 from bingo and spoke to the ECHO about the fascinating career which started in 1982, working for Buckingham Bingo, Mecca Bingo and Castle Bingo.
Steve said his mum was an avid bingo player and even spent her last day playing the game where she won some money. The 66-year-old's partner of nearly 40 years, Derek, is also a bingo caller.
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Speaking to the ECHO, the 66-year-old said: "My mum who was 92 when she passed, her last day was in the bingo. She won a £10 line and obviously the next day she passed but that was her life, and she got all the family into bingo and because of my mum I started in bingo."
Steve said he wasn't supposed to stay in the career for so long as back in 1982 he was waiting to start a job at a hotel, however once he was in he never left.
He told the ECHO : "So I took the part-time job on at the bingo and I never went back. I was there in the club for two weeks and I was calling main stage bingo after two weeks and I had never used a microphone in my life, it just come natural."
One story which stands out for Steve is when a woman went into labour as he was calling. He helped her and as a thank you the woman gave her baby the middle name of Steve.
He said: "Some of the experiences I have had have just been fantastic. When I was in the Regal in Broadway I was on stage and a young lady came in and went into labour and I was the first person on duty that day.
"She gave the baby the second name of Steve, that was an unbelievable thing. I was the first person ever to win a bronze, silver and gold award. They were called 'WOW' awards for going above and beyond duty."
Steve has also called life-changing sums of money, with one woman winning a quarter of a million pounds at her first time in the bingo with her mum and dad.
He added: "When I was in Knotty Ash, it was a Sunday afternoon and it was a national bingo game and it was a £1m prize. So what we did was, we split it up. The afternoon got £250,000 and the evening got £750,000.
"She won the full house of £250,000. It was actually a bit more than that, but she won it on her very first visit and I called it."
Steve also believes he has seen around 30 proposals in his 40-year career, and even helped to set one up.
He said: "It was an engagement in the bingo and I had to set it up. I had to wait for him outside and he actually went outside and come back in and got down on one knee and the whole place erupted and it was fantastic. She said yes and burst out crying."
The former bingo caller said he stayed in the industry for so long due to the people and the fact they are "so giving and so nice".
Speaking to the ECHO, Steve said: "I am a people person. I love my members, they are your bread and butter but not only that because I have always fundraised they are the ones I have had to rely on. In Liverpool, I am so well known for my fundraising [...] they all know me as a fundraiser."
He added: "The reason I have stayed in bingo so long is because I am a people person and it is just a great atmosphere; there is no hassle in bingo, people are so giving and so nice."
Steve has also won competitions for his role as a bingo caller, appearing on a BBC show where he was crowned Bingo, The National Game winner. He also appeared on a special bingo edition of Eggheads and trained former cricket player Freddie Flintoff to become a bingo caller in four hours for a TV programme.
The 66-year-old has also raised more than £1m for charity in 40 years and fundraised for many charities.
He said: "Throughout my bingo career I have raised over a £1m over 40 years, so I was presented to the Queen at Buckingham Palace. I have met King Charles for my charity work as well, the Duke of Westminster, so I took my mum to Buckingham Palace. So she got to experience it and it was fantastic."
Steve spent the last six years of his career at Castle Bingo in Bootle where on his last day his employees through him a retirement party where 500 people attended. He was showered with gifts and heartwarming letters and cards from his bingo members.
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