DEE MAHER,

from Bluebell in Dublin, has been a fan since she was seven years old. The grandmother, 63, saw Elvis perform live 27 times, met him twice and a Garda badge she gave him remains on display in Graceland to this day.

In fact, Dee made such an impression on Elvis that he wrote to her just months before his tragic death.

She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “It was a lifetime ambition of mine to see him in person. I went to see all the movies – I saw one of them 100 times.

“In 1974 my family wasn’t very wealthy but they all saved up and got the money together for my 21st and off I went to Memphis.

“His uncle was the gate attendant and he brought us around the house. It was very exciting.

“We saw him going up the driveway and he waved to us.”

Dee then travelled to Las Vegas and saw a series of live shows, alongside the likes of Tom Jones and Liza Minelli, before she ran out of money and had to go home.

But just before she did, she caught a glimpse of Elvis outside his hotel and got to shake his hand.

Dee said: “I made a vow to myself, ‘If he comes out I’m going to speak to him’. I said, ‘Hi Elvis I’m from Ireland’. He said, ‘Hi honey, it’s lovely to see you’. He took my hand and walked with me for a few seconds to his car. He squeezed my hand very tight.”

Two years later Dee returned to see her hero in California, and was saddened to hear he was in poor health.

She explained: “I had brought over a Garda badge and his karate instructor Ed Parker gave it to him for me. He said, ‘Pray for Elvis’.

“We were supposed to meet him but he was too unwell, so we left private letters for him.” Months later – on