Redland's famous alumni...

Every now and again I hear about another famous person who hails from Redland...first it was the attention seeking model Sophie Anderton and now it's the world famous Burlesque impressario Norman Gosney.

While his name is not instantly recognisable to anyone outside of the red hot world of burlesque this soon-to-be pensioner has achieved so much since leaving Redland.

Not only is he accredited with helping the iconic Dita Von Teese make the big time after she performed at his New York club but he has recently hit the headlines for opening a 20s and 30s style burlesque club in Shanghai, China.

Of the seven or so scantily clad dancers, only two are Chinese - the rest being European or Australian.

Both the Times and the Telegraph recently carried reports about the 62-year-old who show no signs of halting his very particular lifestyle.

He runs the club along with his partner Amelia Kallman, 26, and the pair hope to create a circuit in Shanghai, similar to those in cities like Paris and New York.

The pair actually met in New York in 2004 on 'Norman's Roof' situated at the top of the penthouse of the famous Chelsea Hotel...how rock and roll is that.

What's more, Gosney has awe-inspiring tales of hanging out with David Bowie at Glastonbury Festival in '71, spending time in said Chelsea Hotel with pop art ledgend Andy Warhol in the 80s and hanging out with the late great Punk promoter Malcom McLaren.

It was a far cry from his childhood living in Redland, where his parents ran a pub. But he has a lot to thank the city for. It was here, he got involved with theatre and performing arts at the Crystal Theatre and Bristol Old Vic. Though he hated the stiff-upper lip approach or 'churchiness' of it all...so off he went travelling the world.

And it appears like he's not looked back since. And who can blame him.

I would just love to bump into this guy in a Redland pub and hear all of his amazing stories.

Does anyone know him? Would anyone recognise him if they saw him? And are there any other famous Redland alumni worth raving about? I reckon this guy has to top the list no?