WRITER and music historian Mark Cunningham, from Southend, said: “I was backstage at Wembley Stadium in 1999 for the allstar NetAid concert, talking to a couple of the production team when Mr Bowie walked over to chat with with a senior crew member about his performance later that evening.

“Here was the man himself – the walking, talking, breathing icon who had always been there, providing so much of the soundtrack of my life.

“My heart began to beat faster and before I could think of what I might actually say to him if we were introduced, it happened.

“We traded hellos and in an instant I remembered one of the crew had said about Bowie’s intention to perform a number that he hadn’t done live in years.

“‘I’m fascinated to hear that you’ll be doing something very special tonight,’ I said.

“‘Yes, a bit of surprise I hope,’ he replied. Lost for anything more profound, I came back with probably the most stupid comment I could have made.

“‘Would that be The Laughing Gnome by any chance?’ “Bowie laughed, to my relief. ‘What do you reckon?’ he asked, teasingly.

“‘Ah right, it’s not going to be that one then!’ I said.”

For Patrick Moriarty, a designer from Westcliff and former member of Gategrash Heaven, the moment he met Bowie came in New York in 1989.

He said: “We heard that Bowie was filming a live video album for his band Tin Machine and the first 200 fans who turned up would be the audience.

“We dashed along and got in! It was a really great day.

“An intimate, exciting gig. The next day we all dressed up as Tin Machine.

“I’m sure David would have approved of any kind of dressing up!”

Longstanding rockabilly and blues musician Steve Hooker, from Southend, fondly recalls listening to Bowie with Canvey legend Lee Brilleaux.

Steve said: “I have a great memory of me and the late Lee Brilleaux listening to the Young Americans album. We loved it.

“We listened to it one afternoon on Canvey in ‘76.

“Lee thought it was the best white soul album ever.”

Lewis Waller vividly remembers watching a then virtually unknown Bowie at the Eastwood Free Festival, in Leigh, as a 15- year-old schoolboy.

Lewis said: “He was called Davy Jones then.

“The concert was held in Eastwood where the VW dealership now is.

“It was August 1, 1970.

Also on that day was the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Edgar Broughton Band and others. The gig was helped along by a forward thinking RE teacher, called Dave Lawrence, from Eastwood High school.

“There was a film made about it at the time – I think it was for some sort of school’s programme.”

Art director Anna Sheldrake, from Southend, who is currently working on a new series of Alan Partridge, went to work with a nod to the iconic Ziggy make up.

She said: “I’m a massive David Bowie fan and felt totally devastated at the news. I decided to go to work with a tribute on my face. I always knew I was weird. David Bowie made that OK.”