Trainee Newport stockbroker James Bufton is the talk of his office after he grabbed the chance to share time with his idol, Only Girl in the World Barbadian rock sensation Rihanna, back stage at London’s O2 Arena.
James, aged 17, a former pupil at Lliswerry High, Newport, is employed as a trainee stockbroker at Redmayne-Bentley Stockbrokers, Bridge Street, Newport.
James said: “I’m a massive Rihanna fan. Seeing her perform on stage was brilliant, but getting to meet her after the gig was a dream come true.”
James, who doesn’t currently have a girlfriend, said: “Rihanna was an hour late coming on stage but she more than made up for it when we chatted about everything under the sun, back stage after the concert.
“She’s a really lovely girl, really down to earth, normal and fun. We chatted about how the tour is going, her interests, her songs and what she’s planning on doing next. We even talked about meeting up again in New York and visiting her recording studio. We’re going to keep in touch.”
One of a select few to be allowed back stage at the VIP 02 gathering, James said: “We would have gone on chatting for longer but I had to leave to get my train back to Newport for work in the morning.”
Dan O’Connell, Redmayne-Bentley, Newport, branch manager said: “There can’t be many guys who would give up the chance to chat all through the night with Rihanna to catch a train so he’d be in for work bright and early the next morning.
“James is a fantastic young man who is making a real name for himself in stockbroking. He has clearly got his head screwed on. He’ll go far-who knows, he may even go to New York!”