Barbara Dickson ready for her tour and keen on a return to Scotland

Dunfermline-born Barbara Dickson is eager to return to her roots but fears for her home town’s loss of identity.

It’s been a long time coming but Barbara Dickson reckons 2015 could finally be the year of her personal homecoming.

Dunfermline-born Barbara, 67, lives in Lincolnshire with her husband Oliver but Scotland has never been far from her heart.

“I pine for Scotland and get back just as often as I can,” she tells The Sunday Post.

“I used to live in Edinburgh which I love very much and I still have a flat there. I was up just before Christmas and I’ll be there after my tour finishes for the Scotland/Ireland match at Murrayfield.

“But it’s been my ambition to come back permanently for about the past 10 years.

“I’ve got three grown up sons who are not entirely off my hands yet which is complicated so it’s been impossible up until now. I’m hoping this may finally be the year, though.”

While Barbara waxes lyrical about the capital, shopping in Glasgow’s Buchanan Street and seeing friends on the islands, her home town is her biggest passion.

So much so, that the warm affection in her voice cranks up to a real fiery heat.

“I love Dunfermline I’m in the Pars support group and did a concert to help last year but I feel it has lost its identity to a large extent.

“The council has moved to Glenrothes and it’s quite near Edinburgh so it has that dormitory town feel.

“I feel quite militant about it. I think people drive past Dunfermline and don’t see this ancient capital of Scotland. It needs to become a major tourist place.”

She might be Scotland’s all-time bestselling female artist, with a stellar career going back to the 1970s but there’s not a sign of winding down or chilling out.

Barbara, who was given an OBE in 2002, is back on the road next weekend for a 24-date tour.

It dots all across the country with a Gateshead appearance on February 8 before a run of Scottish shows from the 21st in Glenrothes, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth.

“Music is totally fundamental to me,” she insists. “If I feel a bit agitated or I’m not at my best my first thought is to go and play the piano or guitar.

“I find it incredibly soothing and spiritual. I used to sing and play for myself before I did for anyone else.

“If I wasn’t in showbusiness I’d just do the things I’m doing. I’m a working class person from Dunfermline who went to a local folk club, had a particularly fine talent and have been able to use that.

“I’m very lucky.”

Barbara’s early days on the folk club circuit saw her rub shoulders with Billy Connolly, who’s still a pal and contributed to a BBC documentary about her a couple of years back.

And the positive way he’s dealt with his health issues with Parkinson’s and cancer come as no surprise.

“He’s a marvellous person and he’s a great example of stoicism,” says Barbara.

“He’s working with what he’s got and he’s not prepared to curl up in a corner. That shows his steely personality which comes from his marvellous west of Scotland upbringing.”

A – very refreshing – steely personality is something with which Barbara has been endowed.

She may be a familiar face and voice but she says she’s happier now she has “shaken off a lot of the trappings of being a pop star”.

And she has some firm views on the modern cult of celebrity.

“I’m not the sort of woman who would go into the jungle,” she says.

When I query whether I’m A Celebrity might actually be fun her response is quick.

“Have we ever met? I’m really raising eyebrows! I couldn’t imagine anything worse. I’m not desperate for attention. I play songs and make records and people enjoy my singing. They don’t come and see me for the frocks.

“I don’t want to be called a celebrity ever. When people talk about our celebs I can’t stand it, I feel it’s insulting. You can be notorious and be a celebrity. I want to be a musician and don’t want anything extraneous going on.”

It’s 30 years since I Know Him So Well with Elaine Paige but Barbara says she recalls more about her first hit single Answer Me.

“I remember going to Top Of The Pops and being a pop star because 18 months before I was still playing in folk clubs,” she adds.

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