Turning 40 for Tracey Donaldson was a big deal. Forty felt “middle-aged” to the Gold FM afternoon host, who worried she’d be seen as past her prime. But turning half a century this year was an entirely different experience.
“I genuinely didn’t feel bothered about turning 50!” says Tracey. “I know some kids might be looking at me thinking I’m old – that’s what I thought when I was younger! – but I still feel about 25.”
The celebrations kicked off early when Tracey’s husband, music manager Ashley Page, 49, surprised her with a trip to America in February.
“We had a US trip planned for my birthday in May, but Ashley also secretly arranged a trip to LA for a dinner honouring Jon Bon Jovi. We were watching rock legends like Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney singing Bon Jovi songs.”
The surprises continued the next day, with a flight to Las Vegas to see U2 perform and to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
“We married in Vegas, so that was gorgeous,” she explains. “Then the next day, we flew back to LA for the Grammys! We were only away four days, but it was just incredible.”
However, the pair’s happiness was short-lived. Ashley’s father, renowned musician and manager Larry Page, died unexpectedly on April 19, two weeks before Tracey’s birthday adventure.
“After being on such a high, that was a huge low,” recalls Tracey. “Ashley felt devastated. His dad was such an influence on him, and they’d talk about music and football for hours. Ashley is such a rock, so to see him bottom out like that was awful.”
After Larry’s death, Tracey wasn’t sure if Ashley and his sister Caroline, 52, would feel up to a big American bash. However, they remained determined to give her a memorable birthday. “They were amazing. I’m so grateful to them.”
The trio, along with Tracey’s friend Ange, headed to the airport lounge, where they ended up sitting with film director Sir Peter Jackson and musician Neil Finn. “That was a great start!” laughs Tracey.
First stop was LA and a party on a hotel rooftop – something Tracey had always wanted to do – followed by dinner at the iconic Chateau Marmont.
“A friend arranged that, which was crazy as it’s impossible to get a table unless you’re a guest or you know someone. You can’t just ring or email and book. That was such a slice of Hollywood.”
The party then flew to New York, reuniting with Tracey’s Ireland-based brother and sister-in-law Bryan and Bernadette at the luxury Pendry Manhattan Hotel, where Tracey celebrated her birthday eve on another rooftop bar, with unobstructed views of the Empire State Building.
“That was my dream,” says Tracey. “Ashley also filled our hotel room with balloons, and we had a cake and Champagne. We were having such a good time, security came at 2am asking us to be quiet. I felt 21 again!”
The next day, Caroline revealed she’d arranged for a private tour of iconic shoe designer Manolo Blahnik’s Madison Avenue store. Tracey, Ashley and Caroline drank bubbles on the balcony at sunset, while the brand’s president Andrew Wright regaled them with tales about celebrities, including Carolyn Bessette- Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Junior’s wife, with whom Tracey is obsessed.
“Then Andrew went inside and returned with a gift-wrapped box containing a pair of pink kitten heels that Ashley had picked out for me. It was the ultimate Cinderella moment.”
The celebrations continued in Brooklyn, where another friend had arranged a corporate box at an Ed Sheeran concert.
“Next thing, in walked Jake Bongiovi and Millie Bobby Brown, who’d just got married in secret!”
Tracey spent a few more days indulging her Kennedy obsession, visiting Grey Gardens, the home of former First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s aunt, catching a ferry to the church in Newport, where Jackie and JFK married, and visiting Hyannis Port, the Kennedy compound in Massachusetts. “I took photos, and sat and imagined what it had been like when Jackie and JFK were there.”
After a few more stops, including Martha’s Vineyard, where Jaws was filmed, a baseball game in Boston and a two-hour walk to Harvard University “which was closed!”, the holiday was complete.
“I came home and everything was so quiet – it was almost surreal after such an incredible trip,” says Tracey. “I have no idea how I’m going to match that for Ashley’s 50th!
“This year has given me so much to think about. I had two amazing trips and we lost Larry. It has taught me how important it is to make memories and enjoy experiences with people we love. Now I’m 50, I want to focus on the important things in life.”
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