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Post by Andrew on Nov 2, 2006 20:33:37 GMT
Hi Stuart, How proud you must be of your pupils and for Hayley to take the time to personally thank them. You all had a great time at such a special event.. Lads! the pictures are really good. To quote Andrew 'very memorable, especially one particular young lady from NZ!' Best wishes, Den Hi Den, It's great to hear from you! I know you were with us there in spirit and yes you are right- the lads did a great job with the photography! All the very best to you and Brid, Andrew
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Post by Stuart H on Nov 2, 2006 22:27:12 GMT
I didnt take many pictures yesterday, but here are one or two. Note the sleeves, Peter! Can you guess which one was taken by a colleague? Stuart
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,688
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Post by Dave on Nov 2, 2006 23:17:23 GMT
Hello everyone, Stuart, his staff and pupils put on a great presentation event at the school yesterday, to cap their wonderful effort in raising £6,000 for Hayley's UNICEF "Bikes for Ghana" appeal. Many thanks to them for organising it, and not forgetting too, those who organised it from Hayley's side; Kathryn Nash of Bedlam Management in particular and the UNICEF staff who also attended the presentation. And of course, Hayley herself who gave up her afternoon to be there at what is a hectic time for her, right in the middle of recording her new album. Hayley did, naturally, bring some fine weather along with her, it was a beautiful, crisp sunny autumn day in London. The children themselves behaved impeccably throughout and it was a pleasure to witness the joy on their faces as Hayley chatted, sung and generally showed a great interest in their activities. Thank you Stuart for inviting me along with Roger, to represent HWI and the forum; and I suspect that I can speak for Roger, Steve and Andrew too, when I say we were privileged to have witnessed the very special events of yesterday. First, Stuart took Hayley to visit several classes in the school, where she stopped to chat with the children... with her entourage following along behind. It reminded me of a surgeon doing his daily rounds in a teaching hospital! But some of us 'junior doctors' had additional duties - as you have seen and will see more of from the photos in this thread. When we stepped outside into the sunny playground, Hayley was particularly interested in the special needs children and one in particular on a tricycle... I wouldn't have been surprised if she'd asked to try out the trike for herself! Then, the children filled the school hall for the presentation and soon, after the opening remarks and chat, they delighted us all - especially Hayley - with the cutest rendition of Pokarekare Ana you've ever heard... word perfect too. Learning those Maori lyrics was a fabulous achievement of which they can be very proud and Hayley knew it! She did manage to restrain herself from joining in though, with some difficulty I think, limiting herself to miming the words or singing along very quietly as they sang. And then, after thanking the children and moments before returning the compliment, Hayley briefly reminded them of the story of Hansel and Gretel - on which her album song "Prayer" is of course based. And she sang it... beautifully, unaccompanied and... un-miked! This was the icing on the cake and after taking one photo, I had to stop to listen, wow! I've thought for a long time that Hayley doesn't really need a microphone, not even in a fair sized school hall like this... and I was right! Hayley's singing was as clear as a bell and her voice was strong enough for everyone in the hall to enjoy it. They say that recording, amplification and replay electronics can get in the way of the real music... well in Hayley's case, that's true more than ever. I was, no we all were... Westenwowed! There followed questions from the children who were the biggest fundraisers and answers by Hayley (if I have it in the right order!) and a nice presentation of that four foot wide cheque - I hope Hayley or UNICEF weren't thinking of tucking it into their bag! Flowers were presented and that was a lovely way to end the formal proceedings... with some nice photo opportunities as well. Afterwards, we spent some time chatting informally with Hayley Kathryn Stuart and some of his team, as well as UNICEF, whom we should not forget as their cause is what this was all about. What a great day! So thanks once again Stuart for making this happen in what I suspect has been a year that's flown by since Hayley's first visit to your school. Hayley was an absolute dream in every way, she really was - the children loved her, let there be many happy returns! For this year at least, it's all over but we can remember it from the wonderful photos already posted and some yet to be posted in this thread. I shall try to make my own humble contribution soon... quite a few of them are from, shall we say, a wider viewpoint! Cheers, Dave
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Post by Richard on Nov 3, 2006 8:49:42 GMT
Thanks for your reports, Andrew and Dave! This has got to be one of the best threads on the Forum. It was clearly a wonderful afternoon at Alfred Salter School, so well done to everybody involved. Congratulations and a very big thank you to Hayley for making everybody's day so special! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifNow I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of the photographs. Best Wishes, Richard
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Post by grant on Nov 3, 2006 9:19:39 GMT
Hi Andrew & Dave.
I agree with Richard It's a wonderful thread with fabulous pictures and brilliant reviews. You were so lucky to have been there!!
When Stuart reads this, perhaps he'll take note and get a bigger school for her next visit so we can all come!!
Feeling very "Hayleywowed"
Grant
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Post by postscript on Nov 3, 2006 9:29:46 GMT
I did a 'quote' and edited out the wrong picture. Usually I use 'Preview' to check when I do something like this and I forgot and didn't get round to double-checking before logging out.
However, you realised what I meant but it is now obvious. Some Mod reduced the picture size (not complaining) which I will now go back and try and do for the new picture.
Peter S.
[Back 3/11/06. Couldn't find either the post or my copy and paste on my hard drive of the coding for size change!!! Admin, please, if you will, although it's not that important.]
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Post by postscript on Nov 3, 2006 10:07:18 GMT
Glad you were there Andrew. With all your extra curricula support and that superb initiative regarding the Westenra Tartan, you of all the 'next group' after the key site operatives were unquestionably the most deserving to be there and well done for thinking it worth while the expense. Super report.
Peter S.
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Post by Andrew on Nov 3, 2006 10:19:52 GMT
Glad you were there Andrew. With all your extra curricula support and that superb initiative regarding the Westenra Tartan, you of all the 'next group' after the key site operatives were unquestionably the most deserving to be there and well done for thinking it worth while the expense. Super report. Peter S. Hi Peter, Those are very kind words- I really appreciate them. Thanks, Andrew
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Post by postscript on Nov 3, 2006 10:20:44 GMT
Hi Dave.
Very interested in your report of and experience of Hayley singing unmiked. I am sure that was seventh heaven.
On a post i have not yet got round to posting i was going to comment further on this aspect of Hayley. In that post I was (and will in context) going to comment that we were perhaps ten years from hearing her like that professionally. However, from a voice who should know, I perhaps exaggerate the time frame.. and possibly considerably.
Oh Boy when that day dawns! The implication is that it will!
Post will follow shortly. Just been called out by a lucky young lady who is starting her London college years in her own flat, with a view over the Thames at Battersea and who now wants me to run her into the next town to buy more boxes for packing up her stuff for leaving home!
A very nice domestic interruption for a crabby old bachelor like me!
Peter S.
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Post by graemek on Nov 3, 2006 11:20:48 GMT
And then, after thanking the children and moments before returning the compliment, Hayley briefly reminded them of the story of Hansel and Gretel - on which her album song "Prayer" is of course based. And she sang it... beautifully, unaccompanied and... un-miked! This was the icing on the cake and after taking one photo, I had to stop to listen, wow! I've thought for a long time that Hayley doesn't really need a microphone, not even in a fair sized school hall like this... and I was right! Hayley's singing was as clear as a bell and her voice was strong enough for everyone in the hall to enjoy it. They say that recording, amplification and replay electronics can get in the way of the real music... well in Hayley's case, that's true more than ever. I was, no we all were... Westenwowed! Cheers, Dave Oh, would I love to have heard that Dave !!! Words can't describe. Graemek
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Post by fusilier23 on Nov 3, 2006 12:25:50 GMT
I was stunned reading all of this. How many celebrities would actually "descend:" to do something like this? Not many, though there are a few others. Hayley is truly one in a million, I told her once if they gave medals for generous hearts she'd definitely be in contention. Which gives me an idea....
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Post by postscript on Nov 3, 2006 14:52:06 GMT
Superb pictures Stuart. Mention of there being a camera club in your school made me wonder if they had a teacher competent in photography to be able to teach so much to them. It made me wonder who that might be!!!! Peter S.
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,688
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Post by Dave on Nov 3, 2006 15:27:26 GMT
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Post by Andrew on Nov 3, 2006 19:39:24 GMT
Hi Stuart, The pictures of you and Hayley are absolutely gorgeous! When do you think we can expect to find some press coverage of Hayley's visit to the School? i.e -a newspaper report with some photographs? I spoke briefly with the newspaper photographer outside in the playground, but he seemed to be a man of very few words! (but perhaps that was my fault? ) Have you seen any local newspaper reports? Perhaps there will be one in a newspaper this weekend? I've been searching via 'Google' like mad, but so far nothing... Regards, Andrew
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Post by Oksana on Nov 3, 2006 21:13:10 GMT
I always wear my sleves like that -- and it does keep your hands warm! Great photos andreviews, everyone! It looks like the students (and Hayley) had a great time! Oksy
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