Post by grant on Sept 13, 2007 13:45:05 GMT
As some of you may already have gathered, I had been asked by the leader of one of our church groups to go and talk to them about Hayley and about my experiences of meeting and getting to know her. Prior to giving the talk, I had considered there would be little point in mentioning it on the Forum because I would be telling you things about Hayley that you all know already. Having presented my talk last night, I have decided to share some of the details with you.
I was asked to give this talk over a year ago and began to put it together almost immediately. Since then I have been back to it at least once a week to add or refine. It’s no easy task trying to compress 14 years of Hayley’s incredible life into an hour, but I just about managed it and ended up with an 11 page ‘script’.
Although I’m no stranger to public speaking; part of my job being to make presentations to some very senior people in the railway industry as well as giving slide shows an lectures about places and things that interested me; it seemed very different talking about ‘someone’, particularly someone I care very deeply about! Consequently I was very nervous.
I began by giving a brief resume of Hayley’s career to date, (with grateful thanks to Paul Little); going on to explain how I first got to hear about her and the concerts that have followed. I concluded with an explanation of what the last two years have meant to me and why Hayley now has a very special place in my heart. I also put together a small exhibition of posters, photographs, CD’s and memorabilia, and played a couple of tracks from “Hayley Westenra”.
I first mentioned to Hayley that I was giving the talk, at Shrewsbury, and asked her if she would consider sending a brief greeting, which she seemed happy to do. Subsequently though, I took a spare photograph to Beverley and asked her to sign it for the group. I didn’t prompt her as to what she should write, having given her a copy of the group’s programme. Hayley endorsed the photo “To the lovely ladies of St Mary’s Wednesday Group – lots of love Hayley xxx”. I presented this to the group leader at the end of my talk and they were thrilled to bits to receive it.
I knew I was going to have trouble towards the end as, even reading to myself, made me quite emotional. I did manage to keep it together but several of the ladies seemed quite moved by what they were being told. One of the ladies said that she had expected me to be a relative and was surprised that ‘ordinary people’ were able to get as close to Hayley as I was describing.
The leader of the group told me afterwards “We all love Hayley now!” and I took that to mean that they had understood what I intended to get across; the fact that she, along with her family, management team and, yes, I will include HWI, are such amazing people. It brings it home just what a privilege it is to know her, and I thank God for such a wonderful gift.
My only regret is that, in the rush to get everything set up, I forgot my camera!
Best wishes
Grant
I was asked to give this talk over a year ago and began to put it together almost immediately. Since then I have been back to it at least once a week to add or refine. It’s no easy task trying to compress 14 years of Hayley’s incredible life into an hour, but I just about managed it and ended up with an 11 page ‘script’.
Although I’m no stranger to public speaking; part of my job being to make presentations to some very senior people in the railway industry as well as giving slide shows an lectures about places and things that interested me; it seemed very different talking about ‘someone’, particularly someone I care very deeply about! Consequently I was very nervous.
I began by giving a brief resume of Hayley’s career to date, (with grateful thanks to Paul Little); going on to explain how I first got to hear about her and the concerts that have followed. I concluded with an explanation of what the last two years have meant to me and why Hayley now has a very special place in my heart. I also put together a small exhibition of posters, photographs, CD’s and memorabilia, and played a couple of tracks from “Hayley Westenra”.
I first mentioned to Hayley that I was giving the talk, at Shrewsbury, and asked her if she would consider sending a brief greeting, which she seemed happy to do. Subsequently though, I took a spare photograph to Beverley and asked her to sign it for the group. I didn’t prompt her as to what she should write, having given her a copy of the group’s programme. Hayley endorsed the photo “To the lovely ladies of St Mary’s Wednesday Group – lots of love Hayley xxx”. I presented this to the group leader at the end of my talk and they were thrilled to bits to receive it.
I knew I was going to have trouble towards the end as, even reading to myself, made me quite emotional. I did manage to keep it together but several of the ladies seemed quite moved by what they were being told. One of the ladies said that she had expected me to be a relative and was surprised that ‘ordinary people’ were able to get as close to Hayley as I was describing.
The leader of the group told me afterwards “We all love Hayley now!” and I took that to mean that they had understood what I intended to get across; the fact that she, along with her family, management team and, yes, I will include HWI, are such amazing people. It brings it home just what a privilege it is to know her, and I thank God for such a wonderful gift.
My only regret is that, in the rush to get everything set up, I forgot my camera!
Best wishes
Grant
Silly me!