Telford (St.Georges) - 16 June 2007

[grant]

Hayley in Telford Take 2
Or “Will the owner of the silver Mercedes…….”

I’d known about this concert since the last one here on 2nd December last year. Now it’s finally here. I’m taking my friend Teresa who has been dying to see Hayley perform in the intimate surroundings of a church and we are both looking forward to the evening very much.

Leaving home shortly after 2pm, we stopped for a meal en route (remembering the problems Mark and I had last year!) at the Spread Eagle close to the M6 and on the junction of the A5/A449. I mention that because it was superb; speedy waitress service, excellent food and reasonable prices.

We arrived outside the church a few minutes before 5pm and in a torrential downpour which soon passed over. Allowing me to go see if anyone else was around. The vicar is at the door but non of “our lot” No Hayley either, it seems! Only a rather worried looking pianist wanting his rehearsal time!

Slowly our party assembled; Tim first, then Thomas and Simone; Martin; Steve and Stuart and Mark. Pleasantries are exchanged; introductions made and the chatter turning to our special girl whiles away the time.

With a small queue already formed, Hayley arrived shortly after 6pm along with Steve Abbott hidden behind a huge box, followed by Fiona Pears dragging a huge wheeled suitcase. Despite being late because of the bad weather, Hayley still manages brief “Hi’s” as she disappears inside for her sound check.

We had expected doors to open at 6.30pm but with Hayley’s late arrival, it was close on ten to seven before we are allowed inside with all our group managing to get as close to the stage as they wanted to be. Again because of Hayley’s late arrival there will be a slight delay to the start and it’s almost 7.45pm when the vicar Peter Lawley came to the microphone to announce “Will the owner of the silver Mercedes please return to his vehicle as the alarm is going off” Didn’t you just know that it would be Mark’s!!

End of part 1

Coming next: Something new and exciting to look forward to and the “Special Request” revealed

[grant]

Part 2
Something new and exciting to look forward to

At last, something is happening with Fiona and “new” pianist David Quigley appearing on stage; Fiona wearing an almost full length burgundy dress. Very lacy and very sparkly (where are you Caite?!!). Hayley has on the same dress and sandals that she wore at Cardiff and already capably described by Caite. This time, however, Hayley is wearing a black onyx heart shaped pendant.

Opening with Caccini’s “Ave Maria”, Hayley is quickly in her stride, following with “The Water Is Wide” and “Scarborough Fair” to conclude her first set. Time now for Fiona to let her hair down and it is clear to see that she is delighted to be with Hayley and to have her own guest spot.

Fiona opened with one of her own numbers, finished only a few days previously and called “Tangismo” Fiona tells us that she wasn’t certain she would do it, but pianist David managed to play it first time so she was happy to go with it. I have to say at this point that I was not, initially, very happy to see an unknown pianist, but my worries proved to be totally unjustified as he played absolutely brilliantly all evening.

Next from Fiona came “Cinema Paradiso” from the film of the same name and written by Ennio Morriconi and to close, not unexpectedly, Fiona’s beautiful “Memories of Martin and Mary”, written from her experience when backpacking in Ireland.

Hayley returned as the rapturous applause for Fiona and David died down to belt out “One Fine Day” realising at the end that she had sung the wrong song from her play list and suggesting that perhaps she should sing the correct one now. Anyway, she tied herself in knots, saying with a giggle that she was completely lost – course she wasn’t, she was just enjoying herself!!

“Prayer”, followed by “Danny Boy”, took us up to the interval; Hayley talking first about how her grandparents would go down the coast (South Island, New Zealand) stopping at pubs and hotels, always with the accordion in the car just in case there was the chance of a sing song.

Interval now, and time to chat about the concert so far, Steve and Stuart, sat on the front row opposite have been snapping away merrily, but now we have questions for Steve whose attention we eventually manage to attract. Can’t say much about the Celtic Woman UK tour. Seems CW management may have jumped the gun as Hayley is supposed to be in Japan sometime in September as well as doing the rugby world cup, so that is still all up in the air. At least we managed to warn Steve about some of the internet publicity stating categorically that Hayley will be part of the tour.

What I can now reveal, I believe, publicly for the first time (and with the blessing of Steve) is that Hayley is working on a new book!!!!!!!! Talking to the writers for up to five hours a day – Where does this girl find the energy?

From what we could learn in the time we had is that it is being done through Virgin Books; is due for release in December and takes up from where “The World At Her Feet” left off. So who’s just added it to their Christmas list?

Back soon!!

[grant]

Part 3
My Special Request

Fiona opened the second half of the concert with a piece called “Far Away” followed by “Hava Nagila” to which we were all invited to clap and stamp our feet, the audience reaction/participation obviously delighting her enormously.

Hayley now returns to stage, opening with her classic “Pokarekare Ana”, singing the first verse A Capella. Next, from ‘Treasure’ came “Let Me Lie” and I just love to hear Hayley sing this live because I’m sure I can see her reliving that day in the sun in London when she wrote it! “Summer Fly” next, another stunning performance and another example of David’s superb piano playing.

“Shenandoah” followed with the anticipated “there are 100 verses to this song and the doors are locked” joke. Most of the audience will, of course, not have heard it before so responded well to it. I think we were all a little surprised when Hayley introduced “May It Be” and said “This will be my last song, thank you very much” Where has the evening gone?

Hayley left the stage to tremendous applause and shouts of More!! More!! She did return to take another bow and it looked as though there wasn’t going to be an encore. What added to the confusion then was the presentation of flowers to Hayley and Fiona with Hayley leaving the stage for the second time.

I think Hayley must have been overtaken by events as she soon reappeared saying something like “I owe you an encore, don’t I” or “I haven’t done my encore” something like that.

Hayley was looking directly at me when she said “A couple of concerts ago I had a special request from a fan who’s in the audience tonight. We haven’t had chance to rehearse it, so I’m going to sing it A Capella” I couldn’t believe it, I really didn’t think she would feel able to do it but she did!!

To hear the hymn “Abide with Me” sung by Hayley AND A Capella, at my request was such a special moment. Teresa had tears in her eyes, surprisingly I didn’t but it was a very special end to a very special evening and, I hope there were some thoughts for our dear departed Simon as the last notes died away. Hayley, I’m sure, didn’t hear my “Bless you, Hayley” over the applause, but I said it anyway.

The evening is not over yet, however. There’s a signing session and more pictures to be taken and, despite being pretty much exhausted (Steve’s words) she was her usual happy smiling self and the repartee between Hayley and our group was amazing. Especially when Hayley, realising that Tim had flown in especially for the concert and seeing the bank of cameras aimed at her, commented that she felt she should be on a red carpet, to which I was able to reply “Err, actually Hayley, you are!!”

It was an amazing 40 or so minutes. I made some teasing comment about the fact that the ‘a’ and the ‘e’ of Hayley disappear when she’s signing and I think it was Steve Hayter added a comment about forum discussion on the subject. Hayley wasn’t having any of it “No! there’s an ‘a’ and an ’e’ in there!!”

Tin had brought Hayley some ‘candy’ and I had the ‘Hayley approved’ Green & Blacks dark organic chocolate for her, no doubt for consumption on the journey back to London.

Reluctantly, it is time to say goodbye once more first to Hayley and then to each other as we began to make our respective journeys home.

Best wishes
Grant

[Dave]

Hi Grant,

Thanks for your prompt and illuminating report on Telford, I almost feel that I was there (and I wish I had been!).

Well done!

Cheers, Dave

[grant]

Just acouple of pictures before bed

The group gather for the concert



Presentation of flowers



Bedybyes for me now!!

More tomorrow

Best wishes
Grant

[Joe]

Hello Grant !

I thoroughtly enjoyed following your posts on this concert since last December. I remember the difficulties on getting the tickets!

Wow...another specatular review! You've come up trumps this time...what's this...Hayley's begun work on a new book

Lovely that Hayley sang 'Abide With Me' upon your request. Nice to see many of my HWI friends in the group photo.

Many thanks, Grant!

Joe

[Stephany]

WOW GRANT!!!
Another MAGNIFICIENT report from our fabulous Grant...very prompt, too!!
Are you not tired after each concert?? (hey, not that I don't like reading your reports VERY early!!)

I remember Mark telling me how glorious it was to hear Hayley singing in a Church, particularly in Telford. I'm sure you had a blast at the concert. By the way, Mark, I hope everything was fine with your car!

I love the group photo...it's so, so nice to see you all and I know Hayley was very pleased once again to see familiar faces. Especially Tim, Thomas and Simone who made a long trip to get to Telford!! Tim, I'm sure she was VERY surprised when she noticed you i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif
Grant, I also hope your friend Teresa enjoyed the concert!

Another book?? It sounds fantastic. I don't know where she gets the time to do this but hey, that's great for us. It will be very interesting to see how she looks back on her career. It's a nice way for her to sit and just think "wow, I can't believe I did all this!". The book will definitely be on my Christmas list...though I'm not sure I will be able to wait till then.

Grant, I am so pleased for you that Hayley responded positively to your special request. "Abide with me" a cappella...there's no word for this, it must be beyond gorgeous. Very thoughtful of you to think about Simon...I didn't know him but my respect for him is enormous and I really wish I had met him.

Many thanks for asking about the CW UK tour. I'm sure Hayley really wants to do it but her schedule is very tight so I would totally understand if she can't make it. I am surprised that the CW management confirmed her participation so promptly without her approval. That's not very professional...and very disrespectful towards the fans.

Japan? I wonder why she is going but it looks like she has a fabulous time each time she's traveling there.
Hmm...I also hope she performs a little gig in Paris between two matches of the Rugby World Cup...shhh, let me dream, please!

Many thanks again for your WONDERFUL report, Grant.
I can't wait to hear more from Tim, Martin, Mark, Thomas, Stuart and Steve (maybe even Simone & Teresa?)...looks like you had a smashing time together.

Best wishes from Paris,
Stephany, still looking for the "e" in Hayley's autograph...

[graemek]

Thank you very much Grant,
Great Report. Thanks for the pics so far. Did anybody strike their craniums on the door headstone??? Looks dangerously low Thomas & Tim.

So glad for your personal 'Abide with Me.' What a privilege indeed.

I love the Hayley "e" denial.....priceless... (I'm a Hayley 'NO !!!!!' fan)

Graemek

[mariannek]

Hi Grant,
How do you do it You have excelled yourself once more !!!
Thank you so much for your great report and photos !!
What a night ! And she sang *One fine Day* just for me !! But I haven't heard you enthuse about it, Grant...love to hear what you think of her rendition !!
Love, Marianne

[Richard]

Hello Grant!

Many thanks for another fantastic report, and so quickly too! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Now I'm looking forward to seeing more photographs, and I can't wait for Hayley's new book either!

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Mark]

Hi everyone

Thanks to Grant for another stunning report. I dont have much time to report this morning but will post my review later today. It was a fantastic evening and one that I shall not forget in a hurry for various reasons i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Stephany, I have a surprise for you so keep a look out for my report later

Back soon

Bets regards
Mark

[Stephany]

tinky3344 said:

Stephany, I have a surprise for you so keep a look out for my report later

Back soon

Best regards
Mark

Mark, you have sparked my curiosity!
But...I'm a very patient person
Glad to hear you had a fantastic time in Telford!

Stephany

[Martin]

Hi Everyone
It was great to meet Thomas, Simone, Tim and Teresa for the first time last night and of course regulars Grant, Steve, Stuart, Mark & family. As usual we were all first on the scene, in fact Thomas and Simone arrived at 3.45pm.

Grant has admirably provided the full chapter and verse (as usual) from last night so I will just add a few comments around the edges. Suffice to say that it was one of the most enjoyable evenings of my life.

Mark provided the night's "ice-breaker" with the vicar's request for the owner of the Mercedes to return immediately to silence the car alarm! Mark's daughter's face was a picture as her Dad stood up in front of the packed audience and sloped off to his car!! As Mark left the vicar quipped "It would be nice to own a Mercedes CLK"!!

Grant didn't mention that being in the first two rows we were no more than three feet from the stage and only six feet from Hayley. I would like to think that she was more than happy that there were so many HWI members in these VIP seats!

Fiona and David provided a superb accompaniment throughout and of course Fiona reveled in her opportunity to take the lead for five numbers. She was her usual bubbly and confident self. She joked about the fact that her bow hairs were beginning to fray within minutes of starting to play!!

Hayley, looking a little tired at the start, soon got into her stride and if by telepathy sung nearly all my favourite songs, in particular Scarborough Fair, May It Be, One Fine Day and Let Me Lie. The acoustics were excellent so well done to the PA team.

Steve Abbott said later that Hayley is spending as much as five hours a day at the moment on her new book and is finding the strain on her voice as much, if not more than singing.

As Grant has mentioned Hayley's Autumn plans are not yet finalised but Steve A did confirm that she will be based in New Zealand for almost three months next year from Jan- March. I am sure Hayley can't wait as she has spent precious little time there with her family recently.

There will be many photos to follow from HWI members, in fact Grant managed to take sixty in approximately 30 minutes after the concert ended! You will see one photo with a suprise guest who I suspect never made it back to London last night.

Martin

[grant]

Part 4
“Remembered Moments”
Not surprisingly, finishing my review as I did, close on 3am this morning, there are some important omissions!

In the interval some of us were chatting as you do and, I think it was Steve H, mentioned something I had not picked up during our time with Hayley after the Cardiff concert. (This is general stuff so not ‘off topic’ I hope!) After we had been kept waiting for ages to see Hayley, and were finally let loose with her, the Front of House lady, seeing Hayley’s reaction to the presence of our little group, acknowledged that we are as important to Hayley as she is to us. A nice and very positive comment from an outsider.

Now back to tonight’s concert. Although Hayley reappeared wearing the same dress and sandals, the heart shaped pendant had been replaced by a Celtic looking pendant which I’m not going to attempt to describe, because I’m sure it will be amply displayed in the many photographs that will follow.

Later, when Hayley was introducing “Abide With Me”, she seemed to be struggling to find the right words, eventually opting for ‘fan’ but I somehow felt that she wanted to use a different word. I don’t really like the word ‘fan’ because I feel that we are more than that. Maybe Hayley feels the same. I’d like to think so anyway.

Still on the subject of "Abide With Me" and knowing how this hymn 'moves' me, it was surprising to me that I was not more affected by it at the time Hayley sang it for me, A capella. I think I must just have been too stunned to react, because in church this morning I think it finally hit me and I felt very emotional indeed.

With the concert over, there is something of a free for all with no sign of the organised and patient queue waiting for their few moments with Hayley. As usual. We hung back until things quietened down, concentrating on getting some pictures. I expected it to be like Stoke, with Hayley getting on with the job in hand and ignoring us until, at one brief quiet moment, she looked up at me, beamed a gorgeous smile, let out a really cheerful “Hi” and presented me with a gorgeous pose. WOW! It’s little moments like that that make Hayley the truly special person that she is.

Later, when we had ‘our’ time with Hayley, Tim wished to have his picture taken with Hayley so he posed with her whilst we snapped away. Then, he handed his camera to me for me to take a picture with it. Now it was one of these little pocket digitals and, anyone who knows me knows I’m rubbish when it comes to using this type of camera. Tonight was not going to be any different!

First I managed to switch it off, then, just when I thought I had it sorted, the zoom lens retracted, seemingly of its own accord!! Now you would perhaps expect an artist of Hayley’s calibre to become a little impatient at all this dilly dallying, but no! She only let go of Tim and came over to show me how to use it, saying “I used to have one like this”!! Again, one might have been embarrassed at being shown how to use a camera with so many ‘expensive’ cameras around so many necks, but how could I? I was all just great fun!!

The picture below shows Hayley checking the results with Tim after I finally managed to get the shot!!



Well, I think that’s pretty much it except to say that on having a final word with Steve about “The” New Zealand tour, it seems that Hayley will be spending much of the first quarter of 2008 in her homeland!!

Best wishes
Grant

[grant]

mariannek said:

Hi Grant,
How do you do it You have excelled yourself once more !!!
Thank you so much for your great report and photos !!
What a night ! And she sang *One fine Day* just for me !! But I haven't heard you enthuse about it, Grant...love to hear what you think of her rendition !!
Love, Marianne

Hi Marianne

I love everything that Hayley sings. Didn't I comment on "One Fine Day" in my Cardiff review? Maybe I didn't, maybe it was in my album review. My problem is that I don't 'understand' music like some people do. I just enjoy listening to the sounds and feeling the experience. Does that make sense?

As far as "One Fine Day" is concerned, well, Hayley singing it generally sends shivers down my spine and I particularly wait for the long note when she sings "I know ..."

WOW!! That's something else.

Love
Grant