Chichester Festivities, 9th July 2007

[mariannek]

Dear Grant,
You have excelled once more !!!
Thank you soooo much for your wonderful report !!!
It comes alive on the pages !
Love, Marianne

[graemek]

Well,
I've ploughed thru everything up to here. Its 8am for us & all the reporting,
pics & commenting has happened while we slept !!!

Very happy for Hayley, herself,her colleagues & all her audience for what was "the best concert ever"
She gets better all the time....of course !!!....Isn't she a star??

Huge Thanks once more everyone for reports, pics & comments & the very obvious and very catching enthusiasm.

I felt my own excitement mount as I read on....only thing missing was a sound track.
Graemek

[dutchjoyce]

HEY GUYS,thanks for reports,comments and pictures.
It was a pleasure to read!!!Greetzz JOYCE.

[grant]

PART 3

And so to the ‘Afters’.

It seemed that no official announcement had been made about Hayley signing. That, combined with the low key sales point at the interval seemed to suggest that it might be sort of unofficial. So it was that we found ourselves trying to find a way ‘up Cathedral’ against the flow of departing audience. We did eventually find our way to the South Transept to find a single table set up as a sales stall manned by what appeared be two Chichester Festivities people. No where for signing; no seat for Hayley, or Fiona for that matter, so it is perhaps fortunate that the crowd assembling was smaller than usual.

Ian Tilley arrived first and was soon engaged in conversation and yes Roger, I did hear his comment about the richness of Hayley’s voice having not played for her for some time. That, coming from Hayley’s Musical Director is testament indeed and I immediately thought of Hayley’s next album, due early next year, with a tremendous new excitement.

I guess Hayley and Fiona must have waited in a private area behind the stage rather than fight their way through the departing audience as we had done, as they slipped quietly behind me and into the adjacent vestry practically unnoticed. It was still unclear how the rest of the evening would be played out. More people had arrived and were clustering around the sales table. Meanwhile a party of school children had arrived and were ushered into the vestry, immediately, the cluster round the table formed a queue at the vestry door!

I had said to Roger during the second part of the concert that should Hayley do her signing in her green ‘Celtic’ gown, I would die to have my picture taken with her. Well that’s just what she did. Some thoughtful person had wrestled a ‘Bishops Chair’ from the vestry for Hayley but it was a bit of a mad scramble making photography almost impossible. Luckily there wasn’t a huge gathering so we waited patiently.

What I had at first thought was going to be a disaster was to provide some significant firsts for me, but more of that later. Eventually, the children began to appear from the vestry; some totally “Hayley-wowed” some quite nonchalant, but I’m sure they will all remember their time with Hayley with pride. Shortly after, Hayley emerged, still wearing that beautiful gown and I began to realise that I had made a very serious error of judgement in voting as I did in the “Favourite Dress” poll. There is no doubt in my mind now that Hayley’s green ‘Celtic’ gown is not only my favourite Hayley dress, but probably my most favourite dress of all time! Don’t ask me to explain why, I’ve tried. There is just something very special about it and I’ll have to leave it there and move on.

I did get some good pictures, but somewhere along the way I just felt that tonight I wanted to “be with Hayley” and I actually put my camera down. I was standing next to Roger and Hayley was stood facing us, happily chatting away about this and that and, at a suitable point I joined in. Tonight was, for me, the first time that I have managed to say everything I wanted to, to Hayley – a far cry from trying to remember to say a simple “Hi” in those heady days almost two years ago!

The first was the very important question about ‘chocolate’! I will post fully on the appropriate thread but it seems that if we are sensible about it we are in the clear. I did say that we had heard this rumour about giving up chocolate, but it seems that what she actually said, or at any rate meant, was that until we started bringing chocolate she had given it up. Hayley actually told me that she thought we were “very sweet” to think of her in that way. I even stressed the point that if we were doing something that was against her wishes, we were doing her a dis-service, but again she seemed OK about it. More details on the chocolate thread. The other thing concerns something Comet had asked me to ask her which I did (I will PM you Paul).

Ah! Going back to the chocolate. Hayley, having said that chocolate was OK, Roger chipped in, right on cue, “but we haven’t brought any!” Enabling me to say “Well actually, we have!” producing, as if by magic, one bar of Hayley’s favourite chocolate, which we now know, will never see London!

Hi Stephany! Surprised? To answer part of your question, the chocolate was, as you noticed, delivered in an HMV bag. In the other hand, Hayley is holding some stickers which Comet and I created from pictures I took (and have posted) from the Telford concert where Hayley posed for me holding the said bar of chocolate!

Back to Chichester. Dave has agreed to take some pictures of Hayley and I really can’t describe how it felt to be standing next to her, wearing that wonderful gown, with my arm around her. It’s a very special moment at anytime, but this time felt extra special. Naturally, I didn’t hurry the moment and was actually delighted that Dave wasn’t familiar with my camera and took his time. At one point, I needed to change position, think I must have been standing uncomfortably or something. When I moved, I think Hayley may have thought I was loosing my balance and I felt her grip around my waist tighten. Almost certainly an automatic reaction that she didn’t notice, but I did and it felt special.

By now, time is drawing on. It’s close to 11pm and the Cathedral staff want to close up and go home, also, Hayley’s driver seems anxious to be away. I made a comment to one of the Cathedral staff that we had been asked to leave Canterbury last year because it was late, to which I received the reply “and you’re going to be asked to leave this one soon!”

Realising that our time with Hayley was drawing to a close dawned the realisation that several of us still had programmes to be signed. I handed mine to Hayley across the now almost empty table. She looked up at me as if to say “what do you want me to write?” “Can you remember?” I asked “Grant” came back the confident reply. And do you know what? For a few seconds even I wasn’t sure she was right!! Don’t think I’ve ever been more “Hayley-wowed” than I was at that moment!!

Some may think it sad that I found such a simple thing so special, but to hear my name spoken by Hayley in her beautifully soft kiwi accent meant everything. Almost certainly the most special ‘Hayley Moment’ since that first meeting almost 2 years ago. Tonight truly had exceeded all my expectations and more. Hayley looked absolutely stunning in that green dress, she had sung her heart out, she had interacted with our little group as only she can and now we had to let her go until the next time.

God bless you Hayley

Footnote:

Having said our goodbyes, I headed for my B&B and contemplated the amazing day over a few glasses of wine, finally settling down for the night a little after 1 am. My “Hayleyday” has lasted 18 hours and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it

[grant]

Steve, Stuart

Wonderful! Wonderful! wonderful!

your pictures are superb.

Would really appreciate copies (max res.) of anything you have of Hayley and I - what an amazing evening that was!!!

Bless you both
Grant

[Joe]

Hello Grant,

May I begin by saying how much I enjoy reading your reports. In particular, this one from Chichester. I'll say this, I thought my 'fantasy concert' signing (which I'll shortly post) was pale in comparison to this after-concert signing event!

I trust that Hayley thinks very highly of you, as indeed all of us.

Many thanks, Grant, and long may the flag of HWI wave ! (That's a thought, Belinda)

Best wishes,
Joe

[grant]

joe said:

Hello Grant,

May I begin by saying how much I enjoy reading your reports. In particular, this one from Chichester. I'll say this, I thought my 'fantasy concert' signing (which I'll shortly post) was pale in comparison to this after-concert signing event!

I trust that Hayley thinks very highly of you, as indeed all of us.

Many thanks, Grant, and long may the flag of HWI wave ! (That's a thought, Belinda)

Best wishes,
Joe

Thank you Joe

It's a pleasure and an honour to be part of this very special family at HWI.

The 'flag' idea is brilliant!!

Best wishes
Grant

[Joe]

Thanks so much for these glorious pictures of Hayley in "that dress"! I'm impressed as to the wonderful quality of the photos.

Cheers to Roger, Dave, Stuart, Martin and Steve H for sharing your pics from Chichester.

Thank you,
Joe

[timj]

Great pictures Steve, Stuart, Grant and Martin, and a wonderful report Grant!! You're making me miss Hayley again, maybe I'll plan another trip to the U.K. this year........TimJ

[Belinda]

Hi tim,
I agree a great job done by Hayley and all that attended the concert re Pics and reports .

Surely you deserve a trip to NZ. I think we can say shes going to tour i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifin 2008
:2fun: Hayley will feel more at home (AT HOME) seeing familar faces from the UK, :2fun: including yourself as she 's met you a few times there.

Belinda

[Stephany]

Grant, a million thanks for your 'afters' report. What a fantastic read for starting the day and before going to work i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif
What a lovely evening you had!

You know, in a way, I find it difficult to believe that after seeing Hayley for a certain number of times, you can all get so emotional when you see her again. BUT...when I read your words, Grant, I can clearly see how much you treasure these moments with Hayley.
Very unique.

Roger, I understand how special it must be for you to welcome Hayley in your own county. I find it already very special that she comes to my country next September.

Stuart, Steve, Martin, Dave (and soon Grant?) - thank you very much for your gorgeous pictures.

Lots of love to you all,
Stephany

[petertong]

hi Grant,

Thanks for that marvelous report... awesome pictures of you and Hayley too!

Some mentioned her voice being better than they've ever heard it before... wow - I can scarcely imagine how she must have sounded. Like seventh heaven?! I'm going to have to burn off some vacation hours and take a trip to London one of these days to join you UK HWI folks for a concert, that way I won't feel its so unfair that you UK folks get all the good stuff happening

best regards,
Peter T.

[postscript]

Nice to see you posting photos again, Roger.
Very nice ones indeed and thanks for the running sheet.
Peter S.

[Martin]

grant said:

PART 3

Back to Christchurch. Dave has agreed to take some pictures of Hayley and I really can’t describe how it felt to be standing next to her, wearing that wonderful gown, with my arm around her.

Hello Grant
Well done again for your deliciously descriptive account. But I didn't see you pop back to Christchurch at the end!!

Steve & Stuart - thanks for the concert photos taken in very difficult circumstances. The post-concert ones are particulary stunning (I must get a better camera!).

Best Wishes
Martin

[Martin]

stuey said:

Stuart

"Hayley introduces Misha - the BFG (Big Friendly Giant)"

Martin