Tales from meeting Hayley

[Mark]

Hi everyone

I have looked through previous threads before starting this one but couldn't find anything exactly like my topic, apart from a thread titled " Memories of meeting Hayley", which was not what I had in mind.

The idea came to me as I was reading Hayley's book, which I am half way through. The book clearly describes Hayley's personality from a young age, which explains alot about how she became the person she is today - basically, she hasn't changed. Having met Hayley 6 times now, I have witnessed the caring, natural way that she deals with people and the way that she likes things to be 100% right for example, no matter how much time she might have to spend. Her book confirms that she has always been this way.

For those of us that have met her a number of times, there must be occasions when Hayley has perhaps made a comment, or a gesture, or done something which you could never imagine any other celebrity doing. Heres an example of what I mean :

Once, after a performance and the audience had left, Steve Abbott very kindly agreed to take a photo of Hayley & myself, we got in the usual pose and Steve took the pic. Before Steve had taken the camera from his eye, Hayley said to him "you have to hold the camera still, did you hold it still Steve ?" Steve said he thought it was ok and showed it to me. Hayley then asked me twice if that was ok, obviously, she was more than willing to do a retake ! See what I mean, she likes to get things 100% right and, she really cared about the shot being good enough for me

I'm sure, between us there must be lots of these tales - over to you

Best regards
Mark

[roger]

Hi Mark,

Your story is remarkably similar to something that I experienced on the second occasion I met Hayley. It was at the Albert Hall in December 2003. Keith, Simon and I had been chatting with Hayley and her mum for about half an hour when it became clear that they needed to leave. Before they did, Jill asked us several times if we needed any more photographs or if we wanted anything else signed. This was not being conceited in any way. It was merely Jill trying to be helpful. Now we know where Hayley gets it from!

Another occasion that comes to mind was at the Pony Centre in London in July 2005 where Hayley sang a couple of song during the first half. As she was introduced, she was standing at the door of the converted barn where the event took place. Somebody nudged me and demanded that I look towards the door. There stood Hayley as though oblivious to her introduction, waving at us!

Having sung her two songs, she left the stage and we had been told that she would be leaving immediately. Several of us from HWI sat through the remainder of the first half with only a passing interest. The interval came and we ventured outside. Who should be standing there but Hayley. She, Sophie and Steve Abbott had been waiting there for twenty-five minutes just to see us. How many performers would do that? I was immediately Hayleywowed!

Roger

[socalboy]

roger said:

Another occasion that comes to mind was at the Pony Centre in London in July 2005 where Hayley sang a couple of song during the first half. As she was introduced, she was standing at the door of the converted barn where the event took place. Somebody nudged me and demanded that I look towards the door. There stood Hayley as though oblivious to her introduction, waving at us!

Roger

I love this, because I can picture it. She could have cared less about her introduction. She spotted some familiar faces, and that's what made her happy.

[Stephany]

Hi Mark, Roger and everyone,
Your stories are almost surreal to me. I now seriously tend to think that she's the closest person to perfection I've ever heard of. Am I wrong?!

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

I well remember a little incident that happened at Wembley Arena on the Il Divo tour last year. I've already mentioned it elsewhere, but it's appropriate to tell the story here as well. I arrived early, as I usually do, and I noticed a group of about eight women standing by the entrance to the underground car park, used by the staff and artists. They were clearly waiting for Il Divo, so I lurked nearby. After a while a people carrier arrived, and stopped at the gate while the driver talked to security. I recognised Hayley in the vehicle, and she recognised me, so she wound down the window as I approached to say hello. I then discovered that the women had all seen Hayley at previous Il Divo concerts, and they all wanted to say hello to her as well. At this point Hayley and Steve Abbott decided to get out and meet us all properly, while the driver parked the car. They chatted with us for a good ten minutes before they finally went in. I felt guilty at the time and tried to apologise to Hayley for causing the hold-up, but she was genuinely pleased to meet us all, and the women were delighted too. It was great to hear the Il Divo fans' comments to Hayley! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best Wishes,

Richard

[grant]

I'm sure we will all have a selection of tales about Hayley locked away safely in our cherished memories. A couple come to mind right now.

At one of Hayley's concerts, I gave her a cheque for her Bikes for Ghana scheme. By the time I next met up with her (some months later at Toast New Zealand) I reminded her that the cheque had not been presented and she promised to remind Steve about it. The cheque had still not been presented when I next saw her at Gawsworth Hall a few weeks later, though I didn't like to mention it again. Days later I discovered it had been presented. I'm sure that, mentioning it as I did, early in the day at Toast, it had slipped her memory, but seeing me at Gawsworth reminded her.

Last year at Canterbury, there was quite a gathering of HWI and we had quite a long time with Hayley collectively. As I was still not used to my new digital camera, I'd asked George if he would take a picture of me with Hayley and he agreed. We waited for an opportune moment and I was about to go over to ask Hayley to stand with me, only to find she had turned towards me and was ready for the picture to be taken! With all that was going on around her, she had picked up on my request to Georgeand filed it in her mental "to do" list.

I'm sure I'll think of more as the day goes on.

Best wishes

Grant

[grant]

Here's something else that has intrigued me for a while now.

Only Mark and I were at last December's Telford St. George's concert, and we placed ourselves at the front of the queue to go in quite early. By the time we were allowed in, we had picked up on comments that "Hayley is coming again next June". At that time we knew nothing about this and, at the interval, I went to ask Steve Abbott about it.

Although I had seen and spoken to Steve at other venues, I don't think I had been addressed by name since I introduced myself at Tewkesbury some 12 months earlier, yet he called me by my first name.

I've wondered since, is it possible that Hayley looks at the concert threads to see which of us might be going. It's just the sort of thing she would do.

Grant

[scoobedoo]

Hi Grant,

I've wondered since, is it possible that Hayley looks at the concert threads to see which of us might be going. It's just the sort of thing she would do.

Grant

That wouldn't really surprise me,checkout the number of guests that appear. Anyone of them could be Hayley having a quick look. I know,because I do it myself especially the pages I have bookmarked,via the email notice.

So beware guys and gals Hayley could be watching i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I can't add to this thread as I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting Hayley. So,keep the memories coming folks this is an interesting thread,

cheers all,

Rodders CH CH NZ

[roger]

grant said:

I've wondered since, is it possible that Hayley looks at the concert threads to see which of us might be going. It's just the sort of thing she would do.

Grant

Hi Grant,

I don't know if she looks at the Concert threads but she certainly has been known to look at the forum. Not so long ago, I was telling her about the Dress Poll that we were running at the time and she knew all about it because she had read about it on the forum!

Roger

[jons]

I wont get to meet Hayley, but if I did I would be quaking in my boots! You've seen how excited I get on this forum, so I imagine I'd be too nervous, but then again I probably wouldn't be if it happened, judging by Hayley's approachable nature.

[mac]

Or you might just be so overwhelmed that you'd be bouncing off of the walls!
Actually, that sounds like something I would do, but you never know...

[petertong]

roger said:

Another occasion that comes to mind was at the Pony Centre in London in July 2005 where Hayley sang a couple of song during the first half. As she was introduced, she was standing at the door of the converted barn where the event took place. Somebody nudged me and demanded that I look towards the door. There stood Hayley as though oblivious to her introduction, waving at us!
Roger

Hi Roger,

Thanks for sharing that story and making me laugh. They were out there waiting for you, and you guys were in there waiting too (even though you perhaps were waiting in a different sense) - one of those real life comical situations that you'll never forget !

I have absolutely no preconceived idea what I would say to Hayley if I ever had the pleasure of meeting her. I would probably ask her if her little lecture with President Bush went over well i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif and if she has kept up with stalking the Queen! Just reading all these stories its evident that Hayley is a really kind person. It just runs through all of them and is really touching.

Now how does she remember people's names after such long periods of absence?! Thats amazing (either that or I'm starting to get old).

blessings,
Peter T.

[Stephany]

Those tales illustrate well how lovely Hayley is.
Funnily enough, I found a NZ film review on the internet this morning where they made a kind analogy about the existence of a possible Hayley Westenra syndrome which would refer to a person being too nice.
I thought it was extremely sweet ! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[Richard]

Hello Stephany!

Thanks for posting the link. That review is by Paul Little, who wrote Hayley's Biography 'The World at her Feet'! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Here is the important paragraph:-

Indian is as pleasant as a movie can get without turning into ice cream. There is a surprising and welcome amount of humour ("That bike looks about as stable as my first wife.") If anything, it is at risk of suffering from the Hayley Westenra syndrome being criticised for being too nice.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Stephany]

richnorri said:

Thanks for posting the link. That review is by Paul Little, who wrote Hayley's Biography 'The World at her Feet'! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Hi Richard and thanks for the precision.
I knew the author was biased somehow.