Hayley at Waterloo Station selling poppies

[natalie]

moblog.net/view/860473/britains-last-tommyand-hayley-westenra-d



........And I've got something exciting to tell you....I'm all set to meet up with my friend Hayley Westenra again! You may have read one of my earlier posts where I described Hayley's performance in Basra earlier this month. Well, she's so keen to show her support for the Poppy Appeal that she's going to come along to Waterloo Station in London tomorrow, and together with Jonathan Ansell (he used to be in G4) she's going to sing as she sells poppies! I'm going to go along and see how they do

It kicks off at 1pm - see you there!

[natalie]

Now I will be in Brighton at that time,oh wish it was on Sunday

[Caitlin]

That's really exciting news!!

I'm sure it will be a fantastic afternoon.
It's a shame that the study abroad program that I could do isn't until next semester. Ah well.

<3 Caitlin

[charles]

Hi All,
That's brilliant news as i am in London tomorrow for the BBC chorister of the year event so i'm definitly going.
Can't wait for it to be tomorrow!!!!

Charles

[Libby]

That's so nice. I wish I could buy a poppy from Hayley, and hear her sing, too!

[Richard]

I know where I'll be at lunchtime! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Richard

[comet]

Best wishes to you all at Waterloo Station,

Someone please bring a camera,

and maybe a flask of something like Hot Chocolate ..or even coffee.......

[Martin]

Hi All,
Just back from an enjoyable 45 mins at Waterloo station with Richard. Hayley was there in top form (despite travelling overnight from Newcastle and then appearing on ITV this morning) and along with Jonathan Ansell sold poppies to the unsuspecting public. Poppy Man made a late appearance but was looking a bit worn out as many of his poppies were misssing.

We were able to spend a couple of minutes chatting with Hayley and then later with Kathryn who thanked us and HWI for our continued support (what a lovely lady).

To booster sales Hayley and Joanthan sang one verse from Amigos Para Sempre on three occassions which made my day i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif.

Sorry all but no photos from me but the media and press were there so some photos should surface sooner than later.

Best wishes
Martin

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

I hope there will be some photographs in the press, because Hayley looked absolutely stunning in her red coat and long black boots, which matched Poppy Man's outfit perfectly! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I stayed for another ten minutes after Martin left, so I can confirm that Hayley and Jonathan actually sang four choruses of 'Amigos Para Siempre'. I also had the pleasure of meeting Charles and his sister. The event was a very enjoyable and different experience, so thank you Hayley for making it such a memorable afternoon.

Now I'm really looking forward to Northampton next Wednesday. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Richard]

From The Times...

On song for the poppy appeal

The Face: Hayley Westenra

The Poppy appeal receives a musical boost from the Commonwealth today when New Zealand’s most popular songstress since Dame Kiri Te Kanawa joins the sellers at Waterloo station.

First spotted busking with her sister, Hayley Westenra shot to fame aged 16 with Pure, a two-million-selling album mixing classical, light pop and traditional Maori songs.

Five years on, the ringlet-haired singer has been awarded a “greatest hits” collection without ever tainting her “angelic” image.

Now seeking to be a force for good, Westenra is a Unicef ambassador to Africa and lobbied President Bush for a carbon cap after performing at the White House.

Westenra, who says that she used to be a “pesco-vegetarian”, describes herself as a “tough chick” who has thoroughly imbibed the rugged Kiwi mindset despite relocating to London.

A morale-boosting visit to the troops in Basra prompted her to support the Royal British Legion campaign after learning of a shortage of poppy-sellers.

“Wars may change. But the cause is as relevant to us today as it ever has been.”

Adam Sherwin

Richard

[Richard]

From Poppy Man Moblog...

Did anyone here make it to our musical Waterloo event this afternoon? Here are some snaps to cast your eye over if you didn't!

Many thanks to the lovely Hayley Westenra and Jonathan Ansell for helping out and spreading the Poppy Appeal word.

Poppy Man

Richard

[Richard]

From The Royal British Legion...

Singing poppy sellers



Multi-million selling classical artists, Hayley Westenra and Jonathan Ansell, took to the streets to sell poppies at 1pm, Friday 31st October at Waterloo Station (opposite Platform 16) – singing as they sold.

On hearing reports of a lack of poppy sellers this year, singers Hayley Westenra and Jonathan Ansell volunteered to support The Royal British Legion by selling poppies themselves at Waterloo Station. Anyone lucky enough to buy a poppy from the stars was able to hear two of the most remarkable voices of our time. Alongside Hayley and Jonathan was Poppy Man – the symbolic representation of the help The Royal British Legion gives to serving and ex-Service people and their families.

The Royal British Legion is looking to recruit a ‘new generation’ of 10,000 Poppy Appeal collectors between now and November 11th in a bid to meet an ambitious £32 million fundraising target.

Miss Westenra is fresh off the plane from Basra, where she launched the Legion’s 2008 Poppy Appeal, raising morale by singing to the troops. Having been deeply affected by her experience in Basra, Hayley feels strongly about continuing her work with the Legion back in London.

"When I was in Basra I spoke to a lad, just 19 years old, who had been driving a tank on the front line. When I look at photographs of soldiers marching home from war in 1918 and the faces of the men and women around me in Basra, what strikes me is how young they all are – and that the Legion has been there for all of them. Wars may change, but the need for a charity to deal with the human cost of conflict remains very much the same."

Jonathan Ansell, who will be performing a duet with Hayley at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on 8th November, wants to encourage the younger generation to get involved:
“People think of poppy selling as a job for the older generation, but there’s no reason why young people can’t be involved as well. The cause is as relevant to us today as it ever has been.”

Both Hayley and Jonathan feel that it is extremely important to remind people going about their everyday lives to think of the 4,500 British Armed Forces personnel in Iraq and nearly 8,000 others in Afghanistan - and are pleased to have the opportunity to do this through their gift of singing.

Between them, the tenor and soprano have sold over 10 million albums and sell out some of the world's biggest concert halls, so the commuters at Waterloo Station received an extraordinary treat.

The Poppy Appeal takes place in the two-week period running up to Remembrance Sunday on 9th November and Armistice Day on 11th November, when the nation pauses for a Two Minute Silence to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice during their service for their country.

Richard

[grant]

Hello everyone

Travelling back from Newcastle this morning, I was surprised to find this in the Scottish edition of today's Times newspaper.



Unfortunately, it didn't give a time or I might have been tempted to change trains and head for London!

Incidentally Richard, your link to The Times doesn't appear to now be making any reference to this.

Best wishes
Grant

[martindn]

Hi Grant,

Your journey back from Newcastle clearly wasn't as efficient as Hayley's. She got home before you. I wonder how, I can only imagine she was driven through the night, since the first plane from Newcastle to London (0920 to Heathrow) would have been too late for her appearance on ITV. Or I suppose there might have been a train.
This has been another hectic day for Hayley, and in a few minutes I an going to listen to Classic FM!

Martin

[grant]

Oct 31, 2008 22:41:38 GMT martindn said:

I wonder how, I can only imagine she was driven through the night, since the first plane from Newcastle to London (0920 to Heathrow) would have been too late for her appearance on ITV.

Hi Martin

You really should catch up with posts before you make assumptions!

If you had read my review of the Newcastle concert you would have read that they hurried off after the brief meeting to drive to London.

Best wishes
Grant