|
|
Post by Richard on Sept 21, 2009 14:32:42 GMT
Hello folks!  Forget the newspaper articles. The Royal British Legion's magazine Legion has now published the definitive version of the story, which I'll quote in full: [/b] Published: 21 September 2009  Hayley Westenra is new Forces
Favourite © ImagewiseSinger Hayley Westenra has been crowned the new Forces Favourite after signing up to perform at The Royal British Legion’s annual Festival of Remembrance. The New Zealander, 22, will perform at the Royal Albert Hall later this year on 7 November. She replaces mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, who has sung at the festival for the past five years. Ms Westenra, who last week helped launch the Legion’s recruitment drive for Poppy Appeal volunteers, has been a long-time supporter of the RBL and has a family history of being involved with the forces. Her great-uncle, RAF Squadron Leader Jerry Westenra, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and bar for his bravery on operations in Greece, North Africa and France. Speaking about her forces connections, Ms Westenra said: “Jerry is someone to be incredibly proud of. But in October 2007, I took part in the 90th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Passchendaele and discovered one of my great-great-uncles had been killed on the front line. “I found the name of Private Frederick Alan Westenra of Canterbury, New Zealand, on one of the plaques at the Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Memorial in Ypres. “From that point onwards, I became keen to support the armed forces wherever and whenever possible. To appear at this year’s Festival of Remembrance is such a great honour.” Last year, Ms Westenra travelled to meet troops in Basra to help launch the 2008 Poppy Appeal. For more information, go to www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/calendar-of-events/general/festival-of-remembrance-2009[/size][/quote] Richard  |
|
|
|
Post by grant on Sept 21, 2009 14:54:40 GMT
Thanks Richard That's a great picture of Hayley wearing a beret - it really suits her.  Best wishes Grant |
|
|
|
Post by Richard on Oct 8, 2009 14:54:10 GMT
|
|
Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,699
|
Post by Dave on Oct 8, 2009 16:30:50 GMT
Armed Forces songbird Hayley Westenra will headline the 2009 Festival of Remembrance in a tribute to the original Armed Forces sweetheart, Dame Vera Lynn. Miss Westenra will take the spotlight on 7 November at the Royal Albert Hall with a rendition of "We'll Meet Again" before an audience including Her Majesty the Queen, members of the Royal Family, and Dame Vera Lynn herself. The Festival of Remembrance is broadcast on BBC One and BBC Radio 2, drawing a television audience of more than 6 million viewers. Hi Richard, thanks! Well it just gets better, doesn't it! I dropped a few hints in the Charts thread, after Kathryn said a while back that Hayley is "looking forward to a very exciting autumn, with an amazing involvement with Dame Vera Lynn" and clearly, this is it (or part of it). I don't know any more but clearly, this could lead to other TV performances and media interviews - there's a difference between being a performer in a duet at the Festival of Remembrance (last year) and leading a special tribute there, to Dame Vera. It's not surprising now, that Hayley has avoided concerts or similar engagements for most of November. The main audience demographic for this will suit Hayley very well indeed, it makes me wonder if they will bring forward the UK album release by a week to November 9. Cheers, Dave |
|
|
|
Post by grant on Oct 8, 2009 18:20:35 GMT
Hi Dave, Richard and everyone This is amazing news!! and what a great honour for Hayley to sing Dame Vera's most famous song of all time as a tribute to Dame Vera herself. WOW!! And at one of the most important events in the Royal Albert Hall's calender. Hayley mentioned before the RFH concert that she had been to tea with Dame Vera and her daughter in connection with Hayley's Vice Presidency of Dame Vera's special school and I wonder if this was also discussed? Just a question - Has anyone else ever sung "We'll Meet Again" in any sort of official capacity? Is this a first - a very special first, for our Hayley? Best wishes Grant |
|
Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
|
Post by Martin on Oct 8, 2009 18:45:23 GMT
Just a question - Has anyone else ever sung "We'll Meet Again" in any sort of official capacity? Is this a first - a very special first, for our Hayley? Best wishes Grant Hi Grant Maybe not in an official capacity but Katherine Jenkins has sung this song several times publically including a concert in Cardiff in 2007 and at Murrayfield.  Martin |
|
Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
|
Post by Martin on Oct 8, 2009 18:49:08 GMT
Yes, this certainly is a great and well deserved honour for Hayley. In addition, it will be tremendous publicity for Hayley and the national TV coverage will do no harm whatsoever to the new album sales. I wonder if Dame Vera Lynn will be present? Martin |
|
|
|
Post by grant on Oct 8, 2009 18:59:29 GMT
Hello Martin Miss Westenra will take the spotlight on 7 November at the Royal Albert Hall with a rendition of "We'll Meet Again" before an audience including Her Majesty the Queen, members of the Royal Family, and Dame Vera Lynn herself. I wonder if Dame Vera Lynn will be present? Looks like it! Best wishes Grant |
|
|
|
Post by grant on Oct 8, 2009 19:02:05 GMT
Just a question - Has anyone else ever sung "We'll Meet Again" in any sort of official capacity?
Is this a first - a very special first, for our Hayley?
Best wishes
Grant Hi Grant Maybe not in an official capacity but Katherine Jenkins has sung this song several times publically including a concert in Cardiff in 2007 and at Murrayfield. Martin Thanks Martin - it just had to be her didn't it!  Best wishes Grant |
|
|
|
Post by scoobedoo on Oct 8, 2009 19:07:29 GMT
Yes, this certainly is a great and well deserved honour for Hayley. In addition, it will be tremendous publicity for Hayley and the national TV coverage will do no harm whatsoever to the new album sales. I wonder if Dame Vera Lynn will be present? Martin Hi Martin, according to the publication Richard posted it looks like it, she probably will be all being well. Just in case you missed the posting Martin. What a great Honor for our Hayley,the publicity will be brilliant for Hayley, cheers Rodders |
|
|
|
Post by jimg on Oct 8, 2009 19:45:07 GMT
Hi Grant Maybe not in an official capacity but Katherine Jenkins has sung this song several times publically including a concert in Cardiff in 2007 and at Murrayfield. Martin Thanks Martin - it just had to be her didn't it! Best wishes Grant I'm fairly sure Katherine sang it at the Festival of Remembrance about 3 years ago. Dame Vera was present. Regards Jim |
|
|
|
Post by comet on Oct 8, 2009 20:40:00 GMT
Hi Dave, Richard and everyone This is amazing news!! and what a great honour for Hayley to sing Dame Vera's most famous song of all time as a tribute to Dame Vera herself. WOW!! And at one of the most important events in the Royal Albert Hall's calender. Hayley mentioned before the RFH concert that she had been to tea with Dame Vera and her daughter in connection with Hayley's Vice Presidency of Dame Vera's special school and I wonder if this was also discussed? Just a question - Has anyone else ever sung "We'll Meet Again" in any sort of official capacity?
Is this a first - a very special first, for our Hayley? Best wishes Grant
I love this kind of information  The Byrds, recorded the song as the closing track on their debut album Mr. Tambourine Man in 1965, inspired by the song's use in the film Dr. Strangelove. The song began the tradition of ending The Byrds' albums with a tongue-in-cheek or unusual song. # Johnny Cash covered this song in his 2002 album American IV: The Man Comes Around. # The Turtles released a cover of this song as a single. # In 1972, P. J. Proby recorded a power-ballad rendition of the song. It was released by the EMI Group as Proby's last single for his recording contract that ran between 1961 and 1972. # The song was featured in the closing credits for the 2006 film Severance, sung by Ed Harcourt. # After getting off The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Walt Disney World, Florida, riders hear the Vera Lynn recording of the song "We'll Meet Again", eerily echoing in the distance. # In 2002 Peter Doherty and Carl Barat of The Libertines covered of "We'll Meet Again" as part of Radio 1's Live Lounge with Jo Whiley. # The song can be heard in the 2004 film Hellboy directed by Guillermo del Toro. # Barry Manilow covered this song on his Barry Live in Britain album. |
|
|
|
Post by theoldie on Oct 8, 2009 21:18:45 GMT
Faryl is also singing at this year's Festival of Remembrance.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jono on Oct 8, 2009 22:30:16 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by grant on Oct 9, 2009 7:56:14 GMT
Hi Comet Many thanks! You have been busy! Best wishes Grant |
|
