Hayley's Packing Her Battle Dress

[Jillian]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1265764/RICHARD-KAY-New-love-frame-Sir-Geoffrey.html

Hayley's Packing Her Battle Dress



Classical singer Hayley Westenra is taking her new role as Forces sweetheart seriously. The comely soprano plans to take a trip to Afghanistan later this year - on the advice of her predecessor, Dame Vera Lynn.

The two met last year at the British Legion Poppy Appeal and Dame Vera, 93, has taken Hayley under her wing, after asking her to take on the role of vice-president of her charity supporting children with cerebral palsy. 'We have met a few times now,' Hayley tells me at the Classical Brit Awards nominations.
'She invited me round to her house for tea and biscuits and brought out all her old photos. Then she said: "You must go out to Afghanistan to see the boys. They are there by themselves."

'I'll take my guitarist with me and keep it simple, some classical and contemporary numbers.'

New Zealand-born Hayley, 23, who is starting work on her new album, says this time she has a surprise for the troops.
'When I went to Iraq, I had to be in my trainers and army pants, but this time I'll pack a dress, too.'


Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1265764/RICHARD-KAY-New-love-frame-Sir-Geoffrey.html#ixzz0l17OWd44

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[Martin]

A similar announcement on the Press website:

Hayley headed to Afghanistan

Christchurch-born classical singer Hayley Westenra is planning to take a trip to Afghanistan later this year.

The Daily Mail reported that Westenra, 23, decided to make the journey to sing for British troops after meeting Dame Vera Lynn.

The two met last year at the British Legion Poppy Appeal and Dame Vera, 93, asked Westenra to take on the role of vice-president of her charity supporting children with cerebral palsy.

We have met a few times now,'' Hayley told the Daily Mail.

She invited me round to her house for tea and biscuits and brought out all her old photos. Then she said: `You must go out to Afghanistan to see the boys. They are there by themselves'.

I'll take my guitarist with me and keep it simple, some classical and contemporary numbers,'' she said.

Westenra said this time she had a surprise for the troops.

When I went to Iraq, I had to be in my trainers and army pants, but this time I'll pack a dress, too,'' she said.

Link is www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3581793/Hayley-headed-to-Afghanistan

[Richard]

Thanks for finding the article, Jillian!

I've posted it on our new website already. Of course, any details that might put Hayley in danger must be kept secret until she returns safely.

Richard

[Jillian]

Hi Richard,

Yes, that's true. I'll imagine that this will be something that we'll find out about after the event -- as has been the case with Hayley's previous trips to Afghanistan.

I wonder if the unwitting guitarist will be AJ Moore? Ha ha, I can imagine it now. Hayley calls up and says, 'Hey, Andy, want to accompany be on an international gig?'

Cheers,
Jillian

[gra7890]

Hi Jillian,
Hope Andy feels the same way about it as Hayley

Best Wishes,

Graham

[Richard]

Hello Jillian and Graham!

I believe this will be Hayley's first visit to Afghanistan. She was hoping to go there a few years ago, but the trip was called off, possibly because sensitive information was leaked in the press. I think her guitarist will almost certainly be Andy.

Richard

[grant]

Hello everyone

I'm quite surprised and somewhat dismayed that this has been mentioned at all in the press at this stage.

The mere hint of it last time was enough for it to be cancelled.

Best wishes
Grant

[martindn]

Yes, I agree with Grant. Well, at least they haven't said when it will happen. But I'm sure we will know after the event. I hope the dates won't be made public beforehand.

Martin D

[stevemacdonald]

This is risky business going to a war zone to entertain the troops. She's done it successfully before in Iraq, so her willingness to do it in Afghanistan is understandable. However, I do tend to think she's lucky nothing has happened yet given all that can go wrong. In any case, I salute her courage.

[Ross]

The following article was on the front page of today's Christchurch Press. I only included the parts that are different from that above.



Also at about 7:30am on Christchurch Classic Hits Radio the Breakfast Hosts mentioned Hayley and Afghanistan. This is the rough transcript of what they said.

Bridget Hayley Westenra is going to sing for our troops in Afghanistan. Isn't that cool.
Dave or Jason Hayley has just recently turned 23. She is all grown up now.
Bridget She is awesome.

So they were impressed with Hayley.

Of course it is coming up to our celebration of the troops on ANZAC Day 25th April. I wonder if Hayley is doing anything in Europe on that day?

I only hope that when Hayley goes to Afghanistan she doesn't pick up another nasty bug like when she went to Iraq.

[spiderman]

ross, i dont remember any particularly bad bugs that can be caught in afganistan... am a little concerned its listed by forbes magazine as the 2nd most dangerous place on earth. the lack of sensible infrastructure [ie, health care, law enforcement] and the general portrayal of the country as lawless is of great concern.

i would have prefered to find out she was going after she had been.

that being said i applaud her courage and dedication in trying to go there

the spiderman

[Roger-G]

Apr 15, 2010 12:15:21 GMT spiderman said:

am a little concerned its listed by forbes magazine as the 2nd most dangerous place on earth. the lack of sensible infrastructure [ie, health care, law enforcement] and the general portrayal of the country as lawless is of great concern.

But Hayley will not be wandering the streets like a tourist, or going to the front line. She will be protected by the best troops in the world. I'm sure she will be safe.

[stevemacdonald]

Apr 15, 2010 14:15:47 GMT Roger-G said:

But Hayley will not be wandering the streets like a tourist, or going to the front line. She will be protected by the best troops in the world. I'm sure she will be safe.

Let's get one thing clear about this particular war theatre: There is no front line. Mayhem is available anywhere at any time. Now that Hayley has a higher-than-ever profile as the new Dame Vera her presense there is a sincere challenge for them to protect. She will have to accept some precarious arrangements such as military helicopter flights (which are a favourite target of hostile forces). But unfortunately, it's not a matter of how protected she is, it's how vulnerable everyone there actually is.

[martindn]

Yes, you got that right Steve. For me, I would like to know when she is going to that I can pray for her. But I would rather those who would make her a target didn't know, and if that means I don't know either, then so be it.

Nobody doubts Hayley's courage. I salute her too. But I know I will feel a lot better about it once she is safely home again.

Martin D

[spiderman]

i think the danger is a little less obvious than most of you think [seen "man on fire"? the dakota fanning movie, i mean]... not so much she'd be assasinated [god forbid]. the only disease that the cdc seem worried about in regards to afganistan is malaria

i had to have 3 shots of expresso when i found out she had been in iraq... and thats when she was safely back in london. i'd rather not know she was going, or there; just back..