Lions roar as Hayling shows it HAS talent
TALENT shows are all the rage on TV – what with X-Factor and Britain's Got Talent, and across the country if viewing figures are to believed.
And judging by the turnout at the Community Centre, Hayling's public are no different to the rest of the UK as they turned out in their dozens to support the Hayling Lions show Hayling Also Has Talent.
After three months of auditions and rehearsals, a total of 13 acts took the stage – with not an empty seat in the house.
OK the latest edition of Britain's Got Talent had got knocked off the schedule for 24 hours to allow ITV to show the first-ever Saturday night Champions League Final – between Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan and Manchester United conquerors Bayern Munich.
And while there were no judges choosing the best acts, it was only right and proper that everyone was declared a winner.
The International Lions charity's ethos is to "serve their community without personal financial reward."
That can be by helping individuals or a group of people, maybe another club.
But the by-product is helping to create community spirt.
On Hayling the Lions achieve that through its work organizing the annual carnival, the daffodil planning programme, and the family picnic organized in Hayling Park in the summer.
Now the talent show can be added to that list.
There was something for everyone – classical music, singing, dancing – from hip hop and other modern routines performed by Island Dance Fusion and 2nd2Nun.
There was Owen Tuckey producing his own beat box sounds with Stephen Kamushinda adding the moves.
Then there were 10-year-olds Bailey MacCullum – an aspiring magician – and Lydia Wootton, an accomplished singer. Janet Turley performed some amusing ditties accompanied by Joan Palmer on piano and five-piece recorder group In Accord added to the youthful content on the bill.
The youngest solo act was dancer Jamie Allen, who is just five, and left the audience spellbound with his Billy Elliot routine.
Classical musicians Alana and Megan Grady, both pupils at Portsmouth High School, are already making their way in the world despite aged just 14 and 12 respectively, and pianist Jane Doel sang two solo numbers.
Although teenage singer Paige Anderson – who has already achieved some success off the Island in national talent competitions – was forced to cry off through illness, after braving battling through rehearsals, it was left to the Pitch Pipers to bring the curtain down with a rousing rendition of their barbershop quartet numbers.
Lions president Derek Knight said: "This was never a competition, indeed the selectors, all of whom came from the entertainment profession, were asked not necessarily to choose the best but the greatest variety to entertain the public.
"They succeeded. Not only that but the community responded beyond all of our hopes.
"The demand was greater than the hall could cope with. The place was packed and the audience enthusiastic.
"The atmosphere was electric and supported these amateur beyond measure.
"The real winners were the audience who, in the presence of our new Mayor Yvonne Weeks from Bedhampton, demonstrated what a wonderfully supportive community Hayling Island has."
So will it become an annual event? Derek added: "Many are already asking that.
"We have no idea yet, but the subject will be discussed."
Read Vic Pierce-Jones' review in this month's Islander.
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Weather for Hayling
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -4 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -5 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
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