Collecting For The Poppy Appeal!

I’d like to begin my blog tonight by thanking every-one who came and supported us at New Street Station in Birmingham on Tuesday when I was engaged to sing for the Poppy Appeal. Once again just like London my day began bright and early at 3am. I had to be on the road by 4.30am and in Birmingham just after 6am, ready and set up on stage to start singing at 8am. This was my forth time at Birmingham New Street station performing for the Poppy Appeal and it was great to see the old team reunited and back together again raising money for this fantastic charity.

Meet the Royal British Legion Team!

I had been booked to sing all through the day from 8am – 6pm. It’s a big sing but I always find the day passes by quickly as I performed my way through over a hundred numbers from the Great War through to the 1970s. On this occasion I had the pleasure of alternating with the Royal Marine Band and I made a point of introducing the poppy sellers, members from the Royal British Legion and Military between numbers.

If you caught my last blog you will know I was in London on the 3rd November at London Bridge Station doing a similar thing for the appeal.

Singing at Birmingham New Street Station!

London seemed much harder which might have something to do with where I was standing which was in the center of a large concourse. At Birmingham I had my back to the escalator which is a much warmer place to be and made all the difference. The temperature drops really quickly once commuters start rushing about and when I was in London I had just had my forth Covid jab only a few days before. Normally I don’t think the side effects would have shown but when you are working as hard as I do it felt I was  a little under par.

Collecting at New Street Station!

Birmingham seemed a lot easier which probably means my body had had time to recover from the jab. I’m an old hand at this and I always make sure I bring three pairs of shoes with me with different heel heights. I try and stay in high heels as long as possible and I have a beautiful lace up pair which are like dance shoes and are extremely comfortable. However after seven hours of standing it’s often time to drop down to kitten heels and if my feet are still crying out for love then I can always drop down again into flat service shoes. Usually it doesn’t come to that but it’s important to have the options and look as glamorous as possible all through the day.

Timing is everything and on the 3rd November we were able to raise over a million pounds for the poppy appeal in London. We haven’t had the totals in from Birmingham yet but I’m looking

Meeting Up with the Military!

forward to finding out what the final figure is after all our hard work.

As you might expect I’ve not stopped working since returning from Birmingham and I’m now continuing with a run of  “We’ll Meet Again” ATS remembrance shows which will be taking me through to the 17th. Then it’s songs from the 50s, 60s & 70s along with the Magic of the Musicals which will take me up to the start of the Christmas season.

On the 21st November I will be returning to perform a Christmas Spectacular at The Poplars

On Stage with The Royal Marine Band!

Garden Center for their High Tea event. If you would like to book tickets please click the link and it will be delightful to see you. https://poplars.co.uk/christmas-spectactular/

I’ve another busy day tomorrow as I continue with remembrance shows this time for the Royal Star and Garter and then onto Northampton, Bicester and Enfield.

Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for Now!

Meeting Up with my Friend Yanto!