Hollie Steel saves the day at Grange Park Extravaganza

It was always going to be a matter of luck if the entire cast made it to Wrotham for our Pipes and Drums Extravaganza on Saturday 6th July. Just a week before we were due to go live to the public we were faced with a removal to a new venue and the withdrawal of two bands.

This, in theory, left the City of Rochester Pipe Band, members of the Fiona Ray School of Highland Dancing and the highly acclaimed Hollie Steel: a former finalist if Britain's Got Talent who has now been dubbed  one of the finest classical singers in the country. After sending emails to the three remaining acts informing them of a change of venue, they rose to the challenge that faced them magnificently.

As I worked frantically during the week to change the programme, Hollie put the finishing touches to her performance. I had been worried that these sudden changes would cause controversy with our guest, yet I need not have worried at all as you are about to hear. So came the big day on Saturday 6th July. Mr Steve Hitchings, the events Assistant Producer was working with my brother parking cars and marshalling the acts.

I heard an excited voice telling me that Hollie had arrived and I was there to greet her straight away. Hollie smiled as I approached her and I felt a great sense of relief. I knew then that the change of venue did not matter to her as long as she was able to sing. She has a shining personality and an amazing capacity to recognise tunes as well as considerable experience in the organisation of musical events. Her help was to prove invaluable.

We discussed the plan for her rehearsal and she agreed that we should play the Skye Boat Song once through and repeat Amazing Grace three times to allow Hollie to sing the verses. The time came for her to sing in front of the school. As the pipers broke into Skye Boat Song, an amazingly beautiful lilt filled the air. I turned in amazement to see Hollie, smiling slightly, singing this classic Scottish slow air with perfect pitch and excellent timing.

When Hollie began to sing Amazing Grace, I could feel a lump starting to form in my throat and I was trying incredibly hard not to burst into tears as she hit the high notes. Her voice seemed to blend with the pipes beautifully, so it was only natural that there would be an encore during the Finale.

Before Hollie, there had been displays from the Drum Corps and the combined City of Rochester Pipe Band and Hollie gave feedback to me at regular intervals which helped to make the event run smoothly.

During the second Highland Dancing display, I suggested that our penultimate Finale Piece should be another rendition of Amazing Grace, for which Hollie would be accompanied by the combined City of Rochester Pipe Band, who would in turn be joined by our Highland Dancers. Hollie thought it was a good idea and agreed to the plan. The Pipes and Drums played a wartime medley before breaking into Amazing Grace once more. During the encore, The Pipes and Drums were joined by three of the Highland Dancers completing our Finale. It was a very emotional day for me and I am extremely grateful to Hollie for not only singing so well, but stepping in to cover for Steve Hitchings as Assistant Producer for the day.

Since the show, Hollie appears to have developed a keen interest for the bagpipes. There are a whole series of new events planned for the coming year and details will be released in due course. I am delighted to have started working with such a wonderful person and look forward to hopefully helping out more in the months ahead.

Kindest Wishes
Chris Nelson
Event Organiser