Recently, I had the pleasure of singing at the wedding of two friends in a gorgeous venue in Staffordshire, and it has immediately become my favourite place to sing in the Midlands.

If you’re getting married or holding an event and want a stunning backdrop for your day (great photos!) with the privacy that comes from exclusivity, you need to check out Pendrell Hall and it’s sister venue, The Ashes.

And of course if you need a singer for any event at either location, you know who to ask…

Links below:

Pendrell Hall Exclusive Country House Wedding Venue with accommodation Staffordshire

The Ashes Exclusive Country House Barn Wedding Venue Staffordshire

This first weekend of August 2014 was taken over by competing in the finals of Has Reading Got Talent?, a wonderfully diverse local talent competition judged by Reading FC Chairman Sir John Madejski, 2009 X-Factor finalist Danyl Johnson, Principal of Starlet Dance School Louise Woods, Tiffany King of TheatreTrain Reading and other local creative types.

I was so pleased to be a finalist, very excited to get through to the semi-finals on the Sunday and thrilled to make it to the top ten to perform in the grand final on Sunday afternoon.  The competition was tough, and I did not make the top three, but I was astounded by a few of the other top ten finalists, not least of whom was winner Stephanie Hershaw, only 18 but with a very impressive and indeed beautiful operatic voice.  A real stand out for me was another 18 year old: Cat Mitchell, to whom I would have given first prize on the spot for her rendition of Part of Their World from The Little Mermaid in the semi-finals.  Both Stephanie and Cat are off to performing arts school this year and they most certainly deserve it. Congratulations ladies! I look forward to hearing more about your careers in the near future.