"It was a fantastic show, choreographed by the legendary Betty Legs Diamond and hosted at the world famous Funny Girls, thanks to Basil Newby "
— Councillor Ron Bell
Join My Mailing List
Enter your email address to receive my regular newsletter
Il Consigliere Performing YMCA for Comic Relief
Red Nose Day – a time when many, many people seem to take leave of their senses and do the strangest and often seemingly daftest things. Thankfully, all in the name of a very, very good cause, namely Red Nose Day.
This then was the motivation for and reason why myself and five other Conservative Councillors decided to shed our normal and somewhat conservative attire i.e. suits and ties and take up the challenge to raise money for Red Nose Day.
The challenge came from a friend of mine who thought that it would be great fun for us to dress up and recreate that 70s classic by the Village People – YMCA. I should add that whilst my friend thought it would be great fun he declined to join us.
My next task was to convince five fellow Conservative Councillors to join me in what I hoped would be both a profitable and enjoyable fund raising activity. Thankfully, the task of recruiting fellow “band members” proved a lot easier than I thought and I was soon inundated with volunteers. Now having decided on the song and the Band my next task was to find a suitable venue in which to showcase our undoubted talent. Once again fortune seemed shine on us because Basil Newby the owner of “Funny Girls” kindly agreed to allow us to showcase our routine on the famous “Funny Girls” stage. Not only that but the internationally famous “Betty Legs Diamond” the star of the “Funny Girls” show also kindly agreed to devise and choreograph our routine. In fairness at the time that this kind and generous offer was made I do not think that Betty had any idea of the task that had been agreed.
There then followed seven days of what for us was quite intensive training and what for Betty was I am sure seven days of pure hell. However, they do say that fortune favours the brave and following practice after practice we were deemed to be ready – or as ready as we were ever likely to be.
The night finally arrived and the “Band” congregated backstage full of nerves and a few Gins all resplendent in our colourful and in some cases outlandish costumes. Suddenly the music started, the curtains opened and the lights came up and we were on. The next few minutes were a blur and suddenly it was all over. All that we could hear blinded as we were by the lights, was the applause and cheering of the audience. Though I am not sure if they were cheering because they enjoyed our act or because they were just pleased that it was over. I know which I prefer to believe.
The outcome, however, can be in no doubt for we had managed to raise over £800 for a truly wonderful cause and in the process we had had a great deal of fun. No sooner had we come off stage then as if by magic my friend appeared and was asking what we would be doing next year? Now here is a thought, why don’t you email in your suggestions for next years challenge.
Who knows Betty may have even recovered by then.
It was a fantastic show, choreographed by the legendary Betty Legs Diamond and hosted at the world famous Funny Girls, thanks to Basil Newby. It was lots of fun for everyone and we raised lots of money for Comic Relief.
Click Here to see Rehearsals
