Billy and the blues
Reporter: HELEN KORN
Date published: 04 July 2011
OVER 1,000 visitors enjoyed a feast of talent at Hulme Grammar School’s party in the park on Saturday.
The event was organised to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Chamber Road school.
And there was plenty of entertainment for the crowds including a well-stocked beer tent, a crocodile bouncy castle, Sumo suit wrestling, ice creams and stalls galore.
Bands and singers past and present from the school performed on a specially-erected stage on the school fields.
And the star of the stage was year-8 pupil Rhys Yeomans, who has recently finished playing Billy Elliot in the musical in London, who sang his new single, “My Best Friend” and a cover of a Jessie J chart hit.
But the youngster, who has had his schoolwork sent down to London, said performing to the west end of Oldham was more nerve-wracking than playing the West End of London.
He said: “I was really nervous to sing because here there are loads of people from my class watching. In London it’s OK because I don’t know anyone.
“But this is a great idea because there is loads of talent here and everyone is so confident.”
Another pupil, Alex McKown who was recently described on Radio One as a ‘blues prodigy’ also made an appearance along with rock bands The Lash and FOAK to name a few.
Organiser and development director at the school, Zenos Christo, said: “We’ve got some really talented kids here and it’s great to hold something like this where kids, parents, governors, teachers and the public can come together to see it – they’re having a great day out.”
