Southport’s musical talent took centre stage at the second Mayor’s Charity Talent Gala, held in the beautiful ballroom of the Prince of Wales Hotel, where an evening of outstanding performances, familiar faces and community spirit raised £1,300 for Queenscourt Hospice.
Organised and produced by Claire Kelly, the gala brought together performers from across Southport’s thriving music and theatre scene in support of the Mayor of Sefton’s chosen charity.
The evening was compèred by Billy Hui BEM, DL, Radio Merseyside presenter with DJ Jon Taylor providing sound and musical support throughout the programme.
Among those attending were the Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Jen Corcoran, Southport MP Patrick Hurley, chairman of Southport Music Board, Mike Swift, founder of SONG Clive Morris, current chair & Secretary of SONG, Hilary Thomson and Lynda Davies, Head of Sefton Music Services, John Dempsey alongside many guests and representatives from the town’s cultural and community organisations, including Norman Wallis and Ann and Cheryl Hindley from The Southport Temperance Institute.
The idea behind the gala grew from Claire’s involvement in Southport’s music education and performing arts scene. Through her various initiatives and theatre reviews she encounters a wealth of local talent and wanted to bring performers together for a special evening to raise money for the hospice, which was the Mayor Jen Corcoran’s choice of charity this year. Last year previous Mayor, June Burns, chose ‘Sefton Children’s Trust’ as the beneficiary charity and the event raised £1,000.
As a member of the new Southport Music Board, founder and owner of Southport Piano Academy, and founder of the Southport Young Musicians Competition, which enters its third year in 2027 and Birkdale’s Got Talent in its second year in January, Claire continues to support opportunities for local musicians to develop and perform. Her ‘Piano Maze’ initiative also introduces children to music through free, fun and interactive sessions at Wayfarers Arcade.
The gala featured several winners and finalists from this year’s and last year’s Southport Young Musicians Competition. Many returned to the stage to perform different songs, carefully selected by Claire and brought together into a beautifully varied programme.
Opening the evening, Octave Choir, under musical director Lynda Matthews-Fogg, performed This Little Light of Mine, moving straight into Karl Jenkins’ Adiemus in a powerful start to the programme. The choir had recently performed in Wayfarers Arcade around the community piano, which inspired Claire to invite them to open the show.
The young performers demonstrated just how much talent Southport has to offer, with accomplished vocalists and musicians sharing the stage with established adult performers. The programme offered a wonderful mix of musical styles, creating an evening that was both entertaining and, at times, deeply moving.
Dance also featured, with local dancer Eden Barbe delivering a brilliant solo performance after taking to the floor with Katy Lehman , his partner from Strictly Come Dancing for the Good Hospice in Chester, in which they were the winners . Their performance brought another dimension to an evening celebrating the breadth of local performing arts.
Among the experienced adult performers was John Coates, who has toured extensively and performed in West End productions. He brought the show to a memorable close with ‘Bring Him Home’, the moving number from Les Misérables.
Seasoned performer and director Les Gommersal also appeared as The King from the musical The King and I , while Sarah Dutch, who previously was known only for playing in the orchestra pit and recently appeared in Chess the musical , sang Heaven Help My Heart.
Tom Avann, who has progressed into professional pantomime work, delighted the audience with his fantastic performance as Freddie from My Fair Lady.
Jon Taylor’s musical support included a lovely rendition of Andrea Bocelli’s version of Can’t Help Falling in Love, adding another memorable moment to the night.
Behind the scenes, Daisy O’Connor and Pia Kwasnica assisted with the raffle. They were supported by ushers who helped the evening run smoothly.
The charity raffle proved a considerable success, raising £300 in addition to ticket sales.
Among the prizes was a signed boxing glove donated by former world boxing champion Tony Bellew, with Jon Hardy, Everton Scout, helping to arrange the donation and supporting the event.
Other generous contributions included beautifully crafted crocheted dolls donated by Southport Hookers, professional, educational and cleaning vouchers, a family pass from Viking Golf, and a large basket of fresh vegetables donated by Organic Don. Further prizes were provided by Southport Ladies Group and other local supporters.
Following the gala, guests have taken to social media to praise the quality of the performances and the atmosphere:
One described it as a “fabulous night” with “so much talent and excellent company”, while others highlighted the emotional impact of individual performances and the nostalgia created by seeing familiar faces together again.
For Claire, the £1,300 raised is part of a wider fundraising effort for Queenscourt Hospice. Southport Ladies Group has already raised £1,000, with additional contributions from a sponsored practice and Birkdale’s Got Talent earlier this year.
The fundraising continues, with a Bengali-themed evening organised by Claire for her ‘Southport Ladies Group’ planned for next week, followed by the exciting Maloney’s reunion on Friday 30 October, also in aid of Queenscourt Hospice.
Claire hopes to bring the proceeds from these events together into a substantial total by the end of the month.
The Mayor’s Charity Talent Gala demonstrated what makes Southport special: a wealth of local talent, a willingness to support one another and a community prepared to come together to make a difference.
For one evening, the town’s performers shared the spotlight for a cause that matters to so many local families.
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