At the chalkface
News
A fairy tale of London
I’M WALKING by the Grand We discuss his old school chums.
School turns out to cheer Diana
Union Canal. It’s dark. Christmas “They still miss you!”
lights dance on toxic waters. A “How’s Crums?”
shape skulks under a bridge. A “Crumlin? Studying.” Well,
long, lean shape with stooped just. A bit of an oxymoron.
by Emma Lee-Potter
shoulders, curved like a scimitar. “Shaka?” “Repeating the year!”
It’s playing a guitar. It’s singing Bedlam Part 2. This time last year Diana Vickers
that great Pogues Christmas song. “And Lil?” “Doing really well. took a break from her year 13
“I could have been someone!” Fantastic student.” And a sweet- studies at Westholme School in
I know that voice! I get closer. heart of Charlie’s. Blackburn to compete in ITV’s X
Smoke drifts across a concave and “Little Lil, eh? Tell her Merry Factor. What a difference a year
hooded face. I know Christmas!” “I will. You makes!
that face. It’s Charlie! too Charlie!” Now, as a new crop of showbiz
Charlie Johnstone. A I put a fiver in the hopefuls compete in this year’s
former pupil. Internally box. “Easy, sir!” X Factor final, 18-year-old Diana
Excluded. Expelled for “Get a present for is taking the West End by storm.
bunking. A walking your lovely mum!” “Ta, She has won rave reviews for
contradiction. sir!” “Good luck Charlie!” her starring performance in The
Last seen last year He offers his knuckles. Rise and Fall of Little Voice at
slipping into shadows I do it back. Uselessly. London’s Vaudeville Theatre, and
under Westway. I thought “Seen!” I go back down the is also putting the final touches to
he was forever lost to towpath. He goes back to his her first album.
the streets, running stuff song. “It was Christmas Eve, Despite her success, her old
for dealers and getting babe...” A swan drifts by in school is still determined to
beaten if he didn’t. You the fairy lights. So does a support her in her debut role and
don’t often come back man in the darkness and a long so last month, head of drama,
from that. Or perhaps this black coat. Catherine Roberts, organised a
time you do. I pass some seventh years school trip to the show.
He clocks me, stops the playing footie in Meanwhile A total of 200 Westholme
song, sucks the ciggy, and nods. Gardens. “Like watching Brazil, eh pupils, staff and governors boarded
“Hello Charlie!” He doesn’t sir,” says Little Kevin, parked like two double-decker buses and set
look up. “Sir!” a truck in goal. “Alright then, sir?” off from Lancashire to London.
“Great song!” Silver coins glit- says the beaming, wide fellow. After the show, the group Star turn: Westholme
ter in a shoebox. “It’s a killer, sir. Well, yes. Wonderful. A reason were able to join Diana on stage students meet up with
Shane McGowan, eh?” Indeed. to believe. God might even be for a photograph (see main Diana Vickers in the West
He gazes at the canal. He prob- blessing us all. Even Charlie. We image). The singer also took the End (main image and
ably wants to push me in it. can but hope. time to sign 200 Little Voice above). She is also pictured
“How’s it going then?” Then I seem to see that figure programmes. starring in The Sound of
“Alright sir!” He keeps nodding. in the black coat moving ever clos- “It was a wonderful show and Music at the school (left)
“It got bad, sir!” He looks up er to the shadows of the bridge. Diana was a star,” said Ms Lillian
– then quickly cancels his eyes. “You took my dreams from Croston, the school’s principal. and shows us that dreams really all the way through the show to apply for a place at drama
“Good now, though. All good.” me.” It’s a killer, Charlie. “It is hard to believe that we’ve can come true.” but everyone gave me such an school.
Is it? I wonder. Is he clean? seen her starring in the West End Diana herself was thrilled to amazing standing ovation. It was She also sang in the school
I want to believe him. “I’m in a • Ian Whitwham is a former just 12 months after seeing her on see so many familiar faces. just as exciting as the first night.” choir, won a host of singing
hostel sir. Learning guitar. Singing teacher. At the Chalkface: Great the Westholme stage.” “It was so nerve-wracking Before her big X Factor break, competitions and played the part
for my supper.” Moments in Education is out now. Meanwhile, current 6th form performing in front of my Diana was studying for A levels in of Captain von Trapp in last year’s
“Busking! You sound great!” Order on 01722 717022. student Megan Cooper said: Westholme friends,” she said. classics, drama and psychology at school production of The Sound
“Diana is an inspiration to us all, “I could feel my heart pounding Westholme School, and intended of Music.
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16 SecEd • December 3 2009
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