VGT 2017

Because of the high standard of performance in the eighth season of Vale’s Got Talent, the judges had a tough time deciding the top three, let alone choosing the winner. Twenty acts, from districts including Melton, competed against each other on Friday, to win a trophy and a share of a £700 prize pot from the Vale of Belvoir Rotary Club. Every year we continue to be surprised by not only the standard of the performances but also by the size of the audience. We moved to the Cotgrave Welfare Scheme Social Club this year because we needed a larger venue, and thank goodness we did because we completely filled it!

The winner of the competition was 17-year-old guitarist Charlie Fearon, who wowed the audience with his own composition, a piece which, as yet has no name, as he only composed it two days before. He won £300 and he will be performing at Melton Folk Trail in the week after VGT.

Charlie expertly performed his "song as yet unnamed"  with confidence and accompanied himself by his guitar and a recently acquired harmonica. He's a 6^th form pupil from Carlton le Willows Academy and is currently studying Music, Business Studies and Photography. When he has completed his A levels he is hoping to enjoy a gap year to concentrate on his music both as a soloist and as a member of a local band.

Afterwards he hopes to go to university, perhaps to stay in Nottingham as it is “a great city for music”.

The middle child of 3, Charlie admits that he owes his vocal talent to his Dad who, according to Charlie, has ‘a fantastic voice’! His main inspiration comes from Bob Dylan but he also enjoys listening to other music from the 50s and 60s on vinyl records , which seem to be coming back into fashion!

Charlie has really enjoyed his 2 years as a competitor in the Vale’s Got Talent  (he was placed second in the 2016 show) and is already looking forward to returning next year to perform as "last yyear's winner" for the 2018 Grand Final.

Second place went to dancers Ria and Safiya, who gave a very moving performance. They went home with a prize of £150. Third place, and a prize of £100 went to guitarist Joe Cheetham, who gave a raw, brash and compelling performance as he effortlessly eased his way through a complex set.

The four judges also decided to give a further three acts an award of particular commendation. These were dancers Katie Rider and Jess Starling, who entertained the audience with the very amusing comic dance routine; dancer Poppy Abbott, who performed a modern dance routine with superb moves and a great story line; and singer Felicity Turner, who sang The Writing’s On The Wall and A Nightingale Sang In Barkley Square. Each received £50.

This year’s contest has supported Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, Dictionary 4 Life project, Vale First Responders, Bingham And District Audio Magazine, Ash Lea School, Dove Cottage Day Hospice in Stathern and the Memory Cafe in Cotgrave.

Vale’s Got Talent (season nine) will take place next year around the same dates.

Our successful 2017 competition was supported by all the local traders who advertised in our programme (all are linked to their own web site or facebook page):

Ashmores Restaurant 

A.W.Lymn 
Barry's Autos 
Bingham Dry Cleaners
Bingham Pharmacy
Brewster's Brewery
Burleys - Radcliffe on Trent
Buttercross Vets
CP Interiors
East Bridgford Drama Group
Handicentre
Jervis Autoservicing
M. A. Mills
Main Street Fish 'n' Chips
Nottingham Label Company
Picture Cafe
Pitstop Auto
Radcliffe-on-trent Drama Group
Raw fruit and veg
Robin Simms pilates
Soal Glass and Windows
Spire Healthcare - Nottingham
Stathern Garage
Thomas Bond Opticians
Vale Tree Care
Vanity Rooms

A big thanks to all of them and we hope that you will all support them whenever you can.