'It was a proper goosebumps moment': Drayton Parslow farmer features as part of choir on Britain’s Got Talent
A farmer from Drayton Parslow has described featuring in a choir which secured a place in the semi-finals of ITV show Britain’s Got Talent as ‘a proper goosebumps moment.’
Richard Heady, 39, who manages W.F. Heady & Sons, a 1,030-hectare mixed enterprise family farm consisting of beef cattle and arable land, appeared on the show as part of Hawkstone Famers Choir.
The 32-strong musical group, which also features two other members from Buckinghamshire, originally formed for a project with Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone brand.
The choir were seen performing Elbow’s One Day Like This during the episode which aired on ITV1 on Saturday March 21, as part of an audition filmed in Birmingham.
Speaking to the judges before their performance the farmers explained the choir ‘had brought them together.’
The choir, made up of farmers across the country aged between 27 and 74, received wild cheers and a standing ovation from the audience.
Lead judge Amanda Holden pressed the golden buzzer at the end of their performance, sending them straight into the semi-finals, describing their performance as ‘powerful’.
Richard, who is the chair of the National Farmers’ Union’s North Buckinghamshire branch said: "It was a proper once in a lifetime, goosebumps moment.
"The vibes from the crowd were just immense, and we all left on such a high."
It was a world away from Richard’s usual morning routine - blowing fresh straw into cattle sheds or dropping silage from his beef herd.
"Both living and working on the farm, it can be hard to escape and switch off from work mode, but the choir has given me space to do this," he said.
"You are completely in the zone when singing with a group, all the farming worries just fade away."
As well as the live semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent, the choir is also hoping to pursue other projects to raise awareness and funds for mental health charities within the agricultural sector.