Stagecoach

Since Vix has been the admin assistant since September we decided it was about time she got her own page in the staff section! Here she is wearing her new “Head Girl” badge with pride.

Vicky Bilton has found some old photos on her phone that we have not seen to here they are:-

Vicky and Janie being used as sofas during Xmas weeks 2007!!

Vicky and Janie at the same time of year

Vicky, Adam and Lucy - all Early Stages Helpers on the pirate trip last October

The Early Stages bear went home with a helper for once and here he is with Danny - Vicky`s boyfriend. Danny was recently in a motorbike crash and I am glad to say is out of hospital and recovering now. Get well soon Danny!!

Vicky Bilton has a part-time job in an optician`s in Lndon whilst she is training at Italia Conti. She tells me that the other day Lee Mead (winner of the BBC`s “Any Dream Will Do”) together with Denise Van Outen came into the shop and were chatting to her and asking her advice about glasses. (I feel like the editor of “Hello” magazine writing this)

I know that all of Vicky Bilton`s friends in Yarm Further Stages will be delighted to learn that Vicky has won a DADA (Dance and Drama Award) to be able to continue her studies at Italia Conti drama school in London. The award pays for the tuition costs so that Vicky can continue into the rest of the 3 year course. There were few DADAs available and it is a tribute to  Vicky`s hard work and dedication that she won one of them.

Janie and I know how hard she has worked and how much it has meant to her to succeed and we are “over the moon!!”

Vicky has sent us this Youtube link showing the Italia Conti Christmas Concert. Vicky has a bit of solo in the song. See if you can spot her!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=z2oMxawQ9Fo

Vicky Bilton is now home from the holidays from Italia Conti Drama School in London and she has sent me these photos from there and particularly from their Christmas Concert where Vicky got to sing a solo part.  Vicky has managed to catch the NE lurgy while she is home but I`ll get to catch up with her before she goes back.

Vicky Bilton of Yarm Further Stages, Early Stages Helper, website Queen, STARE Dance Captain, office administrator and “all-round good egg” finally leaves me on Tuesday to head to London to take up her place at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

I am sure that you will join with me in wishing Vicky all the very best in the pursuit of her career.  The students and parents of Yarm Morning school saw me present a special award to Vicky on the last day of term because of the extraordinary contribution she has made to the life of Stagecoach in the five years that she has been here. No other student has ever had such a varied impact. 

For the sake of those students and parents who were not there to hear what I had to say, I will paraphrase it here:-

Vicky has been a leader within her Further Stages group, holding them together, chivvying them on, watching out for them. It was because she was enthusiastic about the formation of the group that we were encouraged to start it in the first place.

She showed the same enthusiasm and commitment when we started an unpaid helper scheme for Early Stages. It was because of this selflessness that she was the first person we offered the paid job to when helpers became employed.

Her leadership skills made her a natural choice as Dance Captain of STARE (our regional entertainment troupe) and she has performed all over the region, loyally, to benefit many charities across five years. She even appeared singing with STARE at my daughter`s wedding. Even at the last minute, she will perform with STARE for the last time at Auckland Castle on Tuesday before jumping on her train to London an hour later.  Vicky is the one who choreographed the Locomotion for our Guinness World Record attempt last weekend. She is a great supporter and ambassador of Stagecoach at all times.

After I suddenly lost Gill, my admin help, last summer, Vicky agreed that during her year out, this year, she would work with me, in my home, on the administration that keeps this Stagecoach jugernaut moving. I,and you,would have been lost without her.  The website has to a large extent been built up by her and she has educated me in I.T.

Vicky has been good company and we have had many laughs on this helter skelter of a year that saw her spirits rise and fall as she faced rejection from some of the drama schools she applied to. HOWEVER, I am delighted that Vicky was offered a place by her favourite school.

Whilst Vicky remains positive, there is a worry. She was offered a place on the three year training course but was unable to take it up because she did not get any funding through a government DADA. Instead,she is doing the one year intensive course and hoping to find some funding to extend into the three year course next year. She will be looking for a job in London to help with this so her hard working life style will continue.

IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANY CHARITABLE TRUSTS, OR FIRMS WHO SPONSOR STUDENTS FOR COURSES LIKE THIS, WILL YOU RING ME ON 01325 337667. THANKS

Thank you for everything you have contributed to Stagecoach Yarm and Darlington Vicky. Goodbye from us all. Your goodbye videos were very touching and `poignant` - and no- we won`t forget you. I`m sure you`ll be back in the holidays!

From Vix

Ok so after 5 years of Stagecoach I thought I’d leave some kinda Goodbye message. Not wanting to be boring and just writing a bit for the website I made these two videos. Please watch and enjoy….oh yeah and comment!

Now arn’t you impressed at how fast we can be!

Adam did a grand job on the megaphone

Janie and Vicky practicing their train pose

 Vicky’s Mum comes prepared with the sun cream!

Lucy and James’ comes prepared with a cap for the sunshine

Vicky has a go on the megaphone 

Vicky n Janie have a little run through 

Caroline and Lucy join vicky for the event

 Passers by get persuaded to join in 

Dave Cooil from Rightclick was on official camera duty 

Janie gets miked up 

Darrien gets interviewed for the TV 

Trudy using her charm to talk people into joining in!

Trudy’s daughter Katie is close at hand too 

Vicky Darrien n Janie gather on stage 

Kate’s daughter Sophie was also joining in the fun

 The crowd do the choreography 

Doing the locomotion with us!