Chief reporter Lisa Jones sings with the Rock Choir for Comic Relief

Published 13 Mar 2013 12:30 1 Comment

I HAD the pride of my nation resting on my shoulders as I sat outside Cordes Hall in Sunninghill, practising the M People hit Proud, before my big challenge.

The leader of the Ascot Rock Choir, Lucy Hewes, dared me to sing a solo number with them, for Comic Relief. I can never let a dare go unanswered.

My native Wales is a land where close harmony singing is a national pasttime, so I had to do it. I sang in the choir in school, which once appeared on TV, and I have been known to belt out an Elvis number after a couple of sherries.

Even though I had practised, I wasn't expecting to be distracted by the differing harmonies from the choir, stood behind me. It rattled me, I forgot the words and felt a dip in confidence.

I kept thinking 'keep going and you'll hit a good note eventually.' I'm not sure if I did, but I completed the challenge without a vortex opening up and sucking me into a different dimension.

A collection on the night raised £113.22 for Red Nose Day, so I'm happy to have made myself look vaguely ridiculous for a good cause.

Reading FC chairman Sir John Madejski and the mayor of Henley, Cllr Elizabeth Hodgkin, are due to sing with the Henley Rock Choir on Thursday, March 14 at the D:Two Baptist Church, Market Place, Henley. And on March 20, BBC Radio Berkshire DJ, Mike Read will take up the dare at Tilehurst Methodist Church, 26 School Road, Reading from 7.30pm.

To see Lisa's performance, click play on video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhb7_RjzePg