‘Horsham Diva’ to mark VE Day anniversary with live sing along on Facebook

During the virtual event, Sarah Esser Haswell – who is also known as Horsham Diva – will be wearing the dress she first wore on the bandstand in the Carfax for the 50th VE Day celebrations alongside Horsham concert pianist, Alan Woolven.

She is hoping people at home and in care homes will join her with a glass of bubbly or a cup of tea and some union jack flags for the sing along from 2.30pm, which will end with a version of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’.

Sarah, who has lived in the town for 30 yearsm said: “It’s gone world wide with New Zealand, Australia, Sweden and Spain set to be tuning in.

“The Royal British Legion are now singing along via the Facebook page and the RAF Association have asked me to do a concert for them in a couple of week , its so emotional.

“Had things had been different, I would have been doing my one-woman show at The Capitol, to celebrate my 20 years of one-woman shows at The Capitol.”

A clasically trained singer who loves to sing opera, jazz and Barbara Streisand, Sarah will also be singing songs including ‘White Cliffs of Dover’, ‘Que Sera Sera’ and ‘You are my Sunshine’.

She has been performing since she was five-years-old and studied with The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art from the age of 15.

She has appeared on national televison and radio as well as at the famous Players Theatre in London just before it closed.

Although classically trained, she is well-known as a cabaret performer and her ‘One Woman Show’ has earned her a wide reputation and keeps her in great demand.

Sarah has travelled the country singing and has been on tour to Luxembourg with ‘No Jacket Required’ – Europe’s number one Phil Collins tribute band.

She was also the first female soloist to perform with them in their ‘Unplugged’ gig at The Capitol a few years ago .

She regularly appears at the open air theatre at Hever Castle and is often concert singing with Horsham’s leading Baritone, Jon Openshaw.

She is also a drama teacher and head of drama at Acttoo Arts Academy’s Horsham branch and runs her own drama clubs and workshops in five different schools.

Three years ago she recorded a CD to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society which has raised £10,000 pounds to date

She is married to Alan and has three sons and eight grandchildren with one on the way.

To join Sarah’s VE Day sing along, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/530134677872534/

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