Chairmans Music Rally 2025
- Ant Turner
- Jun 1
- 4 min read
On Spring Bank Holiday 2025, the Derbyshire Centre gathered at the Ukrainian Youth Centre in Weston-on-Trent for our Chairman’s Music Rally, supporting the vital work of the Air Ambulance. The rally was a resounding success, with all 57 booked units arriving to share in a weekend packed with entertainment, laughter, and community spirit. Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, we’re thrilled to share that we raised an incredible £1100 for the Air Ambulance—a huge thank you to all who contributed!
Friday was a relaxed day, as ralliers rolled in and settled on site. The sense of excitement was palpable, with friends old and new catching up and sharing stories of rallies past. As evening fell, the main hall came alive with music and laughter. Our resident DJ, John Hall, spun a fantastic mix of tunes that had everyone on their feet. The disco was a hit, with ralliers of all ages showing off their best moves under the sparkling lights. It was the perfect way to kick off the weekend’s festivities.
Saturday morning started bright and early at 9:30 am, with the comforting aroma of sizzling sausages filling the air. Our popular sausage cobs, served piping hot, were a hit with everyone, and the unlimited tea and coffee flowed freely, fuelling the day’s adventures. Tables of crafts were set up in the hall, offering ralliers a chance to get creative, socialise, and share a few laughs while making keepsakes to remember the weekend.
The afternoon was all about fun, laughter, and friendly competition. A variety of lively games and challenges were set up on the field, drawing in ralliers of all ages. “Nail the Plank” tested balance and concentration; “Welly Wanging” had the crowd cheering as competitors launched their wellies with gusto. “Ladder Golf” and “Tin Can Alley” added to the excitement, while the Penalty Shoot-Out saw some impressive goals—and a few comedic misses! The ever-popular tombola stall was bursting with prizes, drawing eager ralliers to try their luck.
Despite forecasts of rain, the sun made a welcome appearance, and Sam’s Ices ice cream van rolled in to the delight of everyone, offering a delicious selection of treats that were an instant hit. It was an afternoon of shared smiles, competitive spirit, and unforgettable memories.
Saturday evening brought the first of our professional acts to the stage, with none other than Dan Hadfield, a renowned Gary Barlow tribute artist. Dan captivated the audience with his spot-on renditions of Gary’s solo hits and Take That classics, delivering each song with style and energy. His performance wasn’t just music; it was entertainment—complete with witty banter, a touch of comedy, and plenty of crowd interaction that had everyone clapping and singing along. Dan’s reputation as one of the best in the business was well deserved; after all, he’s even had the chance to sing alongside Gary Barlow himself—who praised him, saying, “He’s really good, he’s better than me!” The atmosphere in the hall was electric, and the evening left everyone buzzing with excitement for the rest of the weekend.
The fun continued on Sunday, starting at 10am with Denise’s Hangover Hoedown—an hour of laughter and foot-tapping fun as ralliers learned to line dance while working off the previous night’s drinks! With the music pumping and plenty of smiles, it was the perfect way to shake off any cobwebs and get everyone moving again.
In the afternoon, the energy shifted to the dartboard for a lively knockout killer darts competition. Cheers and friendly banter filled the room as ralliers tested their aim and nerve, vying for bragging rights as the champion darts player of the weekend.
As evening fell, ralliers gathered in the hall for Flag, where we wrapped up the weekend’s activities so far before moving into our final evening of entertainment. We followed Flag with a demonstration of the line dancing learnt at the morning’s class, with everyone eager to show off their new moves. We then moved into a round of Singo Bingo—a brilliant twist on the classic game. Instead of numbers, ralliers marked off song titles on their cards as snippets of music played. The hall filled with laughter, singing, and friendly competition as everyone tried to be the first to call “Singo!”
Capping off the night, we welcomed Cap’n Rasty’s Skiffle City Rockers to the stage. They kicked things off with some traditional skiffle tunes, including a rousing rendition of “What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor.” But it wasn’t long before they were rocking the hall with their own unique skiffle-style versions of well-known pop and rock songs. Their set had the whole place buzzing, with ralliers joining in with singing, dancing, and plenty of cheering. It was the perfect way to close out the rally’s entertainment, leaving everyone on a high note and already looking forward to future rallies.
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