Cockpits and choreography, boarding cards and Billy Elliot were all part of this year’s Gale Force summer school.

The week-long programme of music, dance and speech workshops also saw students aged from four to 16 enjoy an organised trip to Isle of Man Airport that included an opportunity to visit an aircraft cockpit, the control tower and fire service department, and another to the Erin Arts Centre, the venue for Gale Force’s Christmas concert on Sunday December 1st.

Gale Force founder and director Barbara Gale said: ‘Although we’re busily preparing for our 25th anniversary celebrations we were determined to hold a summer school. Every year I never cease to be surprised how some children who, perhaps, have never performed in front of anyone before, grow in confidence day by day and that culminates in our concert on the last afternoon when every child has the opportunity to shine…and shine they most certainly do. Much of that growth in confidence is down to the tremendous help of my Gale Force seniors and support lent by choreographer Paul Bradford and accompanist Wendy McDowell.

‘The summer school is always lots of fun but it also offers a highly structured programme that is as much about good manners as it is about learning performance skills. It’s a formula that works and which for some 25 years has been the Gale Force signature approach.

‘Soon, after a short break, we’ll be starting auditions for our 25th anniversary concert which comes to the Erin Arts Centre on December 1st. It’ll be a show not to be missed. Tickets are on sale now – and would make an inspired early Christmas present.’

Tickets for the Gale Force Christmas concert are on sale at the Erin Arts Centre, priced ?8.

Photo - Former mature Gale Force student Alwyn Major presents 15-year-old Matthew Unsworth with a medal for serving as compere for the concert and helping throughout the week of the Gale Force summer school. Picture Andrew Barton.