Wigan teacher hits all the right notes as she prepares for her own Christmas show

Professional singer Samantha Oakley has performed on her drive for neighbours in Whitley several times during the pandemic.

It started during the first national lockdown, when she sang on Thursday evenings after the clap for NHS workers.

And mother-of-two Samantha has resumed her shows this Christmas, alongside her daughter Holly, 13, who attends The Deanery High School.

She said: “I used to be the musical director at St Michael’s in Swinley and loved all the Christmas carols and services. I put a message in a group asking neighbours if they would mind if I sang some carols in the street.”

Samantha wanted to support a good cause and chose Daffodils Dreams after asking her neighbours for suggestions.

It supports vulnerable children and their families across the borough and will hand out hundreds of Christmas Eve boxes and Christmas presents thanks to the generosity of Wigan residents and businesses.

Samantha, who works at St Jude’s Primary School in Worsley Mesnes, said: “The idea behind Daffodils Dreams sounded great and because it’s in the local area, I thought it would be a good idea to use the opportunity to raise money.”

Samantha’s first two shows proved to be a hit with residents on Whitley Crescent and she collected more than £100 in just the first hour.

She performed traditional Christmas carols and then some festive pop songs so people could dance along.

Samantha said: “It’s going down well and people have already been messaging me saying they are looking forward to the next one.

“I have noticed a bigger passing of car traffic, with people coming up in their cars to listen. ”

She is now looking forward to performing on Christmas Eve, which is also her 40th birthday.

“It’s always a bit lack lustre when your birthday is Christmas Eve, so I thought I would do some singing,” she

said.

Samantha’s show will begin at 6pm on Thursday, to coincide with a campaign encouraging people to ring festive bells outside their home at that time.

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