Budding singers preparing for Aughton’s Got Talent event

Sep 13 2012 by Rob Pattinson, Ormskirk Advertiser

A FORMER X Factor contestant is bringing a touch of talent show glitz to Aughton ­– in memory of a friend he lost to cancer and a nephew killed in Afghanistan.

Dr David Gallagher has already secured a number of acts for Aughton’s Got Talent, which will take place on Saturday, October 27.

The Aughton insurance broker reached the boot camp stage of X Factor in 2005 – singing for Louis Walsh, Sharon Osborne and Simon Cowell but just missed out on a place in the next round.

Now he has organised a talent show for his own village, and proceeds from the event – to be held at Aughton Village Hall – will be split between Help For Heroes and Macmillan Cancer Support.

David, 49, said: “We’ve got entrants from the age of eight through to 80.

“Everyone seems really up for it. There will be prizes for first, second and third and medals. We’re hoping to sell all 200 tickets, it’s a great experience for people to get up on a stage and perform to a crowd and it’s open to everyone.”

David’s choice of charities that will be supported by the event is a personal one.

His nephew Lance Corporal Luke McCulloch was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2006 at the age of just 21, while close friend Terence McLaughlin, who was a Fellow of St Edmund's College, Cambridge, died of leukaemia the same year.

And he said: “My nephew Luke was fatally injured in Afghanistan. He grew up in South Africa but I knew him as a child and it was a real shock hearing he had died.

“At 21 you don’t expect that. He had previously been in Iraq and I was upset he was there. Once he came back I thought everything was going to be alright but then we found out he was being posted to Helmand Province. Help For Heroes does some fantastic work so I’m delighted to be supporting them.

“I was very close to my friend Terry, we sang in a small Choir at St Edmund's College Cambridge. “He was always kind and considerate and told jokes to put us all at ease if we were nervous before any singing in the chapel.

“He died of leukaemia and I ran the Nottingham Marathon for him in 2010. I did not raise as much money as I would have liked and so would like to raise some more once again for victims of cancer.”

The Aughton’s Got Talent event is open to singers, comedians, instrumentalists, conjurers, and dance acts. Tickets are £7.50 for adults, half price for under-18s.

For more information, telephone David on 01695 421158 or email dr.david.gallagher@hotmail.com