Police escort to Port Vale after women's choir are mistaken for Chesterfield fans
AN ALL-WOMAN choir travelling on buses to their Christmas concert were given a police escort to Vale Park – after being mistaken for football fans.
Two police motorbike riders with blue lights flashing descended on two coaches carrying 90 women on the A34 near Trentham Gardens on Saturday afternoon.
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YOU'RE NOT SINGING ANYMORE: The All Woman choir were mistaken for football fans and taken to Vale Park.
Officers picked the coaches up after mistaking the passengers for Chesterfield fans and escorted them on a 10-mile journey to Vale Park.
But their mistake was only realised when one of the officers boarded one of the coaches – and discovered stunned members of the Staffordshire-based All Woman choir onboard.
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The group had been heading to the King's Hall, in Stoke, to join other choir members for a rehearsal ahead of a concert on Saturday night.
Choir founder Liz Talbot, aged 38, of Stafford, said: "It was hilarious – but a little embarrassing for the police.
"The women all thought it was a hoot. When the police officer walked onto the coach the ladies started singing Stoke City's anthem Delilah as a bit of a joke.
"Apparently the coaches carrying the Chesterfield fans were also held up as a result."
Retired theatre manager and grandmother-of-one Carol Mitchell, aged 68, of Stafford, said: "We were all looking forward to performing at the sell-out concert and all our family and friends were going along.
"We were heading for our rehearsal, but before we got into the city we saw two police motorbikes scream past us with their lights on and sirens going. They indicated to the driver to follow them so while one went ahead the other rider circled the coaches when he could.
"At first we thought there might have been some trouble in Stoke and maybe the police were giving us an escort to the concert hall for our safety.
"But we then realised something was amiss when the police took us past the turning for the King's Hall and we approached Port Vale's ground.
"The women all started talking excitedly and one said 'I bet they think we're football hooligans because we're in coaches'.
"One of the police riders stopped his bike and indicated to the driver to let him on – by this time we knew they'd obviously got the wrong coaches so we started singing Delilah.
"The poor policeman stood up at the front, looked at these rows and rows of women wearing their dresses and he suddenly went white as a sheet.
"He just stood there and said 'You're not football fans are you'.
"He quickly apologised and got off the coach before making a few calls. We couldn't help it, we all fell about."
Staffordshire Police today accepted the escort mix-up.
A spokesman said: "Thankfully, the matter was taken in good faith and there was only a slight delay."
The coaches belonged to Fenton-based Procters. The company was unavailable for comment.
Comments
by veryoldfan
Thursday, December 13 2012, 11:45AM
“should have let them in............perhaps then we would have been on song :-)”
by ravo1972
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 4:31PM
“Was Ventris in charge?”
by laythevale
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 3:34PM
“That's a lie for a start because I saw them all hiding in the toilets in Tommy Cheadles.”
by stokeandvale
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 3:22PM
“I heard these ladies got of the coach and gave the VLF a GOOD HIDING.......”
by Robnoxious
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 3:10PM
“The police were just trying to console Mrs Garner. They were going to have them sing to her. I Dreamed a Dream, outside her house. Then they realised Susan Boyle was not on board, and it went POP. Who would want to be a Police commissioner ? But at least we are going in the right direction so to speak. Les MISERABLES. she certainly is. Get over it, it will soon be good weather. Still you will be able to concentrate on saving your LOCAL, ST MICHAELS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE , JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM WHERE YOU LIVE.”
by Daz_Stoke
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 1:27PM
“The confusion arose because Vale fans usually come in a taxi ;)”
by Johntoe
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 1:12PM
“Oh come ON, It should have been obvious that they weren't Chesterfield fans,...... TWO coaches, 90 people, seriously?”
by laythevale
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 12:54PM
“Staffordshire's finest.
Brains are an optional extra. No wonder they have to retire at 50. Imagine what they would get up to if their mental faculties started to dip from even these primitive levels.
Scary.”
by laythevale
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 12:50PM
“Staffordshire's finest.
Brains are an optional extra. No wonder they have to retire at 50. Imagine what they would get up to if their mental faculties started to dip from even these primitive levels.
Scary.”
by stokeandvale
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 12:44PM
“'You're not football fans are you'
These coppers are not as stupid as people would like to make out.”