A SONG inspired by the woman who brought donkeys to Cleethorpes is through to the finals of a folk music competition.
The story of Gladys Nuttall – a former mayor of the resort and much loved for running donkey rides on the beach – caught the attention of a Russian singer-songwriter who then wrote a song and entered it into the Write A Song For Lincolnshire folk song competition, as reported.
Despite never meeting Gladys, Daria Kulesh read about her on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk and used it as inspiration for Donkey Lady, a song that captures the essence of Mrs Nutall, who was hailed a champion of Cleethorpes and its people.
And it also captured the imagination of the competition judges who put her into the top ten out of hundreds of entries, the winner of which will be chosen after each writer performs their song at a concert at Spilsby Theatre.
Daria said: "It is a very special song for lots of different reasons. The most important thing for a good song is the story, obviously you then have to convey the story through the melody and music, but you cannot do that without first having a good story.
"It is going to be a lovely concert. I don't know what the other songs are, but it will be great to be a part of. I am very excited about it."
Daria has been writing songs for just a year and did not expect to go as far as she has in the competition.
She said: "I put a lot of time and effort into the song and I am really glad people like it.
"Being in the top ten means such a lot but I am not thinking any further than that. I am really excited about getting this far and being able to perform it. That is enough for me."
Daria will perform her song at the concert at the Spilsby Theatre on Thursday. For more information, visit www.livingtradition.co.uk
