NELL Wycherley was born to sing. In fact, she thinks that she started practising before she could even speak. 

“I’m told that when I was a baby, I used to scream a lot!” she said. “I’m convinced, looking back, that I was just trying out my voice.”

These early rehearsals would eventually blossom into a lifelong career. Now in her 80s, Nell has performed all over the world, and even received an MBE for her services to opera.

Based in Portchester, she is passionate about her local church, and last year presented an afternoon called ‘Happy Go Lucky in Song’ in aid of much-needed building repairs. Those lucky enough to attend were offered a musical tour through her life, career and faith.

Nell was born and grew up near Bridgetown in Barbados, where both singing and going to church were a natural part of life. It became apparent early on, though, that Nell had a special talent.

She said: “My mother even took me to New York to see if I could get into Julliard, but I didn’t have any confidence at that point. Then, by chance, an Italian maestro turned up on the island to do a concert – and my mother said, you must let him hear you sing!”

Nell was unsure, but her mother wasn’t the type to be argued with. “She found out what hotel he was staying at and arranged an audition,” she said. “He heard me, and he immediately wanted to train my voice.”

This maestro was Odone Sommovigo, and he moved into the family’s spare room. Nell remembers a joyful time as she sang with him every day, learning operatic arias and all kinds of new music.

Her gift of song began to open doors to global adventure. Along with her maestro, Nell - known then as Nell Hall - performed across South America, then at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York.

A review of the event can still be found on the New York Times’ online archive: “Nell Hall, a charming soprano from Barbados in the West Indies, made a successful New York debut last night.” She sang at an international competition in Italy, and then – on the 9th of June 1963 – arrived in England for the first time.

Through all of this, it was never Nell’s musical success which brought her confidence. Having gone to church out of habit throughout her childhood, God became real for her in her early twenties.

She said: “I had a good friend, the wife of one of our vicars in Barbados, and she helped me realise that God loved me. And not only me, but everybody else! I didn’t have much belief in myself at that time, but Jesus says in the Beatitudes ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’. That’s how I became conscious of my need for God – that he was real, and had meaning and purpose for me.”