Local singer April Shipton, who is a nationally recognised recording artist, is sharing her music and story in a series of special live shows, which has started in Ross-on-Wye.

The free events, called Bigger Than Dreams, launched on Monday, February 19th at Ross Baptist Church.

The evening featured live acoustic music from father and daughter duo, April Shipton and Doug Hadfield, and storytelling - April’s powerful story of healing from anorexia and depression. It was an intimate evening, with April telling ’chapters’ of her story, interspersed with songs that illustrated the journey.

April told the Ross Gazette: “It was amazing. I’ve just had comment after comment from people who came telling me how much they enjoyed it.

“The room was packed, we had 60 come and I was expecting half that. We ran out of chairs and had to grab more as people kept arriving! We started off with tea and cake which was kindly made and served by volunteers, so there was such a buzz in the room when we started.”

April said that there were many people she did not know, from Ross, Monmouth, Raglan, Forest of Dean, Hereford - of different faiths and none.

“There were deep, impacting bits where I shared my experience of anorexia and the amazing moment I was healed. But also bright, hopeful, exciting bits where I shared about my journey into singing - and how we each possess unique skills and desires which point towards the big fat life God made us for.

“Towards the end, there was an activity which I hoped would throw this idea out to the audience a little and encourage them to think about their own dreams, talents and passions. I was apprehensive about how well it would be received, but absolutely everyone took part and seemed to come up with some brilliant responses to the activity questions. The room was filled with chatter and laughter as people of all ages dared to believe their own dreams can be fulfilled. That time was probably the highlight for me.”

She added: “At the end, plenty of folks stayed to chat or have prayer into their own situations. It wasn’t until this point - as I was bombarded with really enthusiastic, profound comments from so many people - that I realised just how well it had gone!”

The next Bigger Than Dreams date has now been confirmed at Stoneys Cirencester, on Sunday, March 11th at 6pm, as part of a new series of evenings called Sunday Night Live - ’entertainment with a twist of faith’.