by Gemma Southern
LYMM singing sensation Ellie Dibben is to sing “Whistle Down the Wind” at a tribute event to unveil a blue plaque at Pinewood Studios in memory of veteran actor Sir John Mills.
The star-studded event to mark his 70-year career will be attended by his daughters Juliette and Hayley Mills and their families as well as a host of other celebrities and Robin Gibb, president of The Heritage Foundation.
Other celebrity guests will include Maxwell Caulfield, Leslie Phillips, Nicholas Parsons, Robert Lindsay, Susan George, Simon McCorkingdale, Sylvia Syms, Jeremy Irons, and Nigel Havers.
Organisers asked Ellie to sing the famous song after the novel written by Sir John Mills’ wife and used in the original film starring Hayley Mills.
The 11-year-old has been busy singing her country tributes at charity and celebrity events around the UK since being talent spotted by 1960s music legend PJ Proby last autumn.
She met with him last October and after being invited to rehearse at his studios in the Cotswolds, performed with him on stage at a celebrity Christmas lunch.
Now PJ Proby has written two songs for Ellie, which she plans to record on her first album later in the year. The youngster will also perform in front of a home crowd at Lymm Festival on June 26 as part of a packed summer schedule of performances.
Her mum, Carolyn Dibben said: “Added to the other celebrity dinners and a summer ball, this is getting to be quite a busy year for Ellie!”
