Flintshire soprano Billie Allin's long journey to rebuild her confidence after being injured in road rage incident

Billie Allin, 21, of Ewloe, was left with serious injuries to her arm after her Vauxhall Corsa was sent crashing into railings on Aston Hill by a van towing a racing car while she was driving to say goodbye to her grandmother in Shotton before returning to study in Cardiff.

As well as the serious injuries to her arm, the ordeal and the road rage she was subjected to following the collision in July, 2019, shattered her confidence.

She went from a bubbly, bright performer to being unable to sleep, suffering nightmares, and suffering anxiety in social situations.

Billie performed at the BBC Proms after the accident

Billie told the Leader: "I literally have been a singer, actor and performer since I was five. It's all I've ever wanted to do. There's never been maybe I'll do this, it's always been that. I've always been quite bright, bubbly and outgoing, and then it just took all of my confidence.

"I worry about everything. I stress about everything at this point."

At the sentencing of van driver Alan Martin Thompson on Monday he was told he was wholly to blame for the collision and that he had behaved aggressively in the build up and aftermath of the incident.

He had maintained he had done nothing wrong and his guilt was determined at trial, which put added pressure on Billie.

She added: "The trial was a huge weight off my shoulders. But it's everything, I just avoided speaking to people, doing anything that will put me in a situation where someone could be aggressive towards me again.

"I thought I was absolutely fine after the accident, I thought it's happened, we've dealt with the injuries and its fine. But in the October, I woke up in the middle of the night screaming. I thought maybe it's a one off, but then it happened the following night and the night after that. I was scared to go to sleep because I didn't want to have those dreams."

The scene of the crash. Image: NWP Roads Policing Unit

Billie added that she initially thought she could move on from the accident. She was scarred and had to have an operation that has left her with a permanent metal plate in her arm.

The soprano said: "I had to have an operation on my arm, so I was in hospital for two days. I was due to perform in a charity concert for my best friend's mum who had breast cancer. It was the day after the accident, so obviously I couldn't do that and was really upset. I was at home for two weeks, and then had to get back to Cardiff to rehearse as I was due to perform at the BBC Proms. I really wanted to do it, it was my first time, my first big opportunity and I was really excited. They said there's still a place for you if you want to come and sing, so I did that. But it was really stressful, having just been in a car accident, having an operation, and then going back to London where it was really busy. So I am proud that I did that, because I don't think many other people would have done it."

Billie and friend George Horgan completed the Cardiff half marathon for charity

She added: "I wasn't meant to, my doctor told me that I shouldn't, but I had previously signed up to do the Cardiff Half Marathon with my friend George Horgan. That was in the October. I thought, I'll do it. If I have to stop I can stop. But I had raised quite a lot of money for the Music in Hospitals and Care charity and I didn't want to not do it."

Billie on stage

But in the weeks and months following the incident, the ordeal began to take its toll on her confidence and subsequently her ambitions.

She said: "I applied to do a Masters course where I'm currently studying, and we had to audition via videolink this year. I recorded and submitted my audition, then just before Christmas the head of the vocal course rang me up and said it's bad news. She said we can't offer you a place right now, but its nothing to do with your talent, its your confidence. She said I didn't have that confidence to perform the way I used to."

"Now the trial is over, I feel I can move on. I've been offered a re-audition and I will be doing that in a few weeks time, and hopefully will still get a place.

"Lockdown hasn't helped, but it's a slow progression to rebuild your confidence. My friends and colleagues are all going to do Masters and I think it's really kicked me behind by about a year. Now I have to work two or three times as hard to get back where I was.

Billie has strived towards a career in music from an early age, supported by her parents Jason and Karen. She attended The Hammond School in Chester, the Junior Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, and is now in her final year at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

And, although she feels like she is a year behind in her career path, Billie took stock of what she has achieved in the months since the accident.

Billie has wanted to be on stage since she was five

She posted on her Facebook page: "Over the last few months I’ve been adjusting to a new way of learning at RWCMD and filming for my Masters Auditions. Although it’s been an incredibly challenging year for everyone, it’s so important to try and stay positive and look back on your achievements over the year."

The five things Billie is proud of achieving this year:

1. Organising and performing in ‘Musicals Through The Ages’ in the Dora Stoutzker Concert Hall alongside Thomas Mottershead.
2. Performing with my amazing year group in our 3rd year Musical Theatre Project.
3. Appearing on ‘Radio Cardiff’ with Keith Milward to talk all things Musical Theatre.
4. Singing ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ at my Grandad's funeral in July.
5. Continuing to work with BBC National Chorus of Wales throughout the pandemic to make music.

Billie added: "I organised and performed in my own stand-up concert in the concert hall at Royal Welsh. I had to organise the music, the copyright for the music, rehearsals, ticket sales - literally I had to organise everything. I'm glad I did that, because it took my mind of things for a little while and proved I could do it. I hadn't performed, except for the Proms, since the accident. I thought, I'm going to do it, I'm going to put on my own concert, and it did help me with my confidence."

Although Billie has thought about turning her back on music and taking a nine to five job, she still hopes to make the most of her talent and education and follow a career in music. She has had expensive light therapy privately to help her overcome the trauma of the accident.

She told the Leader: "I think I will, but I think it will take a long time. I'd say it will take me a couple of years to really get back to where I was. It's not going to happen overnight. I've just got to be patient.

"Five years from now I'd like to have a career in music. All I have ever wanted to do is be on the stage. That is my dream, to be in Cardiff or London and be on the stage."

• 32-year-old Alan Martin Thompson, of Wantage in Oxfordshire, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after he was found guilty at trial of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was also fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £2,800 in court costs and a £149 victim surcharge. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and must take an extended retest before his licence is returned to him.