Military School children’s choir

ARMY FAMILIES FEDERATION WEBSITE

Military children’s choir ask armed forces families to back bid to play Christmas song on the radio

The children’s choir from the Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Dover, is asking armed forces families to support their bid to get a Christmas song played on BBC Radio 2.

The children, whose parents serve in the Armed Forces, have recorded their version of ‘Wherever You Are‘ – the song performed by the Military Wives Choir – and have posted it on You Tube.

But their version, includes a special message from one of the pupils, Jordan Oliver, 15, whose father Sgt Alan Oliver will be on the frontline in 2nd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment in Afghanistan this Christmas.

Jordan reads out a letter to her dad, in which she says: “Dear Daddy, I was hoping that you would get home before Christmas…but no worries. I know how important it is, your work in Afghanistan. I can’t wait until I get to see you. I’m taller than Mum now! Come home. We all miss you very much. Love you and miss you millions Dad. Jords.”

Headmaster Charles Johnson said: “Many of our children will be separated from parents deployed this Christmas, but Jordan has been particularly courageous; both of her parents have served in Afghanistan this year and no sooner had her mother returned than her father left for the frontline. Her message to him is heartfelt and speaks for all of us. There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience when the children sang this at our Winter Concert.”

The recording was quickly made by the school’s Director of Music James Robinson after hearing a request from BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans for choirs across the country to send in recordings, some of which may be played in the run up to Christmas.

The ‘Dukies’ version has been posted on You Tube and they hope that if enough people ‘Like’ the page, it will get played on the Show. The song has gained over 1,500 views in 24 hours and the support of the Military Wives themselves, who’ve posted it on their Facebook page.

Military Wives Choir member, Kerry Riva, emailed the school to lend her support: “I’m one of the military wives and have just seen your performance of our song on YouTube. I cried. It’s amazing to think that you wanted to do the song, and thought it was a fabulous performance – well done – you make us very proud thank you x.”

Duke of York’s Director of Music James Robinson said: “The song is really close to our hearts and the ethos of our school. We had to work hard to arrange the song, learn it and record it so quickly. We hope that it will get played on the radio so that it can be heard by military families across the country and the troops deployed across the world this Christmas. Please view the link http://youtu.be/YtPfHJBgBQc and join us in being very proud of all our pupils here at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School.”