Military Wives Choir

The Story of how this began... A lonely lady called Nicky Clarke was just about to experience the reality of living on a marriage patch and being a military wife, in a garrison town in Yorkshire.

Her husband was soon to deploy to Afghanistan for 6 months, which in reality meant she would have to adapt to the separation for the best part of more then 12months!

She wrote a letter to Gareth Malone....

On realising how a choir could make the difference to not only her life, but many others in her situation, it was clear in her mind that a choir would break down barriers in Rank, Class, Religion etc... But most of all it would provide fun, support, camaraderie and so much more which not only military wives could benefit from, but all those actively involved in and around the garrison. Gareth Malone agreed...for the BBC series The Choir.

Sadly, timing wasn't in Nicky's favour, but the vision was! So.. Gareth came to Chivenor in North Devon and began to film with us, as at the time many of our husbands were soon to deploy to Afghanistan.

We opened the doors and allowed the public to see the real emotion, showing the daily life strains of a military spouses lifestyle and through some of the more difficult times we had to face! Within two weeks, these ladies did their first performance in the local Pannier Market in Barnstaple, where Bob Dylan's song "Make You Feel My Love" encaptured the mood perfectly!

Part way through filming the ladies of Chivenor, went to another base in Plymouth, Devon, forming another choir. Together they sang at The Royal academy of Music in Sandhurst, Armed Forces Day celebrations in Plymouth- building up for their big finale of the program!

Ladies of the Chivenor and Plymouth, submitted letters and poems, which were used and inspired Paul Mealor, to compose 'Wherever You Are'- This was then performed at the Festival of Remembrance at he Royal Albert Hall in November 2011, in front of The Queen!

Days later, 'Wherever You Are' was being recorded as a charity single, which later became the 60th Official Christmas Number 1, but mostly importantly raising over half a million pounds for two military charities (RBL and SSAFA). 'Wherever You Are' later went on to win a Classical Brit award in October 2012

As we reached out to more and more military bases, more choirs started up- they too could see the need for one in their base area. The vision of how a choir could support one another, was clearer.

A foundation has been created, where people can move from one choir to another, whilst moving around with their partners job. It gives stability and a growing network of support, creating longterm friendships and more.....the military community becomes closer and continues to grow 'Stronger Together'. As choirs were evolving we then were invited to make the album 'In My Dreams', Chivenor and Plymouth both having our own tracks along with joint tracks which had 3 other choirs involved (Catterick, Lympstone and Portsmouth). Proceeds of the album go into a fund, called The Military Wives Choirs Foundation- helping to support new choirs, now and in the future.

Chivenor and Plymouth are very much involved in supporting the amazing growth of the choirs and are so honoured to have inspired so many new choirs from the program which touched so many hearts all over the world, and continues to do so as it airs in different countries months after it was shown here in the UK in November 2011.

More recently- It was The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Gary Barlow and Sir Andrew LLoyd Webber, both created the amazing song SING. Gary travelled the commonwealth and brought together a commonwealth band. Alongside ladies of the two TV choirs, 8 other choirs also were given the amazing opportunity of recording the SING album and performing it at the amazing 'Queen's Diamond Jubilee' Concert, which happened at Buckingham Palace on the Queen Victoria Monument in Buckingham Palace's Garden.