28/08/2016 Songs of Praise

Wembley Stadium, a great cathedral of dreams -

and, for 32 Rugby League supporters,

one dream is about to become a reality.

Welcome to a very special Songs Of Praise.

We are at Wembley Stadium for Rugby League's biggest event of the year.

It is the Challenge Cup final.

Now, back in May, we ran a competition with BBC Sport

and the Rugby Football League

to find superfans to form a choir to sing

Abide With Me, the traditional curtain-raiser to the match.

The fans didn't need to have any singing experience,

they just needed to love their team.

This is my 55th Wembley, and this is something rather different.

I am feeling very excited and very nervous at the same time.

Each of the 32 choir members represents

a club that took part in the earlier rounds of the Challenge Cup.

We've everything from Tigers, Wolves, Vikings and Rhinos.

With a mix of voices and abilities,

they had just 24 hours before the performance of a lifetime.

One, two, three. Huh! Are you ready?

-ALL:

-Huh!

First time I've ever sung in a choir in all my life.

Good to see our club badge on the big screen here at Wembley Stadium.

Just like the FA Cup final, Abide With Me takes centre stage at

this pinnacle of the Rugby League calendar, too.

It's a tradition that dates back to 1929.

The first televised Challenge Cup final was back in 1948,

attended by George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

There have been many performances of this much-loved hymn since then,

but it's the first time the honour

of singing on the pitch has gone to the fans.

# Things could be marvellous... #

To be going on the pitch and singing Abide With Me, just unbelievable.

Abide With Me has always been a very special song to myself.

Abide With Me with Aled Jones, who'd have dreamt it?

Also today, we have a performance from

the First Lady of Rugby League - that's Lizzie Jones.

She sang Abide With Me here at Wembley last year.

# Abide with me... #

Now, though, let's kick off our singing with a great hymn

to get us in the mood.

Friday morning, and the choir assembles at Wembley for their

very first rehearsal together with their conductor, Steve Thompson.

The pressure is on. Some are used to singing.

# A, E, I, O, U... #

I enjoy my karaoke, I enjoy singing live.

Others are less confident.

A bit nervous... but absolutely can't wait.

-I'm feeling really excited and happy.

-But really nervous as well.

Joan and Sandra are representing the two teams in the final,

Warrington Wolves and Hull FC.

Play good tomorrow, guys!

One thing's for sure - they're putting their club rivalries aside

in the hope that harmony will break out.

ALL: # Abide with me... #

Beautiful!

APPLAUSE

It's one thing to practise in the rehearsal room,

it's quite another to sing on the hallowed turf.

Actually be singing here live at Wembley tomorrow.

But they're in good hands with conductor Steve Thompson.

I'm looking forward to that first line,

looking in their eyes and just

seeing their looks in terms of, "This is it."

I think it is important if you look at the word of God,

the Bible does not change.

It's been read, it's been spoken,

it's been preached for so many years.

The absolute truth you will find in the word of God, I believe,

because of the words,

the lyrics in Abide With Me,

although they may be old words, absolute truths.

As I'm going to be singing along with the choir,

it's high time I met them.

Apparently the best choir in Wembley is in this room right now.

Yeah!

-Who's excited? ALL:

-Yeah!

Who's nervous? QUIET CHEER

-Where's Hull?

-Here.

-And Warrington?

-Here.

Opposite ends! I love it.

First time I sang in Wembley, I just started...

All the bits of my face were shaking

and your legs start shaking and you can't stop them.

But the thing is, we're there together, aren't we?

Yeah! Together, right!

-You're 12.

-I'm 12.

-You're the youngest.

-And who, dare I ask, who's the oldest?

-Him!

-84.

-Wow! That's amazing.

84 years old, making his Wembley debut today.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Fortunately, most Rugby League clubs have heroic names like

Wigan Warriors or North Wales Crusaders.

And I tell you what, when our choir walk out on this pitch

in Wembley Stadium, they are going to need to be brave.

It is the most terrifying, deafening,

and also exhilarating experience imaginable.

So here is a great sporting anthem to give them - and me -

a little bit of courage.

Now, if there's one thing on Songs Of Praise we love,

it's a great sing-along.

If you'd like to join us for our annual Big Sing celebration

at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday, September 11th,

then there are still seats available.

We'll have wonderful hymns and Christmas music,

plus performances from Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, Laura Mvula,

Gareth Malone's Voices Choir, and yours truly.

Tickets are available from the Royal Albert Hall Box Office.

The number to call is...

You can find more information on the Songs Of Praise website...

Now, the honour of presenting this Challenge Cup trophy

to the winning team goes to a singer dubbed by the fans

as the First Lady of Rugby League - that's Lizzie Jones.

It was Lizzie who actually stepped out on to the pitch

before last year's final to sing Abide With Me.

# In life, in death

# O Lord, abide with me. #

Connie Fisher went to find out more.

What was amazing about Lizzie's performance is that it came

just three months after the death of her husband,

rugby Welsh international and Keighley Cougars player Danny Jones.

Danny was 29 when, during a game,

he suffered a cardiac arrest and died a few hours later.

They'd been married just over a year,

and Lizzie was left a widow with their young twins to raise alone.

St Columba's Church in Halifax is a special place for Lizzie.

Come in, Connie. Come and have a look at the church.

Oh, wow.

So, tell me how important this church has been to you.

Really, really important.

They've been my rock.

Since I was little, I've been coming to this church.

-I was the first female altar server in this parish.

-Right.

Father Michael flew to Ireland to marry us,

and the children were christened here.

Singing at Wembley is emotional at the best of times,

but singing three months after your husband's died,

that must have been very difficult.

Yeah, it was difficult.

But when I was asked to sing, there was just

no doubt in my mind that that is what I had to do.

Danny was my biggest fan in the whole world.

He would have been really, really cross if I'd not done it.

Were you wavering?

Do you know, I was so focused and so determined to get through it

that I told myself...

I had a mantra that I was going out as Lizzie Jones,

the professional singer, not the mum, not the wife.

I was just so focused to get the job done.

But not only had you lost Danny so suddenly,

you also had five-month-old twins.

-I did.

-How did you cope?

They don't really give you time to be anything but strong and brave,

really. I feel like I've just been really, really brave.

-That's something that just kicked in.

-I think you've been brave, too.

How much has your faith played a role in that bravery?

It has played a massive role.

Sometimes people turn on their faith when bad things happen,

but for me, it just made me feel stronger about my faith.

You know, hopefully the faith that I believe in,

the Catholic religion, we'll be together again.

Danny's death, caused by an undiagnosed heart condition,

led Lizzie to set up a charity in his memory.

We set up the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund,

supplying defibrillators to all grass-roots rugby clubs.

I've been presenting them personally as well,

up and around the country, which has been fantastic.

The support for the charity has just been incredible.

This machine will hopefully never, ever be used here.

It'll gather dust and never be used, fingers crossed.

But if it is, if it's needed, you've got one and you're safe and

you're part of the family now, through Danny Jones' charity.

What do the clubs make of your charity work?

They think it's brilliant. The fans, they've really, really supported me.

Right, guys, you're on-side.

We're definitely not the richest of sports,

but we're the richest in values.

The fans have never left my side.

-Well, you're going to sing for us today.

-I am.

Now, where are you singing?

I'm singing today at the Halifax Minster.

It's a big, beautiful, beautiful church.

I'm singing Danny Boy.

-That's emotional.

-Yeah, it really, really is.

That's why I love singing it, though. It's personal.

# Oh, Danny boy

# The pipes, the pipes are calling

# From glen to glen

# And down the mountain side

# The summer's gone

# And all the roses dying

# 'Tis you, 'tis you

# Must go and I must bide

# But come ye back

# When summer's in the meadow

# Or when the valley's hushed

# And white with snow

# 'Tis I'll be here

# In sunshine or in shadow

# Oh, Danny boy

# Oh, Danny boy, I love you so

# And when ye come

# And all the flowers are dying

# If I am dead

# As dead I well may be

# You'll come and find

# The place where I am lying

# And kneel and say

# An ave there for me

# And I shall hear

# How soft you tread above me

# And all my grave

# Will warm and sweeter be

# If you will bend

# And tell me that you love me

# I'll simply sleep in peace

# Until you come to me

# Oh, Danny boy

# Oh, Danny boy

# I love you so. #

I've got to say,

that was an absolutely beautiful performance of Danny Boy.

It's obviously a song that means a great deal to you.

It's a beautiful song to sing.

It's an honour to sing it on Songs Of Praise.

It's been a wonderful day.

You were here last year singing Abide With Me.

So, what we'd like to know...

Well, basically me, have you got any tips for me?

Do you know what? My biggest tip is, just enjoy it.

Take it all in, cos it doesn't last very long.

There's a big build-up to it and it's the most fantastic song

and most fantastic audience in the world, the Rugby League fans.

I felt like I walked out to a huge cuddle.

That's the only way I can describe it. You will, too.

They'll just be so behind you.

Before you know it, it's finished, so just smile, enjoy it,

take it all in. And breathe.

Great advice there, Lizzie.

And here's some more in the words of our next hymn.

# Let all the world in every corner sing

# Let all the world in every corner sing

# My God and King!

# The heavens are not too high

# His praise may thither fly

# The earth is not too low

# His praises there may grow

-# Let all the world

-Let all the world

# Let all the world in every corner sing

# Let all the world in every corner sing

# My God and King!

# The church with psalms must shout

# No door can keep them out

# But, above all, the heart

# Must bear the longest part

# Let all the world in every corner sing

# Let all the world in every corner sing

# Let all the world in every corner sing

# My God and King! #

This is it. The big day has arrived and the choir step out

onto the famous pitch for a final rehearsal.

Morning, everybody!

Had a good night's sleep, and I'm ready to rock it today.

So different being, from in the crowd, than onto the pitch.

It's a totally different feeling.

The band of the Corps of Royal Engineers

have arrived to accompany us.

A bit of military precision should help.

It's been a bit of a scrum, but the choir are now ready

to tackle this piece and really give it a try.

Thanks, JJB.

Do you go everywhere with one of these balls?

-Well, they come in handy at a Challenge Cup final.

-They do.

And I thought you only had a tracksuit.

-You're looking smart!

-Trying my best.

-How proud are you of this choir?

-Mate, they're outstanding.

I've just come along now. Steve Thompson's doing a fantastic job.

He's whipped them up into shape.

Honestly, people think rugby players are big and tough and strong,

I was welling up listening to them for the first time.

-I've got to say, they're so excited as well.

-They are!

And that's what's great about Rugby League.

It's very parochial, very tribal and the rivalry is so fierce,

but today, they're like best friends.

They're talking about stories, all talking about last night,

all congregating into a room, they plan to meet up in the future

-and they sound fantastic together.

-It's great, isn't it?

-And even Hull and Warrington are getting along.

-They are.

Hull and Warrington and even we've got a Hull KR fan

saying he's going to support the All Blacks, and that's unheard of.

That's how happy they all are.

Really looking forward to it. It should be a great game.

-How will you be feeling?

-I've not got many hairs on my head,

but what there is will be standing up, I tell you.

Certainly on the back of my neck, and that song, Abide With Me...

Again, it's all across. Rugby League has been my vehicle,

my faith, Christianity has been the foundation and it's all going

to come together at the greatest Rugby League venue there is.

As the band warm up, I bump into Rugby League's very own anchorman.

You must sing along when you're out there, though, in the stands.

Yes, to Abide With Me, most definitely,

because it is such a special song

around the Challenge Cup final and it means...

It brings back childhood memories for me,

so it is a very special song for me, yeah.

Taking you back to childhood, then,

what was it like the first time you heard it?

I've got goose bumps talking about it.

All I know is that when you have 80,000, 90,000

at the old Wembley singing it, and everybody is singing it.

You know, some people sing the national anthem,

some people don't. It's a personal point of view.

But Abide With Me is something that everybody in this crowd sings

and I think that's probably why it's so special.

And what I love is, you know, today here

of course we've got Hull, we've got Warrington.

They'll be joining together just for that one moment.

Well, not only will they be joining together but there's

something very special about the Challenge Cup final

and obviously, I've done FA Cup finals

and all sorts of different things,

but the Challenge Cup final is very, very special in that

you will see shirts from across the Rugby League spectrum.

So many different clubs.

It doesn't matter if you've got a Bradford shirt on,

a Leeds shirt on, a Wigan shirt on, there's no trouble.

Everybody's here to enjoy the game

because it is one of the showpiece events.

Meanwhile, as the crowds gather in their thousands,

back in the rehearsal room, there's one more surprise for our choir.

It's Rugby League legend Martin Offiah.

-How are you?

-Not too bad. This is your moment.

-I had my moment, I had a few moments.

-You did!

But the one I'm going to be remembered for, back in '94,

scoring that try.

It's a fantastic Rugby League family out there.

They're all on your side.

Erm, to coin a phrase, you are preaching to the choir.

Just go out there, enjoy it,

have smiles on your faces and knock it out of the park.

CHEERING

The stage is almost set for our very special performance

of Abide With Me.

You can cut the tension with a knife.

We just want to get out there and do it.

The waiting is the worst bit.

We need inspiration.

This hymn should help.

Here we go!

Well, the waiting is over and there's no more time to rehearse.

The choir is on its way to the pitch. This is the real thing.

Please welcome the Songs Of Praise

Rugby League Challenge Cup Fans' Choir.

And leading the performance, Aled Jones.

# Abide with me

# Fast falls the eventide

# The darkness deepens

# Lord, with me abide.

# When other helpers fail and comforts flee

# Help of the helpless

# O, abide with me.

# Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes

# Shine through the gloom

# And point me to the skies

# Heaven's morning breaks

# And Earth's vain shadows flee

# In life, in death, O, Lord

# Abide with me. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

They've done it and what a result.

Absolutely amazing. Brilliant. Brilliant.

It was amazing. Amazing!

If you could bottle that feeling and sell it, I'd be a rich man.

I promised I'd bring my dad back to Wembley.

Absolutely fantastic. Thank you.

THEY CHEER

Guys, honestly, it was such an honour to sing with you.

You were brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

It was really, really special.

It'll remain with me forever, so I hope it will you, as well.

-Definitely.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

Here's to the next concert.

-We'll be there!

-Well done. Well done.

And a huge congratulations to our very own

Songs Of Praise Challenge Cup Choir.

They were fantastic. It was such an honour for me to sing with them.

They've now gone to watch the match safe in the knowledge that

they've done their clubs proud.