A Year with the Military Wives The Choir


A Year with the Military Wives

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Choir master Gareth Malone

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believes singing can change the toughest of lives.

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I know that music can bring people together,

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under really extraordinary circumstances.

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In February 2011, he became choir master at a military base in Devon.

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His mission was to create a choir from the hundreds of women

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that live on the base.

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I'm here to lift your spirits, hopefully, pick you up,

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and bring your voices together.

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Gareth took his choir from obscurity...

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I want to run away, I just want to run away.

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..right to the heart of the nation's tribute to the troops.

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This is it!

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My God!

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But this proved to be just the start of things to come...

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I was convinced that that was it, that was the end,

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actually, that turned out to be the beginning.

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..as the nation took the Military Wives Choir

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-to their hearts...

-Please welcome Gareth Malone...

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..and the Military Wives.

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We sit there on a Saturday night watching these programmes,

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we never ever thought in our wildest dreams we'd be on them.

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Your Christmas number one is Military Wives.

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..and took them to places they could never have imagined.

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Follow me.

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It's just like any minute now, I'm going to wake up

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and be back to normal, having my normal life again.

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In the space of 12 months, we've done things that most people

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would never do in their lifetime.

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Long may they continue to sing.

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There are now 75 military wives choirs across the country

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and even abroad.

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He gave us a voice in more ways than one.

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This was Gareth's dream and it came true,

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and not many people can say dreams have come true in their life.

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Last year, Gareth Malone started a choir for military wives

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at the Royal Marine Barracks in Chivenor, North Devon.

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Today, two of its members, Katherine and Nicky,

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are in Salisbury to support a new military wives choir.

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I'm excited.

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I am, look at the moon, the Christmas tree.

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Inspired by the experience at Chivenor,

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the Salisbury Plain choir started in January.

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They're ready to go.

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This evening, 30 of its members will be performing

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at the opening of the Christmas market.

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There are so many of you. There's loads.

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We've never actually listened to a choir sing. We've always been there.

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This is really nice. You're singing In The Bleak Midwinter?

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Oh, I've got the chills. I have seriously got the chills.

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# Our God, heaven cannot hold him

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# Nor earth sustain

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# Heaven and earth shall flee away

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# When he comes to reign

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# In the bleak midwinter

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# A stable place sufficed

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# The Lord God Almighty

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# Give my heart. #

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That was beautiful. Absolutely. Oh, God, I'm starting again.

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This is all your fault, Mr Malone.

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Started a revolution.

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The story all began

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when Gareth first went to Chivenor to set up a choir in February 2011.

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I know nothing about the military.

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I've never spent time on a military base,

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I know very little about military life.

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I don't know what to expect.

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For the following eight months, Gareth's mission was to become the base's choir master.

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-Your name is?

-Gareth Malone.

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I think this is the most intimidating place I've ever been to in my life.

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-Do you get used to it?

-You do, yes.

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Coming to a military base for the first time,

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I might as well have gone to the moon, it was so alien,

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it was incredibly intimidating.

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The base at Chivenor trains nearly 1,200 men from the Royal Marines,

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Army and RAF.

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In three weeks, these men were to be deployed to Afghanistan,

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leaving behind more than 120 women and their children.

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Family Day at the base is a chance for families to get

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together before deployment.

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It seemed a good place to start recruiting for Gareth's new choir.

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Good afternoon, everyone, my name is Gareth Malone.

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We met Gareth that day and we thought, who is this guy?

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I want to invite anyone to come and join a choir.

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Who is this 12-year-old that is coming to teach us to sing?

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You don't need to be a brilliant singer.

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I'm around, come and speak to me if you're at all interested,

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if you've ever, ever thought about singing.

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If you sing in the shower, it is about bringing everyone together.

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Tumbleweed!

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Obviously, we're used to military men that are quite strong

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and powerful, and big and assertive and Gareth wasn't any of those.

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-I'm starting a choir.

-Good luck with that one.

-Thanks.

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-Have you heard that I'm here to start a choir?

-Yes.

-Word travels fast.

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-Are you interested?

-Yes.

-Good. Hello.

-George. Nicola.

-Hello, Nicola.

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-Do you sing?

-Do I sing?

-What does she sing?

-Everything.

-Everything?

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I personally thought, yeah, he will have his work cut out,

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these are women that haven't got time to do this,

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we've just been told, "get on with it."

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Keen to spread the word about the choir's first rehearsal,

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Gareth hit the patch, the married quarters made up of 280 houses.

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The geography of the place, it's so insular, it made me realise

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how much these women are on top of each other

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and cut off from the rest of society.

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Hello.

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-Stacey.

-Hi, Stacey. Hello.

-I'm Samantha.

-I'm Gareth.

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Local choir master. Hello.

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So, what is there to do for you while your husbands are away?

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Nothing whatsoever.

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Just counting the long days? I'm starting a choir.

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-My dream is to be able to sing.

-Your dream?

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-I'm going to make that dream come true.

-Thank you.

-I hope. He said.

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-I used to be in a choir.

-Oh, great. When?

-When I was 12 to 17.

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-Nice to meet you. Can I hear your voice?

-No.

-That's mean, isn't it?

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After months of training and preparation,

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around 600 men said goodbye to their families,

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to begin their six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

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It was the fifth time Nicky Scott's husband George had been deployed.

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We've done it before but it's always different.

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All the feelings, because the children are older

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and they know what's going on. You have to get on with it.

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We've chosen this lifestyle and that is how it is.

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-My stomach is churning. How many hours have I got?

-Three.

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-Three hours to go.

-Three hours to go.

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Major Williams.

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Corporal Thompson.

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The build up to going is just horrendous, to be honest with you.

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When the men first deployed, it was such a strange atmosphere,

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it was bleak, yet at the same time, they were ready to go.

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There was a sense of relief.

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You can tell families were absolutely being torn apart by this,

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it was an atmosphere like I've never felt anywhere else.

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When he says goodbye to me, is that going to be his last goodbye?

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Oh, sorry.

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Having spent time drumming up interest, the day arrived

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for the first rehearsal of Gareth's military wives choir.

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Their base was the chapel on the edge of the barracks.

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It was so sensitive, their husbands had just gone.

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I wondered if it was going to be the right time to start a choir.

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I thought it could help, but I didn't know yet whether people

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would be prepared to start getting up and singing.

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Somehow it didn't seem right.

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I'm just going to guess you're here for the choir

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and not going to the military base. You are here for the choir?

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Brilliant.

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-Thanks for coming. Who is this?

-This is Jack.

-Hi, Jack.

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-Hello.

-Hi.

-I take it you are here for the choir?

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Go on in.

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Hello.

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Hello.

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Really good to see so many of you here.

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I'm just going to do a headcount.

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Gareth's first rehearsal attracted wives from across the ranks,

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from Private soldiers, right up to the Commanding Officer's wife.

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40! That feels really good, 41!

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Hello, brilliant.

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I am here to lift your spirits hopefully, pick you up

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and most important thing, to bring your voices together to be heard.

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The first song we're going to sing,

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is Guns N' Roses, well known classic, Sweet Child O' Mine.

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I was very keen not to come in with some dreadful tear jerker,

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or a big piece of choral music.

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I wanted to do something that was fun, upbeat and that they would know.

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He won people over that day with that song. He really did.

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Singing that came at the right time,

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cos everyone was very low.

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I'm assuming you just know it, so give it a go.

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# She's got a smile that seems to me remind me of childhood memories

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# When everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky... #

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Stop. If we can do that together, then we will have a choir.

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When I came here, I thought I was going to meet tough birds

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who were going to show me what's what, and actually,

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I found just a group of really timid women whose husbands

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had just gone away and who were really emotionally vulnerable.

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That really took me by surprise, and you could hear it in their singing, it was so tentative.

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That was quite stressful, didn't enjoy that.

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I'm all flustered and I need a drink.

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With the women lacking confidence,

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Gareth wanted to speak to some of them individually.

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Hello, Sam. How are you?

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One of them was Sam Stevenson, who had sung in choirs before.

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I thought it would be nice to have a little listen to you singing.

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-How does that sound? Like fun?

-No. Come on. Let's give it a go.

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# The moment I wake up before I put on...#

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Sorry.

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That first session with Sam in her house was painful.

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She must have said sorry about 150 times

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and it went on and on and on.

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Oh, I'm sorry.

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I've never seen anyone be so timid about singing,

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who has that much talent.

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Sorry, sorry, sorry for saying sorry!

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Obviously, back then, my confidence was zilch, there was nothing there.

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We're going to the park.

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Sam's husband, John, is in the Royal Engineers,

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and at 27, he'd just started his first tour of duty to Afghanistan.

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It's a mixture of emotions.

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You feel guilt, cos you think I've forced you into the army

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to give us a better life, then you're angry that they're going.

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Everything feels so tense.

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With her husband deployed,

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Sam was left in charge of looking after their two young children.

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Brody has Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

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He's not developed at his age,

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he's seven but more at a four-year-old level.

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Life can be difficult because Brody's behaviour can be really

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challenging at times, but we wouldn't change it, though.

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I'm really up for the choir,

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I love singing and I think my husband will have a bit more

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peace of mind that I'm going to be occupied and kept busy.

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I think if you're kept busy,

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hopefully the time will go quicker, as well.

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Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it.

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Over the next month, the choir met for rehearsals

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three times a week.

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That's not really selling it to me.

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I want the eyes up. I always say to people, "Sing before you're singing."

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She's got a smile. Let's have the introduction.

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You've got to look alive and if you're not singing at the beginning,

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you've got to look like you might.

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You're like this. What's going to happen? Who's going to sing?

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You are.

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# She's got a smile and it seems to me reminds me of childhood...#

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Once they started to come on, they started to stand up and rely on each other.

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They were getting to know each other and that was wonderful.

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It made me think, they need to do a performance,

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they need to get out there because that is how you learn.

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As the choir progressed, Gareth began to think of an audience to perform to.

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Five minutes away is the busy market town of Barnstaple.

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Excuse me, could I ask you a quick question?

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Do you know anything about RMB Chivenor?

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-It's down there.

-Perfect.

-Do you know anything else?

-No.

-No, nothing?

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It was just astonishing nobody knew anything about them,

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and nobody knew anything about them nationally.

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We just didn't talk about them.

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It really felt correct to take them out of the patch where they live,

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take them to the local town and show them off.

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You are going to perform at the Pannier market.

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Yes!

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It will be absolutely awesome, won't it?

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ALL: Yes.

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Now here's the rub.

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It's in two weeks.

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Who'd like to have a go at the solo?

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No?

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Sam? No?

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-Definitely not?

-Nope.

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I was just so scared of criticism, rejection and

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I just wouldn't have been able to do it at all.

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# When the rain is blowing in your face

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# And the whole world is on your case. #

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Emma!

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-# I could offer you a warm embrace.

-#

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Nicky!

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# And the whole world is on your case

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# I could offer you... #

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'What I love about Nicky is there's real strength there,

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'she's been in the military, she's fierce,

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'yet there's an incredible softness and tenderness when she sings'

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that is so beguiling - beautiful singer.

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I'd like you to do the solo.

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Oh, my goodness.

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When I knew I was going to do it,

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it rekindled a confidence in me that I didn't think I still had.

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With days to go until the Barnstaple performance,

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the women took every opportunity to rehearse.

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The thing I like most is the camaraderie between all the women.

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We feel like sisters, now, just helping each other out.

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We're so keen to do it that we will really try our best.

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We are standing together as a group of girls going, "I'll be there for

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"you and you'll be there for me and we'll all get through this together."

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Nobody had any idea that there would be something like 600

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people in the Pannier Market and when I arrived that morning,

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I was absolutely horrified by the scale of it, I just imagined

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50 people and we were swamped, there were so many people there.

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# Ooooooh #

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# Ooooooh #

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# When the rain is falling in your face

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# And the whole world is on your case

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# I would offer you a warm embrace

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# To make you feel my love

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# When the evening shadows and the stars appear

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# And there's no-one there to dry your tears

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# I could hold you for a million years

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# To make you feel my love... #

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It takes such guts to show your emotion in public

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and that's what Nicky did,

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that's what Nicky did in front of those people in Barnstaple.

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She made you feel what it was to be a military wife,

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and that's a difficult thing to do.

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# The winds of change are blowing wild and free

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# You ain't seen nothing like me yet

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# You ain't seen nothing like me yet. #

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That day was like, "Look at us, we're a team!" And it stuck,

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you know, it really did stick.

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I was stunned that the local people wanted to come out and see the Military Wives from Chivenor.

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-# To make you feel my love.

-#

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It wasn't just that people said, "Well done, you sang well,"

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it was that people connected with who these women were and that they

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applauded their efforts and that they were supporting them.

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That was the first hint that we had that people would really love this.

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With the first performance of the Chivenor Choir such a success,

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Gareth began to think bigger.

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This is something that could easily spread to other bases,

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it's gone so well here, and in a really short space of time

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the women are singing well and getting so much out of it.

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I'd like this to go further, I want to go to other bases.

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Gareth decided to take the choir to Britain's largest naval base,

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in Plymouth.

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But as the day approached,

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terrible news came through that a Royal Marine from 42 Commando,

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based at Plymouth, had been killed by a bomb in southern Afghanistan.

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Uncertain if it was the right time to visit Plymouth, Gareth called a meeting.

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This is not a position I've ever been in before,

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so this is very new territory for me and I would love to go to Plymouth,

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it's an accident of timing that everything happened this weekend.

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Music can't solve the problem, but I kind of have a hunch that it might be something really beneficial.

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I'd like to know what you think about it, really. Suzy?

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At the moment they need all the support they can get.

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They need something to focus on - I'd be lost without it,

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this is my distraction, it keeps me going in a way.

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They're having a pretty rough time,

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and I can't describe to you how hard it is...

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It's heart-breaking.

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We went down to Plymouth at a time that was very difficult, and

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there had been fatalities and we were very sensitive about it, but

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somehow having these military wives saying, "We understand

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"the situation, but we still think that singing can be important

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"for you," made it OK.

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It's really, really good to see so many of you here tonight.

0:21:100:21:12

We're all very aware that we've come at a sensitive time,

0:21:120:21:15

so we just wanted to acknowledge that, we're really aware of that,

0:21:150:21:18

and we've come with some fun and just to share our voices,

0:21:180:21:22

share our singing with you, and hopefully inspire you

0:21:220:21:24

and give you something to focus on during a very, very difficult time.

0:21:240:21:28

# I don't know what it is that makes me love you so. #

0:21:280:21:31

When Gareth came down to us, it was a really difficult time

0:21:310:21:35

then, and we just basically felt lost, we didn't know what to do,

0:21:350:21:38

we didn't know where to go, but we needed somebody to keep us

0:21:380:21:41

together basically, and he did that job.

0:21:410:21:43

# ..I only wanna be with you. #

0:21:450:21:47

Over the weeks, Gareth and his two new choirs

0:21:470:21:50

rehearsed in preparation for their first performance together -

0:21:500:21:55

singing at Plymouth's annual Armed Forces Day.

0:21:550:21:57

The first time we sang at Armed Forces Day on Plymouth Hoe,

0:22:040:22:08

the majority of us were holding hands, there was three

0:22:080:22:11

in a row, all of us shaking like leaves, thinking, "Oh my god, what are we doing?"

0:22:110:22:17

# You and I must make a pact

0:22:210:22:26

# We must bring salvation back

0:22:260:22:30

# Where there is love

0:22:300:22:34

# I'll be there. #

0:22:340:22:36

People did come up to us in the end and said,

0:22:360:22:38

"You were fantastic," and to hear recognition, and all our hard work

0:22:380:22:43

had come about, was lovely, it's such a feeling, even the children

0:22:430:22:46

were saying, "You were fantastic, brilliant!"

0:22:460:22:49

# Because you're amazing, just the way you are. #

0:22:500:22:56

It's a phenomenal feeling, I can't explain it,

0:23:030:23:06

it's so nice, all of us came together,

0:23:060:23:10

it was awesome.

0:23:100:23:12

It's combined all of us and we're one big team now.

0:23:120:23:15

It's just a really good feeling, so bring on the next one.

0:23:150:23:19

You've got all these women able to sing well, it's so potent,

0:23:200:23:24

it makes me think bigger, do more, more of this, it's really,

0:23:240:23:28

really strong.

0:23:280:23:30

For the Chivenor wives, there were two more months before their husbands returned home.

0:23:370:23:42

Good, well done.

0:23:420:23:44

Simple.

0:23:450:23:47

'It's really moving to hear how far they've come for me,

0:23:490:23:52

'because they're investing so much energy in this,

0:23:520:23:55

'and there's emotion in their singing now.'

0:23:550:23:57

Well done, absolutely astonishing.

0:24:040:24:07

It's a very emotional time for them because we can see the end, but there's still a long way to go.

0:24:070:24:13

# The night is behind us

0:24:130:24:16

# And black are the waters. #

0:24:160:24:20

You're frustrated because you want them to be home,

0:24:200:24:22

and it's like that last bit of your pregnancy where you're just

0:24:220:24:25

miserable, you want the baby to come, that's what it's like.

0:24:250:24:29

I don't even know what I'm going to say to him,

0:24:290:24:32

probably just how much I love him.

0:24:320:24:35

Tired now, bored, we need Daddy now.

0:24:370:24:41

The girls have done really well, they have.

0:24:410:24:45

We've had our moments,

0:24:450:24:47

you know, like every family going through this.

0:24:470:24:51

It's the uncertainty. It's so hard to go through this kind of thing

0:24:540:24:59

when you have no control over a situation.

0:24:590:25:01

You can't relax until they're on that plane,

0:25:010:25:04

until you know they've left that country.

0:25:040:25:06

To help the women get through this time, Gareth wanted them

0:25:090:25:12

to have something special to look forward to.

0:25:120:25:15

You need to keep Saturday 12th November free because you are going,

0:25:180:25:24

and it gives me huge excitement to tell you,

0:25:240:25:27

we're going to perform at the Festival of Remembrance, which is...

0:25:270:25:31

at the Royal Albert Hall.

0:25:310:25:33

GASPS

0:25:330:25:35

More than that, it's live on BBC One.

0:25:350:25:38

MORE GASPS

0:25:380:25:39

And more than that...

0:25:390:25:40

Take That are coming!

0:25:400:25:42

It's not Take That, no, no. It's in front of the Royal Family.

0:25:440:25:48

GASPS OF DISBELIEF

0:25:480:25:51

We whooped, then broke down in tears, as it's something so personal.

0:25:510:25:54

We couldn't believe a building so iconic and so fabulous

0:25:540:25:58

and they were going to let us go and sing in there.

0:25:580:26:02

This is as big as it gets...

0:26:020:26:04

I want this to be the best thing you've ever done,

0:26:040:26:07

I want it to be a very proud moment.

0:26:070:26:08

I've said, "This is the biggest thing I've ever done," so many times,

0:26:080:26:11

but this is the biggest thing I've ever done in my life.

0:26:110:26:14

This is absolutely huge, because it's of national importance

0:26:140:26:19

and national significance.

0:26:190:26:20

Nothing else I've done has felt like that.

0:26:200:26:23

In terms of getting their message across, and getting them understood, I can't think of anything better.

0:26:230:26:29

For the performance at the Royal Albert Hall, Gareth wanted to

0:26:300:26:33

have something specially composed.

0:26:330:26:35

-Hello, Paul.

-Hi.

0:26:350:26:37

He visited Paul Mealor,

0:26:370:26:38

who'd written the main piece for the Royal Wedding.

0:26:380:26:41

The reason I contacted you was that I could not find the right piece,

0:26:410:26:45

so it's trying to find a line between something that is moving

0:26:450:26:48

and does speak and is about remembrance, but also about celebration.

0:26:480:26:51

I knew Paul could write music for them,

0:26:510:26:54

but I wanted something about it to be from them,

0:26:540:26:58

from their hearts, so going to their letters seemed the obvious choice.

0:26:580:27:02

For the lyrics,

0:27:020:27:03

Gareth had asked the women to provide lines from personal letters.

0:27:030:27:07

It might be old fashioned now, but I put perfume on all my letters

0:27:070:27:11

and parcels and will always put lipstick on and kiss the back.

0:27:110:27:16

"Miss you, today, tomorrow and always.

0:27:160:27:18

"I miss you with each passing second,

0:27:180:27:20

"And I count every single one, knowing that as each one passes me

0:27:200:27:23

"it brings me another second closer to you.

0:27:230:27:26

"I love you more."

0:27:270:27:29

-Any others?

-I don't want to read mine out.

0:27:290:27:32

You can't read it out?

0:27:320:27:33

"Keep my heart safe, my love, for I send it away with you.

0:27:330:27:37

"Hold it close, and now I'm with yours."

0:27:370:27:39

Thank you very much.

0:27:390:27:42

"There are no goodbyes to us,

0:27:420:27:43

"wherever you are, you are always in my heart."

0:27:430:27:45

-It's on my bracelet my husband got me for my birthday.

-That's lovely, great.

0:27:450:27:49

These letters, it could be the last letter you

0:27:490:27:52

read from your husband...

0:27:520:27:54

and to put this into a song is...

0:27:540:27:57

Oh, God.

0:27:590:28:00

With the men's return date getting ever closer,

0:28:020:28:05

the wives' thoughts turned to their husbands.

0:28:050:28:09

He's been gone 28 weeks tomorrow, so, yeah,

0:28:090:28:12

that's our little chart there of how long he's been gone.

0:28:120:28:16

-Try again, shall we?

-Yeah.

0:28:180:28:21

I can't wait to have him back, I can't wait to start life again.

0:28:210:28:24

It's not until they're on their way home that you realise you've been on pause for the last six months.

0:28:240:28:31

I thought it would be easier,

0:28:310:28:33

cos it's not the first time he's been away,

0:28:330:28:35

but, I don't know, maybe the feelings get stronger. I've just missed him immensely.

0:28:350:28:42

The blue is the weeks he's been away. Today, Thursday,

0:28:420:28:46

when he comes back, home will be written right there.

0:28:460:28:49

In September, following a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan,

0:28:560:29:00

250 Chivenor men and women came home, where they were reunited with their loved ones.

0:29:000:29:07

Families, friends and children and post and teas and coffees

0:29:070:29:10

are through there, thank you very much, welcome back, you're now released.

0:29:100:29:14

Daddy!

0:29:270:29:29

Daddy!

0:29:300:29:31

Daddy!

0:29:330:29:35

It's always good to be home,

0:29:430:29:46

especially after a tour that's been this long.

0:29:460:29:48

It's probably been the longest, hardest tour I've done, so it's always good to get home.

0:29:480:29:53

Let's take Daddy home.

0:29:570:29:58

Being able to take your child to say, "Look, Daddy's home, he's here,

0:30:000:30:03

"it's for you," you know your family is going to be complete again,

0:30:030:30:07

and it's just a lovely feeling to think we're all back together,

0:30:070:30:10

we're all safe and we can just have fun together now.

0:30:100:30:14

In Plymouth, many of the choir's husbands were still away fighting.

0:30:140:30:20

To help take the wives' minds off things,

0:30:220:30:24

Gareth decided that they would be the first to hear the new song.

0:30:240:30:29

I've got here a document that I sent to Paul Mealor,

0:30:290:30:34

and it's all your letters typed up, and he then created a poem out of them, out of the sentiments,

0:30:340:30:40

and out of lots of the words.

0:30:400:30:42

In particular, the title of it comes from a bracelet that

0:30:420:30:46

one of the women at Chivenor has around her wrist

0:30:460:30:48

that was given to her by her husband.

0:30:480:30:50

It says, "Wherever you are, you are always in my heart."

0:30:500:30:54

The title of the piece is...

0:30:540:30:56

Wherever You Are.

0:30:560:30:58

As soon as I got the song from Paul Mealor, I was so excited,

0:30:580:31:01

it was so evidently their song, it was all their words,

0:31:010:31:04

and it was imbued with their spirit and I couldn't wait to share it with them.

0:31:040:31:09

# Wherever you are

0:31:090:31:14

# My love will keep you safe... #

0:31:140:31:17

I don't know whether there has ever been a song quite so personal.

0:31:170:31:21

That song was...our song.

0:31:230:31:25

GARETH: I'm going to let you take over in a minute!

0:31:250:31:28

We've got one in tears already.

0:31:280:31:30

Two in tears. I'm so sorry.

0:31:310:31:33

The rehearsal where I sang Wherever You Are to Plymouth

0:31:330:31:36

for the first time was one of the most emotional

0:31:360:31:39

rehearsals of all, cos they'd had a very difficult day, there'd been

0:31:390:31:42

funerals of soldiers who'd been sent back from Afghanistan.

0:31:420:31:45

It sounds like it's from everyone's hearts,

0:31:450:31:49

and it just brings everything into perspective,

0:31:490:31:52

it doesn't matter what you're doing during the day,

0:31:520:31:54

someone's loved one is out working in this war...

0:31:540:31:59

when they should be at home with their families, and they're not.

0:31:590:32:03

# Light up the fire. #

0:32:030:32:06

GARETH: I mean immediately, the second they heard it, they loved it,

0:32:060:32:09

they started to sing it, there was a real enthusiasm, they also knew

0:32:090:32:13

that it was going to be a challenge to sing that song in that context.

0:32:130:32:17

With the Royal Albert Hall concert just three weeks away,

0:32:190:32:22

Gareth now had the most challenging task of all -

0:32:220:32:25

to find someone brilliant enough to perform the solo.

0:32:250:32:28

The women are coming to audition for the solo for the Royal Albert Hall.

0:32:300:32:33

This is the Officers' Mess, because I wanted to come somewhere

0:32:330:32:36

unfamiliar to them, because that's what they'll have to do at the Royal Albert Hall.

0:32:360:32:40

This is like the pinnacle of nervousness at the moment.

0:32:400:32:43

I can't put my hands over because they're shaking.

0:32:430:32:46

Every time they're near me, I'm like, "Oh, God..."

0:32:460:32:48

It's a massive gig, MASSIVE..

0:32:480:32:51

I would struggle to stand up

0:32:510:32:53

and sing to that many people, I really would.

0:32:530:32:55

Bring in the troops!

0:32:570:33:00

Go on, Donna!

0:33:000:33:01

1-2-3.

0:33:060:33:08

# Wherever you are... #.

0:33:080:33:12

# My love will keep you safe... #

0:33:120:33:15

# My heart will build a bridge of light... #

0:33:150:33:19

# Across both time and space. #

0:33:190:33:23

Good.

0:33:230:33:25

# Wherever I am... #

0:33:250:33:29

I've forgotten the bloody words!

0:33:290:33:31

Seven, eight, nine. I've now heard nine,

0:33:310:33:34

and no-one is ready for the Queen.

0:33:340:33:39

Next!

0:33:390:33:40

# Wherever you are, my heart... #

0:33:400:33:43

Oh, I don't even know the words, sorry!

0:33:430:33:46

That day of the audition was horrendous.

0:33:460:33:51

I just totally messed it up.

0:33:510:33:54

For Sam, it wasn't just her nerves that made the audition difficult.

0:33:550:33:59

My mum was recently involved in an accident with a car

0:34:000:34:06

and is now in a high dependency unit.

0:34:060:34:09

It was very emotional for me, I had these happy thoughts

0:34:090:34:12

that my husband's came home to me and the children, safe and sound,

0:34:120:34:15

and then my mum is in intensive care, I just couldn't get my head

0:34:150:34:21

around it and then I'm auditioning for the biggest solo of my life,

0:34:210:34:27

and I think, because of the emotion, I could really put it into the song

0:34:270:34:32

and really put it into the solo.

0:34:320:34:34

-Sam!

-Yes?

0:34:340:34:36

-Take two!

-Yes, take two.

0:34:360:34:38

All is forgiven. It's all fine.

0:34:380:34:41

# Wherever you are

0:34:430:34:47

# My love will keep you safe

0:34:470:34:50

# My heart will build a bridge

0:34:500:34:52

-# Of light across both time and space.

-#

0:34:520:34:57

Good, Sam, look, my only worry is, just, could you handle the pressure?

0:34:570:35:02

-I have my reasons for wanting it, sorry.

-It's all right.

0:35:020:35:04

I want to do it for my mum, because I know she'd be so proud of me...

0:35:040:35:09

-Sorry.

-That's all right, come on.

0:35:110:35:13

We have a very important announcement today

0:35:160:35:19

and I know you're all expecting it, this is the announcement of the solo.

0:35:190:35:23

I'm not going to beat around the bush too much, I'm going to get

0:35:230:35:27

straight to it.

0:35:270:35:28

I honestly, hand on heart, didn't think I was going to get it...ever, in a million years.

0:35:280:35:33

I would like the soloist to be Sam.

0:35:330:35:36

Very well done to Sam.

0:35:420:35:44

I believe you go through things to make you who you are

0:35:440:35:47

and that is definitely one of those situations that not only

0:35:470:35:51

changes you, but makes you as a person.

0:35:510:35:53

They're here, they're here, this is it.

0:36:000:36:03

-Hi!

-Hello!

0:36:030:36:04

Are we excited?

0:36:040:36:06

Yes!

0:36:060:36:07

Come on, let's go. This is it!

0:36:070:36:10

-This is the Albert Hall. It's quite big, isn't it?

-Massive!

0:36:100:36:14

Ladies!

0:36:220:36:24

What can I say? We are one choir tonight,

0:36:240:36:27

and it's one choir that speaks to all the military wives in the country.

0:36:270:36:31

This is it, enjoy, it's going to be great, yes?

0:36:310:36:33

-Yes!

-Fantastic.

0:36:330:36:35

The Queen's in, the Royal Family are in

0:36:460:36:48

and as soon as this finishes, it's just me and the ladies.

0:36:480:36:53

The nerves have started and the butterflies are going now.

0:36:530:36:59

This is like Christmas morning!

0:36:590:37:01

It's better than Christmas, Nicky!

0:37:010:37:03

There's only 5,000 people in there!

0:37:050:37:08

And six million on television!

0:37:090:37:11

Petrified! Absolutely petrified! I think

0:37:160:37:19

I'm going to fall over or something.

0:37:190:37:21

And I keep forgetting the words!

0:37:210:37:23

We're ready. Ladies! Stand by.

0:37:230:37:26

It all comes down to this.

0:37:280:37:31

'It was extremely frightening,'

0:37:310:37:33

the sort of fear that gets to your toes and works its way upwards.

0:37:330:37:38

I could barely stand still, every part of my body was quivering.

0:37:400:37:46

I was quaking.

0:37:460:37:48

# Ooooooh! #

0:37:570:38:02

The adrenalin just hit, and it was euphoria just doing it.

0:38:020:38:06

I really put my heart into that, for all sorts of reasons.

0:38:060:38:11

# Wherever you are

0:38:110:38:13

# My love will keep you safe

0:38:130:38:16

# My heart will build a bridge. #

0:38:160:38:18

I think that was the pinnacle of me finding my confidence.

0:38:180:38:22

It was a journey all the way through for me.

0:38:220:38:25

If you can't say you're confident after that

0:38:250:38:27

then there's something wrong with you.

0:38:270:38:29

# Light up the darkness

0:38:290:38:32

# My wondrous star. #

0:38:320:38:35

Obviously, singing needs emotion and my god, did we have emotion?!

0:38:350:38:40

# Light up the darkness. #

0:38:420:38:45

Very, very, very proud and I think our husbands were, too,

0:38:450:38:49

it's just unbelievable.

0:38:490:38:52

# May your courage never cease. #

0:38:520:38:56

It was only towards the end of the song that I started to look up

0:39:040:39:07

and think I'm in the Royal Albert Hall, the Queen is behind me,

0:39:070:39:10

the whole of the Royal Family, the entire military establishment

0:39:100:39:14

is here and they are listening to the Military Wives Choir,

0:39:140:39:17

these women have a voice, they are being heard right now.

0:39:170:39:20

You did so well, that took real spine, and with everything that's

0:39:290:39:32

-going on for you, I don't know how you did it.

-I loved it, I absolutely loved it.

0:39:320:39:36

I'm so proud of you all.

0:39:390:39:42

It was beautiful. Very many congratulations.

0:39:420:39:45

Following the Albert Hall, I waved them off in the coach

0:39:450:39:48

and I was convinced that that was the end, but actually,

0:39:480:39:51

that turned out to be the beginning.

0:39:510:39:54

We got a phone call, not even a couple of days later,

0:39:540:39:57

saying, "Right, ladies, you're coming back to London,

0:39:570:40:00

you're recording Wherever You Are as a single,

0:40:000:40:02

and I think our jaws literally dropped.

0:40:020:40:04

The single was to be released just before Christmas to raise

0:40:060:40:10

money for the Royal British Legion and SSAFA,

0:40:100:40:14

the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.

0:40:140:40:17

I think for us, the only way we could do it

0:40:170:40:20

is if we were raising money for military charities,

0:40:200:40:23

I think it's the only way you could justify it, it's such a big deal, it's so important.

0:40:230:40:27

I am so excited,

0:40:270:40:29

I've been wanting to do this for so long,

0:40:290:40:31

and it's finally happening, it's great.

0:40:310:40:34

The mood in that studio was joyous, they thought they were a rock band,

0:40:340:40:37

it was hilarious seeing them all with headphones

0:40:370:40:40

and just enjoying being in the studio.

0:40:400:40:42

Two-three-four...

0:40:420:40:44

# Wherever you are

0:40:440:40:47

# Our hearts still beat as one

0:40:470:40:50

# I hold you in my dreams each night

0:40:500:40:54

# Until your task is done. #

0:40:540:40:57

Actually, very good.

0:40:570:40:59

All day long we'd been building up this track, bit by bit,

0:40:590:41:02

and then to go into that booth and stand next to the women

0:41:020:41:05

and hear it so beautifully recorded was wonderful,

0:41:050:41:09

because that's how I wanted it to sound, it was the sound that I'd

0:41:090:41:12

been trying to draw out of them and it was just electrifying.

0:41:120:41:17

Everybody was in tears as it just sounded beautiful,

0:41:200:41:25

and that's the only way you can describe it, it just sounded

0:41:250:41:28

so...

0:41:280:41:31

hauntingly beautiful, and to think that that's our voices.

0:41:310:41:34

It sounded amazing, I didn't stop shaking, I didn't stop crying.

0:41:400:41:45

I truly did say, "My god, we sound like angels."

0:41:450:41:49

I never thought in my wildest dreams we would ever, ever accomplish

0:41:500:41:54

something like that, and I'm so proud of us.

0:41:540:41:56

After the recording of the single, things started to snowball.

0:42:060:42:10

It went from feeling really small, and even singing for the Queen

0:42:100:42:15

at the Albert Hall, it felt small in some ways, then it exploded

0:42:150:42:20

at the press launch, everyone was interested, every single newspaper,

0:42:200:42:25

every single news outlet, it just suddenly seemed to be global.

0:42:250:42:29

Salute the camera!

0:42:290:42:30

This is big, fantastic, we never thought we'd sing on Plymouth Hoe,

0:42:330:42:37

never thought we'd go to the Albert Hall, now there's a record,

0:42:370:42:41

we were on This Morning, it's lovely, absolutely fantastic,

0:42:410:42:45

so where will this all stop?!

0:42:450:42:47

Don't get excited, but recent development -

0:42:470:42:50

apparently we are now favourites ahead of X-Factor.

0:42:500:42:54

It's very, very exciting news.

0:42:550:42:57

Number one favourite, now, for Christmas, it's so exciting,

0:42:570:43:00

I cannot believe it.

0:43:000:43:01

It's just insane, it's crazy.

0:43:010:43:03

OK, one, two, three...

0:43:030:43:04

-ALL:

-Cheese!

0:43:040:43:06

It's all still really surreal, it's just like any minute now

0:43:060:43:09

I'm going to wake up and be back to normal,

0:43:090:43:11

having my normal life again.

0:43:110:43:13

It's crazy.

0:43:130:43:14

Just a few months ago they were simply wives and mothers,

0:43:140:43:17

living on a military base while their husbands were away fighting.

0:43:170:43:21

Please welcome Gareth Malone.

0:43:210:43:23

And the Military Wives.

0:43:230:43:26

I mean, it got so big that we went to places that

0:43:260:43:29

I never dreamed of going.

0:43:290:43:31

After weeks of media appearances,

0:43:310:43:33

the choir were invited to perform at a celebration,

0:43:330:43:36

held at Number 10 Downing Street, in honour of returning servicemen.

0:43:360:43:39

Follow me!

0:43:390:43:41

Listen, ladies, we are going to work our way through,

0:43:410:43:44

this is my last chance to talk to you before you go and sing.

0:43:440:43:47

How do I even say, we started in Chivenor, got to Plymouth

0:43:470:43:51

and now look where we are. Absolutely amazing,

0:43:510:43:54

so, just take a deep breath...

0:43:540:43:58

..get strong in the spine

0:43:580:44:00

and really go for this. Make me proud. Let's go for it.

0:44:000:44:03

What was so wonderful about standing in Number 10 is the significance of the place,

0:44:040:44:08

it's beyond politics, hearing the man

0:44:080:44:10

in that office who is responsible for the country, acknowledging these

0:44:100:44:16

women, was of huge significance, no matter what political background you're from.

0:44:160:44:21

I think we should remember the huge pressure that families are put under

0:44:210:44:25

with the service life that you've chosen, and the nation owes you a very big thank you for what you do.

0:44:250:44:30

A big thank you from me, a very warm welcome here to Number 10 Downing Street,

0:44:300:44:34

and now let's hear from the real talent, the Military Wives Choir.

0:44:340:44:37

Over to you!

0:44:370:44:39

CHEERS

0:44:390:44:40

# Oooooh. #

0:44:400:44:46

There's men in there, and wives, who have just literally came back from Libya

0:44:460:44:50

and they've not even seen their own families yet, and they're here to see us,

0:44:500:44:54

it's such a privilege and an honour to be here.

0:44:540:44:59

Sorry, it's quite emotional.

0:44:590:45:01

One man came up to me after the performance and said,

0:45:010:45:04

"I've been in the military for 15 years and I've never been

0:45:040:45:07

"moved to tears and I just cried through that performance."

0:45:070:45:10

There was something extraordinary in the air that day.

0:45:100:45:12

# My heart will build a bridge of light across both time and space. #

0:45:120:45:17

For the first time they're seeing it from the flip side -

0:45:170:45:21

one of the officers said, "For the first time

0:45:210:45:23

"I'm seeing it from my wife's perspective.

0:45:230:45:26

"I've never seen it before.

0:45:260:45:28

"Now I actually feel what she goes through."

0:45:280:45:31

People in the crowd, men, women in tears. Absolutely sobbing,

0:45:310:45:34

and it just blew me away.

0:45:340:45:36

I mean, this is the best thing I've ever done, absolutely.

0:45:390:45:44

It's incredible. How am I going to top this?

0:45:440:45:49

Then on Christmas Day, the unthinkable happened.

0:45:490:45:52

"The Military Wives are the Christmas number one."

0:45:520:45:56

Now, the moment you've all been waiting for, your Christmas number one -

0:45:560:45:59

it's Military Wives.

0:45:590:46:00

Wherever You Are sold over 556,000 copies in its first week.

0:46:020:46:07

Crazy experience was Christmas Day, we got the Christmas number one,

0:46:070:46:11

then having champagne

0:46:110:46:13

and celebrating, photos taken from newspapers, then an hour later

0:46:130:46:18

back at home cooking Christmas dinner,

0:46:180:46:21

washing the pots and clearing up and falling asleep on the sofa

0:46:210:46:24

like everyone else on Christmas Day.

0:46:240:46:27

Following its success in the charts, the single reached another milestone.

0:46:270:46:32

In October 2012, Wherever You Are was nominated for a Classical Brit.

0:46:320:46:38

With so many fantastic singles to choose from I'm surprised the judges

0:46:380:46:43

even managed to choose a shortlist,

0:46:430:46:45

let alone a winner...

0:46:450:46:47

When I heard we'd been nominated for a Classical Brit,

0:46:470:46:50

again it comes down to, "Is this really us?"

0:46:500:46:53

You really want to pinch yourself.

0:46:530:46:55

..so let's take a look at this year's nominees.

0:46:550:46:58

To win they had to beat singles from some of the best known names in the classical world.

0:46:580:47:02

Other people nominated in the same category, it was like Pavarotti.

0:47:020:47:06

Crazy, this is like, world famous...

0:47:060:47:10

and the Military Wives.

0:47:100:47:13

It takes a while to sink in.

0:47:130:47:15

And the winner of the Classic Brit Single of the Year is...

0:47:170:47:22

and I'm excited about this -

0:47:220:47:25

Wherever You Are by the Military Wives with Gareth Malone.

0:47:250:47:28

Not only had Wherever You Are been a Christmas number one,

0:47:300:47:33

it was now also an award winner.

0:47:330:47:35

We were proud of Gareth that night, and glad that he got that award.

0:47:370:47:41

He was the one that started all this,

0:47:430:47:45

he was the one that got all these military wives together

0:47:450:47:49

to sing that song.

0:47:490:47:51

Thank you very much for this.

0:47:510:47:52

I, of course, think that this entirely belongs to the wives of

0:47:520:47:57

Chivenor and the wives of Plymouth, and their fine, fine achievement.

0:47:570:48:02

Long may they continue to sing.

0:48:020:48:05

For our song to win the Classical Brit, that's really special, I'm glad we could give him

0:48:050:48:11

something back for what he's given to us.

0:48:110:48:14

I didn't think that 50 women from Chivenor would change my life,

0:48:140:48:17

I thought I knew how this would run and it's taken me

0:48:170:48:21

by surprise every single day.

0:48:210:48:23

After their success, the women of Chivenor

0:48:250:48:27

and Plymouth joined forces with other military wives choirs

0:48:270:48:30

to form a charitable foundation that has now helped establish 75 choirs.

0:48:300:48:35

It gives you great friendships,

0:48:350:48:38

it gives you a great support network

0:48:380:48:41

and it gives you great happiness through singing.

0:48:410:48:45

It can be quite a lonely life being an army wife,

0:48:450:48:49

so to go and join the choir has given me a new lease to be honest.

0:48:490:48:55

It's gone national, there are choirs up and down the country,

0:48:550:48:58

there's a foundation funded through the charity SSAFA

0:48:580:49:02

and there are choirs even abroad,

0:49:020:49:05

I'm pinching myself really.

0:49:050:49:07

The new choirs also brought in a wave of new voices which

0:49:100:49:13

Gareth would involve in future big events.

0:49:130:49:16

In June this year, Gareth and the Military Wives performed a new song written by Gary Barlow

0:49:200:49:26

and Andrew Lloyd-Webber at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

0:49:260:49:29

It was their biggest event so far.

0:49:290:49:33

It's like Christmas Day is going to come early.

0:49:330:49:35

It's not normal, is it, you're going to sing for the Queen with

0:49:350:49:39

Gary Barlow, in front of millions.

0:49:390:49:43

OK, everybody, for one performance only, the Commonwealth Band is here

0:49:430:49:47

and we're going to sing Sing. Please enjoy.

0:49:470:49:50

Alongside artists from the Commonwealth, Gareth had brought

0:49:510:49:54

together 50 women from across the choir network for the performance.

0:49:540:49:58

Going into any performance you feel a sense of nerves,

0:49:580:50:00

you feel a sense of excitement and it's all kind of mixed up.

0:50:000:50:03

But that day it was a real sense of responsibility,

0:50:030:50:09

I had to get it right.

0:50:090:50:11

It's all resting on me bringing them in at the right time -

0:50:110:50:15

that's intense.

0:50:150:50:18

One or two of the other choirs had never performed before.

0:50:180:50:21

Can you imagine how intense that must be for them?

0:50:210:50:24

# There's a place, there's a time in this life

0:50:240:50:28

# When you sing what you are feeling. #

0:50:280:50:34

Of course, you've got butterflies

0:50:340:50:36

because you want to get it right,

0:50:360:50:39

you want to nail it,

0:50:390:50:41

but you've got to do it, there's no turning back.

0:50:410:50:45

# Sing it louder, sing it clearer, knowing everyone will hear you... #

0:50:450:50:52

Singing Sing on that stage was very emotional

0:50:530:50:57

and I had to really pull myself together to not cry on stage,

0:50:570:51:01

because it was overwhelming, and the words are beautiful.

0:51:010:51:04

The Queen is my husband's boss, so that's a real proud moment.

0:51:070:51:13

To sing for the Queen was amazing,

0:51:130:51:15

and I'll never, ever forget the moments.

0:51:150:51:18

15 million people across the UK watched the choir perform that day.

0:51:230:51:27

Literally, you could feel, in your tummy,

0:51:330:51:36

a resonance of the crowd from the clapping,

0:51:360:51:39

to the shouting, to the singing along,

0:51:390:51:41

you could just feel this pump.

0:51:410:51:43

The noise, the clapping -

0:51:430:51:46

absolutely unbelievable.

0:51:460:51:48

You went off that stage, you were on cloud nine,

0:51:520:51:58

and we wanted to go back and do it again.

0:51:580:52:01

It was like, "Come on, let's do it again."

0:52:010:52:04

Days before the Jubilee, Gareth had returned to

0:52:120:52:15

the chapel in Chivenor, where it all began.

0:52:150:52:17

Babies screaming as usual.

0:52:200:52:23

CHOIR SINGS: "Fix You" by Coldplay

0:52:230:52:26

Sounds pretty good, actually.

0:52:270:52:29

Surprise!

0:52:310:52:32

EXCITED SCREAMS

0:52:320:52:34

Hello!

0:52:350:52:37

-Hello, I'm John.

-Nice to meet you.

0:52:370:52:39

-Sorry to interrupt your rehearsal.

-It's all right, pleasure to meet you.

0:52:390:52:42

-How are they doing?

-OK, they're rising to the challenge.

0:52:420:52:45

It's so good to be back, I can't believe I'm here.

0:52:450:52:48

-How are you?

-Very good, thank you.

0:52:480:52:51

-Missing you.

-Yeah, I've missed you, as well.

0:52:510:52:54

I have brought you a little gift.

0:52:540:52:57

-Pizza!

-No, it's not pizza in that box.

0:52:570:52:59

-Wine?

-No, it's not wine, either.

0:52:590:53:02

No, it's too early for shots. No, we're...

0:53:030:53:07

not going to the party.

0:53:070:53:10

I honestly cannot believe that I am here, from those humble beginnings

0:53:100:53:14

of singing in here and getting ready for the

0:53:140:53:17

Pannier Market in Barnstaple

0:53:170:53:19

and I am now about to present you

0:53:190:53:23

with a platinum disc.

0:53:230:53:24

Here it is.

0:53:240:53:26

So, "Presented to the Military Wives Choir Chivenor, to recognise sales

0:53:260:53:30

"in the United Kingdom of more than 600,000 copies."

0:53:300:53:35

If I'm absolutely honest, when I first heard it, and I listened and I thought,

0:53:350:53:41

I actually wondered if it was too much.

0:53:410:53:44

I wondered if it would be too much for you, if it would be right.

0:53:440:53:49

And then we had that moment, that first rehearsal,

0:53:490:53:52

when I first played it to you and, basically, you all cried.

0:53:520:53:55

LAUGHTER

0:53:550:53:56

And then I knew it was right.

0:53:560:53:58

Are you going to sing me a song?

0:53:580:54:01

# When you try your best but you don't succeed... #

0:54:070:54:13

There are ladies here that have come out of their shell

0:54:140:54:18

all because of this little man with glasses who came to visit us.

0:54:180:54:23

It has completely changed my life.

0:54:250:54:27

I will thank Gareth to the end of my days for what he has done.

0:54:270:54:31

He has given me a unity with friends, doing something that I love.

0:54:310:54:35

Obviously, everywhere that a military wife goes now

0:54:370:54:41

with her husband there should be a choir.

0:54:410:54:43

That didn't exist a year ago. And now it does.

0:54:450:54:50

We did it for ourselves, we did it for our sanity.

0:54:520:54:56

And now everybody can have that sanity,

0:54:560:55:00

everybody can have that sistership and they've got something to

0:55:000:55:04

look to when their husbands are away.

0:55:040:55:06

This was Gareth's dream and it's came true

0:55:100:55:13

and not many people can say their dreams have come true in life.

0:55:130:55:16

I don't even think I could express to Gareth how grateful

0:55:160:55:20

we all are for it, it's just, he's really changed our lives.

0:55:200:55:25

# Lights will guide you home

0:55:250:55:31

# And ignite your bones

0:55:310:55:37

# And I will try to fix you. #

0:55:370:55:43

Bloody hell, I promised myself I wasn't going to cry.

0:55:480:55:51

Well done, thank you.

0:55:530:55:54

We'd like to say thank you to you, too, Gareth, because for us...

0:55:540:55:59

-Stop it!

-Oh, no!

0:55:590:56:02

There's always one!

0:56:020:56:04

..well, for us, this has been a fantastic ride and a rollercoaster

0:56:040:56:08

for all of us, but the main thing that you've brought to us

0:56:080:56:11

is the friendship, we've just had a fantastic time,

0:56:110:56:16

and we've got 50-odd lifelong friends

0:56:160:56:19

that we're never going to forget because of you, so, thank you.

0:56:190:56:22

Group hug!

0:56:220:56:23

It has been unbelievable this last year,

0:56:230:56:27

the things that they have achieved have been mind blowing and

0:56:270:56:30

there is more to come. There's a bright future and a permanent

0:56:300:56:33

future, I hope, for military wives choirs, because none of the hullabaloo

0:56:330:56:37

and the excitement and the media and the photographs matter,

0:56:370:56:41

what matters is these women getting into a room when the chips are

0:56:410:56:44

down and their husbands are away and singing and being united by that.

0:56:440:56:49

# Wherever you are

0:56:530:56:56

# Our hearts still beat as one

0:56:560:56:59

# I hold you in my dreams each night until your task is done

0:56:590:57:05

# Light up the darkness

0:57:050:57:07

# My wondrous star

0:57:070:57:11

# Our hopes and dreams, my heart and yours, for ever shining far

0:57:110:57:17

# Light up the darkness

0:57:170:57:20

# My prince of peace

0:57:200:57:24

# May the stars shine all around you

0:57:240:57:26

# May your courage never cease. #

0:57:260:57:33

# Oooooh #

0:57:340:57:37

# May your courage never...

0:57:370:57:44

# Cease. #

0:57:440:57:48

Oh, it's flooded up, hasn't it... Bless.

0:57:570:58:01

To sing on that stage and sing that song, again,

0:58:010:58:05

but with a whole new bunch of ladies was just crazy

0:58:050:58:09

because it's still going on, and it means so much to them as well.

0:58:090:58:13

That means a lot to us as well, doesn't it,

0:58:130:58:15

it's quite magical, actually.

0:58:150:58:17

It's the story that's brought everybody together.

0:58:170:58:20

Cos we were the ones that told it, I suppose.

0:58:200:58:23

On it goes!

0:58:230:58:25

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