What became of the wives wowedwho Britain?
The story of their choir has inspired a hit movie. But what happened to the Military Wives when the music stopped? Here they share their tales of love, loss and friendship . . .
NEW film Military Wives, starring Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, is based on the inspirational choir of the same name. The phenomenon bloomed into the Military Wives Choirs, a charity which supports 2,300 women from the military community in 76 choirs across the UK and abroad. Here, nine original members tell JILL FOSTER how they found their voices . . .
WE WERE FILMED AT OUR MOST VULNERABLE
NICKY sCOtt, 51, a teaching assistant and former sergeant in the Army, lives in Barnstaple, Devon, with husband George, 52, a Royal engineer, and their daughters Ginny, 18 and Isla, 16.
WHENEVER your loved one is deployed, you wonder whether you’ll ever see them again. In 2010, George’s regiment had just been sent to Afghanistan and it was a tough tour with several fatalities and serious injuries.
When I heard a choir was being set up, I leapt at the chance to join.
The TV cameras filmed us when we were scared, anxious and vulnerable but the crews were so sensitive. It was not always the women crying but the camera crews as well. One of my highlights was singing for the Queen at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s house in 2012. It was crazy. She was just sitting there on the sofa listening to us and smiling.
Another poignant moment was performing on Slapton Sands in 2015, where nearly 1,000 American Troops were killed in Operation Tiger, one of the rehearsals for D-Day. Many of the widows were
there and the moment we started singing We’ll meet Again, there wasn’t a dry eye. ten years on, i still get so much strength from the choir.
IT GAVE ME THE SUPPORT I NEEDED
Larraine Smith, 56, choir lead of Plymouth military Wives Choir, is married to Brandon, 59, who completed a career in the army and now serves in the royal artillery reserves. they have four daughters and four grandchildren. tHe choir has given me so much friendship that was hardly there before.
years ago, when i lived in Germany, i had a four-monthold baby and all the women were in their own cliques at coffee mornings. i felt uncomfortable and very lonely.
But years later, when i joined the choir it gave me a feeling of belonging.
i’ve lost several very close family members over the past decade and i’ve been hundreds of miles away from them, feeling completely useless. Getting a hug from someone at choir has really helped.
one of my personal highlights was becoming involved with a charity for homeless veterans. We sang christmas carols for them and donated gift bags. it’s been incredibly rewarding.
JOINING CHOIR CHANGED MY LIFE
meCheLLe SeLLerS, 52, is a teaching assistant and mother of three aged 19, 18 and 14. now separated from her partner, who serves in the royal marines, she lives in Plymouth.
WHeN friends told me about the choir, i said: ‘ No, it’s not my cup of tea.’ i’d never heard of Gareth malone and i didn’t sing but they persuaded me to go and i’m so glad i did. it changed my life.
Within three weeks, we were all going through a pretty scary time. our loved ones were on tour in Afghanistan and were being hit quite badly.
friends lost husbands and we were all nervous about the knock on the door.
After we performed at the royal Albert Hall, an elderly lady grabbed my hand and said: ‘i’m so proud of you girls, you’ve given us all a voice.’ i started crying and we had a hug. We’ve been to 10 downing street to sing for the Prime minister, we sang at twickenham and have appeared on this morning.
it felt surreal sometimes, singing for thousands at the o2, then coming home exhausted to cook meals and help with homework.
my partner and i split three years ago but he still lives nearby. the fact i’m no longer with him doesn’t mean i can’t be involved.
the choirs have now expanded to help mothers, sisters and ex-partners of military personnel.
I’VE MISSED TWO OF 120 CONCERTS
angeLa FyFFe, 53, lives in Catterick with husband mark, 50, who served in the
Scots guards and the military Provost guard Service (mPgS).
WHeN i joined our little choir of 12 other women in April 2010, i never imagined it would grow into such a phenomenon — or indeed that a film would be made.
i’ve met some wonderful ladies and performed at the royal Albert Hall and Abbey road. i’ve only ever missed two of 120 concerts and i rarely miss a rehearsal.
Army life can be stressful. i had some issues with one of my sons but there was always someone at choir who offered me a shoulder to cry on.
singing helps with emotional trauma. We have doctors and nurses who say it brings them a sense of relief after work.
i’m one of only three original members left in the catterick choir. it must be intimidating joining such an established group but we’re always very welcoming.
MUM ENCOURAGED ME TO JOIN IN
Sharon BriStoW, 44, co-founder of the military Wives Choirs charity, lives in north Devon with husband eric, 55, a royal marine. they have two children, William, 13, and isabelle, nine. my mum encouraged me to join the choir when eric was deployed. i was a little nervous but wanted my children to meet other children from military families.
After that first concert at the festival of remembrance, we all said goodbye to each other and thought that was it.
But a few days later we were asked if we’d record Wherever you Are.
the rest is history. We always knew other ladies could benefit from the choir experience which is why a small group of military wives volunteered to set- up the military Wives choirs foundation. Now we have a community supporting thousands of women. the choirs have created a sense of identity for them — they’re no longer ‘just the wife’.
MY SON HEARD ME IN AFGHANISTAN
Sam graham, 50, a teaching assistant, lives in norfolk with husband Kevin, 52, who served in the Light infantry. her three sons, Daniel, 29, Ben, 27, and Jake, 25, have also served — or are serving — in the military.
Before the choir started, there were times i felt very isolated. due to Kevin’s job, we’d sometimes receive calls in the middle of the night to say a soldier had been killed or seriously injured.
every time the phone rang, i feared the news was about one of my boys. But the choir instinctively knew when i was anxious and provided incredible support.
one of my most memorable performances was at a homecoming for troops in york minster. thankfully my son was flying back from Afghanistan but several families attending had sons and daughters who never returned. the most surreal experience
was when my son Dan messaged in 2012 to say he’d heard our choir’s version of the Coldplay song, Fix You, on Forces radio in Afghanistan. I got shivers down my spine.
I’ve moved from Catterick to Norfolk. I’ve now joined Marham Military Wives Choir. I’m proud to think our little choir in Catterick has left such a legacy.
WE MANAGED TO MAKE GARETH CRY
Beth trantham, 44, a nursery owner, lives in Barnstaple with husband nick, a royal marine Warrant Officer. they have three children between them aged 19 to 22.
ONe of my most memorable moments was when we sang a version of Abba’s Thank You For The Music to Gareth.
We changed the words for him and he had a little cry. Another highlight was performing at the Remembrance Service at the Royal Festival Hall in 2011 on my daughter’s birthday.
Gareth autographed a picture of himself and wrote: ‘Thank you for letting me borrow your mum!’
Later we sang at the Diamond
Jubilee. We met celebrities like Graham Norton, Paul McCartney, Ant and Dec, Robbie Williams, Chris evans and Gordon Ramsay — who were all lovely.
There are several moments in the film which came from our experiences — having children running around our feet in rehearsal, the scene where the ladies try their hand at knitting, and the fact that the choir wears jeans and white shirts for one of the concerts.
That’s what we wore for our first public appearance.
I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in the past decade. even today, when I sing the words to Wherever You Are (the song lyrics were made up from letters to and from those serving abroad) I’m singing them to Nick.
I WAS AT UNI DURING HUBBY’S FIRST TOUR
Lucy, 30, from Devon, serves in the army reserves, in the adjutant General’s corps. her husband, a 30-year-old royal marine commando, has to remain anonymous.
I WAS only 21 and still at university when my husband was deployed to Afghanistan. It was his first tour, so I had no idea what to expect and I was very anxious.
The choir helped distract us all from what turned out to be a difficult tour with many casualties. In rehearsals, our emotions were validated and we shared a sense of belonging.
I’ll never forget the first time that we all heard the lyrics of Wherever You Are read out in a rehearsal. They are words that every military family can connect to and it was very emotional.
We’ve had so many memorable moments over the last ten years. We have supported each other in the best and worst times.
WE SANG FOR THE QUEEN’S JUBILEE
JuLia miLLen, 60, a volunteer mentor, lives near catterick with husband nick, 61, who was a colonel in the royal Dragoon Guards and commander of catterick Garrison. the couple have four children between them and four grandchildren.
WOMeN are often left on their own when loved ones are deployed. As singing releases feelgood hormones, coming to the choir is a chance to do something for ourselves.
Over the last decade we’ve had great fun. My highlights include singing outside Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and recording Sing by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber, at Abbey Road in 2012.
I’m looking forward to seeing the film as much of it was filmed in Catterick Garrison. The choir are planning on singing outside the cinema beforehand.
I’d never heard of Gareth Malone but the choir changed my life. Our loved ones were in Afghanistan. Friends lost husbands. We were all nervous about the knock on the door
MECHELLE SELLERS