The Noteables Choir

Clarks on Lindsay Street, Dundee, June 18

One of Dundee’s best-loved pop songs, Mary’s Prayer by Danny Wilson, is at the forefront of a new charity drive to raise funds for Mary’s Meals.

The song, which peaked at number three in the UK singles chart in 1988 and is still played regularly on radio and TV, has been recorded as part of a video of the Dundee-based community choir, The Noteables.

The video sees them performing live in Dundee under the direction of musical director Julie Cleave, and has just been released on YouTube. Music fans will be able to hear the choir perform live at Clarks this Sunday.

Julie says the idea for the recording came about through one of the choir members whose work’s chosen charity is Mary’s Meals.

She explained: “Linda Melville, who has been with us from the beginning, came to us and asked if we wanted to do it. She works for Insights and they raise money for Mary’s Meals.”

The charity was formed by a Scottish farmer’s son, Magnus MacFarlaneBarrow, in 1992 when he organised a relief trip to help Bosnian refugees fleeing from the conflict in their country.

It became Mary’s Meals in 2012, providing school meals for starving children in Malawi. The song, Mary’s Prayer, speaks to its mission.

“We decided to ask Gary Clark (songwriter) for his permission; we didn’t want to do it without his agreement, and he said yes.”

Local arts and entertainment company, The Magic Box, produced the video while Julie arranged the song for the choir.

Julie, who sings lead vocals with Dundee funk band the The Funkin’ Idiots and is also a member of Alice Marra’s Gaels Blue Orchestra, started the choir a couple of years ago with her friend Wendy Forouhar, with a mission to “welcome anyone of any ability to come, live, laugh and sing”.

“Wendy was in the police choir and enjoyed that but she wanted to be a bit more involed in the community and a bit more relaxed in terms of the music.” Julie adds:

“We love performing in Clarks because it’s very relaxed in there and most of the choir aren’t really singers, so they like the atmosphere.”

The choir are also performing at Castle Green on Saturday, July 2 for Broughty Ferry Gala Week.

“Hopefully the shows should raise awareness of the video but we are aiming to raise money for the charity,” says Julie. “The target is £300, but the more we raise, the better.” The public can donate to the choir’s Just Giving page by following the link on their Facebook page.

The Notables have created a video featuring hit song, Mary’s Prayer, to raise money for Mary’s Meals.