Children's choir sing at Festival of Remembrance

A North Yorkshire children's choir will sing later at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance in London.

Members of the Service Children's Community Choir will perform Bill Withers' song Lean On Me at the annual commemoration event at the Royal Albert Hall.

Children from schools around Catterick Garrison and the wider area make up the 32-strong group.

Angela Campbell, who founded the choir in 2018, said the youngsters were honoured to perform at such a “prestigious and poignant” event.

Campbell, who is the service children’s champion for North Yorkshire Council and chair of the Service Children’s Network, said: “The choir has very much become a family and we have been on lots of adventures together, but this is the adventure of a lifetime.

“Everything we do at the choir is centred on ensuring that children and young people from military-connected families feel valued and supported.

"Our team of music specialists build their confidence when performing and teach them a wide range of musical skills. The choir is supported by a number of volunteers from the local area.

“We shall wait to see them shine at the illustrious Royal Albert Hall.

"We know that the military community of North Yorkshire will be very proud of them all.”

The children are from Wensleydale School, Risedale School, St Francis Xavier School in Richmond, Richmond Methodist School, Wavell Junior School in Catterick Garrison, Le Cateau Community Primary School, Bolton On Swale Church of England Primary School in Richmond and Michael Syddall Church of England Primary School in Catterick.

The choir’s travel, food and accommodation costs have been covered by the Royal British Legion, and they have been given an extra £800 from North Yorkshire councillors’ locality budgets.

The authority’s armed forces champion, Kevin Foster, donated £500 and council leader Carl Les a further £300 to buy matching hoodies for the young people to wear on their trip.

Foster, who is a ward councillor for the Catterick Garrison area, said: “It has been really great to follow the children’s choir over the years and it is a very emotional experience.

“I have been very lucky to have been offered tickets by the Royal British Legion to attend and will be so proud watching the choir represent us all."

Les added: “This is a proud moment for the county and I was more than delighted to support this worthwhile cause with a donation from my locality budget to make the trip as memorable as possible.”

The Princess of Wales is to attend the festival, as she continues her return to public royal duties following her cancer treatment, alongside other senior members of the Royal Family.

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