A new single has been released in time for Christmas that it is hoped will raise thousands for service charities.
The song – 1914 The Carol of Christmas – celebrates the power of Christmas to bring peace in the midst of war and commemorates those who fought in the first world war.
Sung by an ensemble of military voices and soloists including Flight Lieutenant Matt Little, Abby Scott and twelve-year-old Canterbury Cathedral chorister and BBC Radio 2’s Young Chorister of the Year Finalist William Inscoe.
They are accompanied by the RAF Spitfire Choir, one of the RAF’s top vocal groups.
Proceeds from the song will be used by the RAF Benevolent Fund alongside Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Army charities.
A spokeswoman for the RAFBF in Moray said that there were high hopes of success for the single and with that much needed funding for charities that are doing much to care for service personnel and their families past and present.
People like Elgin man Mike McConnell, an RAF Police Dog handler for whom even a simple walk along the Lossiemouth beach with his dog Memphis brings pleasure after he was helped to rebuild his life by the RAFBF.
In 2011 Mick was on patrol in Afghanistan searching for IED’s when his dog Memphis momentarily left his side and Mick stepped on a mine. Even though the IED only partially exploded, it caused irreversible damage.
Mick’s left foot had been shattered in the explosion and back in England he spent a month recovering in hospital with five-inch pins keeping his foot together. Despite almost two years of rehabilitation, he is still on medication and last year took the decision to have his foot amputated.
It was during this time he contacted the RAF Benevolent Fund for a loan. This enabled him and his wife Lorna, a former Flight Sergeant, to buy a more suitable home in Elgin, close to family.
Mick said: “The fact that the Benevolent Fund has helped us to move from a house where it took me 10 minutes to get up and down the stairs to a home that’s easily accessible and close to family where we can get support, has made a huge difference to our lives.
“They’ve lifted this unbelievable weight from my shoulders.
“I didn’t know a lot about them until I was injured, but now I realise that they’re not a small cog in the wheel – they’re making a huge difference to people like me.”
The song is available for purchase now on iTunes, Amazon MP3 Store and Google Play with 100% of the profits from the sale of the recording going to the three military charities.