The Wychwood August 2012 Jubilee Moments Singing for the Queen Becky Marshall moved to Shipton from Hepden Bridge in 1993. Her parents now live in Ascott. She attended Burford School. After studying at Durham University Becky decided to ‘join up’ and passed out from Sandhurst Military Academy in 2008. She is now stationed at Catterick, teaching Gurkha recruits to learn English. Although not technically a ‘military wife’ she will be on August 26 th , when she marries Capt. Timothy Jarvis. Always ready to accept a challenge, Becky sang along with our local band ‘Ragged Edge’. Who would have thought it would lead to this?

When I joined the Lord Andrew Lloyd Military WAGS Webber we felt Choir in Catterick extremely privileged. last year, I thought One hundred women of it as an from ten different opportunity to re- Military Wives engage with a love Choirs were chosen of singing and to to travel to Abbey meet some of the Road to record the other ladies in the track, and three from Garrison. Twelve each choir were months later, I have invited to audition met and sung for for a solo. On the The Queen twice, night of the rehearsal, performed live in three of us were front of 250,000 lucky enough to be people, been picked by Gareth involved in two Malone to audition. I number one albums spent a restless night and a number one wondering how on single and worked alongside earth I could sing in front of the ‘king of and Andrew Lloyd Webber! musical theatre’!

Military WAGS Abbey Road The Catterick Militiary WAGS Choir was After an afternoon of recording in the set up by Nicky Clarke in April 2012. iconic Abbey Road, the three of us were journeyed to taken into a small studio where Lord and Chivenor to set up the Military Wives Lloyd Webber’s face peered down on choirs featured in the BBC series of The Skype from a TV screen on the wall (he Choir. This series culminated in the was in Broadway at the time). Gary Number One Christmas hit, Wherever You Barlow took the reins, encouraging us one Are. When our choir was approached to at a time to enter the studio and record the participate in the Commonwealth Jubilee phrases Gareth had picked for us. Song Sing written by Gary Barlow and Listening to the other two sing first was Continued on page 7 www.thewychwood.co.uk 5 The Wychwood August 2012 terrifying - my competitive spirit couldn’t Having been given the royal seal of face losing this chance of a lifetime. I approval, we were set to perform for the eventually sung my part and after what Jubilee Concert on the 4 th of June. seemed to be countless takes, we had finished. Jubilee Day After several TV Singing Solo appearances on a It was almost two number of breakfast weeks later when I shows, the day of finally heard that I reckoning arrived was one of two who and I made my way had been picked to with the other sing solo and that six military wives to of us had been Buckingham Palace. selected to sing for It was a nerve- Her Majesty’s 86 th wracking experience, private birthday party at Lord Andrew’s looking down the Mall and seeing crowds house. and flags galore, but I revelled in the Much to my horror I contracted a bout of chance to achieve my life-long dream. laryngitis only a week before the It was more performance - a invigorating than week-long vow of daunting, and I silence coupled with absolutely loved ample honey and every second of it. I lemon allowed me to was also lucky sing and I tentatively enough to be invited made my way to to the Royal line-up Sydmonton for the to meet the Queen event. (again!) meaning that With Gary and Lord Gareth Malone, the Andrew on the keys, we serenaded the other soloist and I were inches from the Queen with a preview of Sing , Happy biggest legends in the music industry. Birthday and enjoyed a sing-song around I am thrilled to say that I also achieved the piano late into the night. Gary singing another life-long goal: shaking Stevie A Million Love Songs would have had Wonder’s hand and telling him I loved some girls in tears and was just too surreal him! for words. Rebecca Marshall

A Roll In The Hay Another ‘Good Night Out’ is promised for Saturday 13 th October (not Friday 12 th as previously advertised) when Sunny Ormonde (aka Lilian Bellamy for all you Archers fans) will be performing in A Roll in the Hay at the New Beaconsfield Hall, Shipton. Tickets will be available in September from Lee at the hall: 01993 832422) or me: 01993 831134 or email [email protected] Gordon Halliday

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