Last year, I had only just turned eleven. I was already beginning to think about taking my SATs, and going into secondary school. My best friend, Ellie, was facing the same things as me. She understood me much better than a lot of girls, and she liked things I liked too. I love animals, and no surprise, she loved them too. We both went horse-riding (as a hobby), and we often enjoyed chatting about horses – sometimes playing make-believe games.
Every other pupil in my class thought we were both a bit nuts. My mum told me not to worry. My mum is Vanessa Murtagh, and I love her very much. “I love you all the way up to the moon and back…” is our little saying. It came from a book Mum bought me when I was little…well, little-er. To this day, I still have that book on my shelf, and from time to time I read it. I usually read it when I’m troubled and mum isn’t there. I’m like her lucky charm! I go with her wherever she goes.
Now, back to my friend Ellie. She was my lucky charm. She made me happy too. We could talk about stuff: girls’ stuff, without worrying. We understood each other. Every morning in the playground we’d run up to each other and hug. It was awesome to have a friend like that.
With two people like Ellie and Mum, I feel like I am on Cloud Nine (if it exists, of course). They make me stronger. And I believe I make them both stronger too. Well, if you think about it… we’re all Stronger Together.
Here is the video of Stronger Together on MSN exclusively until Saturday morning! Enjoy and let us know what you think! http://on-msn.com/OK6Tlv
Military Wives – Stronger Together music video video.uk.msn.com On the 13th September, around 650 members of the Military Wives Choirs travelled to London to launch their new album Stronger Together. This is the music video from that special day.
The last year has seen huge developments focussed on bringing Military Partners together and really showing the world that they are a force to be reckoned with. Being a part of the Royal Marine WAGs Calendar I have followed the MWC’s very closely and am so proud of their efforts, I know that without the girls that I met through the calendar I would not have survived my partner’s tour half as well as I did and the choir girls will no doubt feel the same. Lots of love and every success to you ladies – you deserve it!xxx
Here’s a shot from the Stronger Together music video with Gareth Malone. The amazing building is the wonderful Guards Chapel at the Wellington Barracks in London.
WOW, got goosebumps, so proud of my lovely daughter, one of the youngest MDs, and probably one of the smallest of choirs with 12 members, but a small link in a big and growing chain, you truly are stronger together, keep singing, keep smiling through, journey on. xx
My daughter is really enjoying being a member of the Dishforth MWC.Her son,Robert, wrote in this column,”a happy Mummy equals a happy family.”I can say that includes a happy Grandma. I know how much effort the choir members put into creating those beautiful harmonies.It is clear for all to see that they are delighted to have the opportunity to achieve something for themselves rather than just being the ones who wait. I am looking forward to hearing “Stronger Together” with tissues at the ready. Credit to them all.Their success is well deserved. A proud Mum and happy Grandma. Margaret Nelson in Spain
Im currently serving in the Royal Navy and have been in for 27 years, after a recent breakup in my marriage I thought my life was over. It was then that a beautiful shining star reappeared, someone I had not seen for over 25 years. She too had had difficulties in her life and was also struggling. We helped each other get through the dark days and smiled together at the good days too. I am proud to say she is now not only my best friend but also a very special person in my life. She is part of the Marchwood Military Wives Choir and her name is Liz. Since meeting her again I have a new direction and purpose in life and I know I have helped her too. We are Stronger Together and know whatever comes our way together we can deal with it. For Liz though joining the choir was I think a fantastic choice and I know she gets upset when she cannot attend rehersals!! it gives her a sense of direction and focus but also immense pride at being part of something really special, a real solid band of sisters who are always there for each other supporting each other no matter what! I am very proud to know Liz and the other ladies of the Military Wives Choirs. What you do is an inspiration to us all, thank you all for supporting not only your spouses when they are away but for helping and supporting all of your sisters and brothers around you. I think you are all “Stronger Together”
I was just a young one when my cousin met and married a soldier. I watched as he was deployed time and again wondering how she managed to do it, then just a year later I was fortunate enough to find out as I met my own young strapping soldier, and they just happened to be best mates. They went through training together and helped each other when times got tough. I soon learnt what it means to be an “army wife”. It can be hard and lonely while they are away. The difference was that I wasn’t alone as my cousin Tanya was right there next to me. We keep each other strong and if we can’t we have our beautiful children to give us a lift. It was Tanya who got me involved with the Marchwood military wives choir and I thank her for it every day. I have met some awesome ladies who Have become friends. It’s been a tough time getting started but we’ve all grown and become “stronger together” I couldn’t be without my ladies, especially my best friend Tanya McKechnie xxx love you millions xxx
The wives, husbands and partners have been a terrific support to me, in the last 10 months my work has completely over taken my life, all whilst my Father was recovering from a severe stroke. some spouses have helped me for just a few hours coming to my house to update the database others have put time and money into our business to help military spouses find work. But all of these men and women have helped me for no financial return and without them the business wouldn’t be the success it is today. There are far too many names to mention but I give a heartfelt thank you to them all. This business was created, grown and developed all by military spouses. They are the force behind the forces and the strength behind the strong amazing people, without a doubt we are #strongertogether
Im currently serving in the Royal Navy and have been in for 27 years, after a recent breakup in my marriage I thought my life was over. It was then that a beautiful shining star reappeared, someone I had not seen for over 25 years. She too had had difficulties in her life and was also struggling. We helped each other get through the dark days and smiled together at the good days too. I am proud to say she is now not only my best friend but also a very special person in my life. She is part of the Marchwood Military Wives Choir and her name is Liz. Since meeting her again I have a new direction and purpose in life and I know I have helped her too. We are Stronger Together and know whatever comes our way together we can deal with it. For Liz though joining the choir was I think a fantastic choice and I know she gets upset when she cannot attend rehersals!! it gives her a sense of direction and focus but also immense pride at being part of something really special, a real solid band of sisters who are always there for each other supporting each other no matter what! I am very proud to know Liz and the other ladies of the Military Wives Choirs. What you do is an inspiration to us all, thank you all for supporting not only your spouses when they are away but for helping and supporting all of your sisters and brothers around you. I think you are all “Stronger Together”
My stronger together story is about 2 lovely ladies, one called Carol and one called Susan. They have both been amazing friends to me since moving into the area, we all set up the local MW Choir together and we have shared a lot of laughs and many tears together! I was very unhappy in my last home, moving to the new place was very daunting but I soon made friends and have a fantastic bunch of ladies around me now thanks to these two! Love you guys xxx
Our son is an officer in the Royal Navy based in Portsmouth. Over the last few months he has brought into his and our lives a bright star called Alice. Alice is a member of the MWC and personifies all that this choir has brought to many many thousands, if not millions of people: strength, fun, happiness and caring. In her there is a compassion and genuineness that knows no bounds: like the choir. In her there is a soul that brings out so much good in people:like the choir. In her there is a depth of caring that reaches so deep and is so strong: like the choir. I raise my hat to all of you ladies and to Gareth who have single handedly made many lives a better place. Thank you so much. Jim and A McB.
Families can be funny things and non no more dysfunctional and separated than mine. I very recently lost my dad and I felt honour bound for him to try to re-unite us all for his day when we say our final farewell to him. I proposed to everyone, that for those that wished to do so, we went as a family to see dad to say our personal good byes at the funeral parlour and then come back to mine afterwards. This was not going to be an easy day in its own right and I was taking a risk gathering us all under the same roof; but something I felt I had to try to do for my dad. The invite was also extended to my dadâ
My story begins some 23 years ago when (you guessed it) I married a soldier. Having served for 12 years my husband and I decided it was time for a career change and we settled locally. Little did I know then, that all these years later, two of our three sons would also be serving soldiers. I joined Catterick choir last September and it has simply been one of the best things I have ever done. My eldest son deployed to Afghanistan last October and I foolishly thought I would somehow be OK with that. After all it’s not like I hadn’t experienced deployment and separation before. However sending one of your babies (all be it a 20 year old one) in to a war zone was a whole different ball game for me. Going to choir each week really lifted my spirits and gave me a focus and a whole new set of friends, who very much understood what I was going through. It was the small things that meant so much. Someone asking how you are, or any news this week really helped me to get through. Singing together is such a positive and uplifting experience and each week I always leave choir practice feeling very much better than when I arrived. In a few short weeks our second son will also be deploying. Knowing that I have the support of not only family and friends but now also the choir is a terrific boost. But it is actually much more than that. It is being there for one another through the good times and the not so good times with like minded women who truly understand. Without the choir I would have (ironically) felt very much isolated from the military community despite both living, working and having such close connections within it. Now I am most definitely part of it. Stronger together really sums it up!
I joined the Catterick choir about a year ago to try and get to know people having only moved to the area at the end of August. This year I have been privileged enough to have been given some amazing opportunities with the choir, including performing at the Queen’s Jubilee Concert in June. However, it was this summer I realised what the choir really meant to me. My husband deployed in July leaving me to try and entertain the children over the long summer holidays, ensure they both had memorable birthdays despite missing daddy and prepare my son for for his first day at school but thanks to the choir, I have never felt alone for long. Although there have been some difficult times and I have had some low moments, these were quickly allayed by hugs from the girls, an encouraging message on Facebook or the bunch of flowers left on my door step after a particularly bad weekend. I thought I might make one or two new friends through the choir, instead I feel like I have gained a whole new family.
My husband is due home shortly but many of our ladies are facing the Christmas period without their husbands/fiances/sons etc as our local Brigade has just deployed. Although they will miss them terribly, I know that the girls will lean on each other for support and it will make the next 6-months seem a little more bearable. We are, after all, #StrongerTogether.
Until “The Choir – Military Wives” programme my only experience of the life of a military family was through my long time friend, Sarah. I would get regular phone, text and email updates from her during her husbands overseas deployments. The sense of loneliness, worry and helplessness regularly came through. As well as the sheer madness of some of the situations she had to cope with alone while her husband was away. Unfortunately Sarah passed away the week before Christmas last year after a long illness. Such a shame as I know she would have loved something like a Military Wives Choir for support in the tough times. Stronger Together is a wonderful title for the album. Wonderful to hear there are so many MWCs set up across the UK forces community. And so easy to keep in touch with them via Facebook and Twitter where they have so many wonderful supporters! A true MWC family – Stronger Together.
My Mummy is in the Military Wives Choir in Dishforth. I feel very proud of her and we feel #StrongerTogether as Mummy enjoys choir and a happy Mummy equals a happy family.
Good Evening Gareth Malone & the Military Wives Choirs This is Peter Eames here I thought Tonight of all nights to share How your music has made me Stronger Together as one when The Troops Come Home from Afghanistan or Iraq I have stood shoulder to shoulder supporting the Troops when they March through the Towns & Cities of Wales and beyond I also Support Help for Heroes by Selling bracelets for this Charity and being Help for Heroes Representive for The Vale of Glamorgan Council and when I first heard Whereever you are I was Gobsmaked as I never thought A Choir was to be formed from Wives and Girlfriends of Serving Soldiers Gareth Malone is responsible for this and I thank you for getting this off the ground Now with over 50 Choirs and more forming This is what is Making me feel good and I had to be strong and brave when My Mum was ill in August She is making progress and Stronger Together would be an ideal Christmas present so I have ordered 2 Copies one is for my Mum and the other is for my friend & Career to thank him for his hard Work God Speed your Journey to the top at Christmas 2012 from Peter Eames
Posted by Mr Peter Eames Aged 45 from Cardiff in South Wales
I whole-heartedly agree with the comments by Larraine Smith.
Our mum is selfless, she always puts her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren first. She’s ALWAYS there when we need her.
We all love her.
Shaun (Larraine’s brother)
Last year, I had only just turned eleven. I was already beginning to think about taking my SATs, and going into secondary school. My best friend, Ellie, was facing the same things as me. She understood me much better than a lot of girls, and she liked things I liked too. I love animals, and no surprise, she loved them too. We both went horse-riding (as a hobby), and we often enjoyed chatting about horses – sometimes playing make-believe games.
Every other pupil in my class thought we were both a bit nuts. My mum told me not to worry. My mum is Vanessa Murtagh, and I love her very much. “I love you all the way up to the moon and back…” is our little saying. It came from a book Mum bought me when I was little…well, little-er. To this day, I still have that book on my shelf, and from time to time I read it. I usually read it when I’m troubled and mum isn’t there. I’m like her lucky charm! I go with her wherever she goes.
Now, back to my friend Ellie. She was my lucky charm. She made me happy too. We could talk about stuff: girls’ stuff, without worrying. We understood each other. Every morning in the playground we’d run up to each other and hug. It was awesome to have a friend like that.
With two people like Ellie and Mum, I feel like I am on Cloud Nine (if it exists, of course). They make me stronger. And I believe I make them both stronger too. Well, if you think about it… we’re all Stronger Together.
Having a riot with some of the Defence Academy MWC, watching the Wattisham MWC perform in Trafalgar Square makes you realise we are…Stronger Together!
A full morning of #play makes for a quiet afternoon. #strongertogether
I re-read his messages every night. It makes me miss him more, but it reminds me of the love we have. 63 days. #longdistance #strongertogether
Here is the video of Stronger Together on MSN exclusively until Saturday morning! Enjoy and let us know what you think! http://on-msn.com/OK6Tlv
Military Wives – Stronger Together music video
video.uk.msn.com
On the 13th September, around 650 members of the Military Wives Choirs travelled to London to launch their new album Stronger Together. This is the music video from that special day.
The last year has seen huge developments focussed on bringing Military Partners together and really showing the world that they are a force to be reckoned with. Being a part of the Royal Marine WAGs Calendar I have followed the MWC’s very closely and am so proud of their efforts, I know that without the girls that I met through the calendar I would not have survived my partner’s tour half as well as I did and the choir girls will no doubt feel the same. Lots of love and every success to you ladies – you deserve it!xxx
Here’s a shot from the Stronger Together music video with Gareth Malone. The amazing building is the wonderful Guards Chapel at the Wellington Barracks in London.
www.stronger-together.co.uk
WOW, got goosebumps, so proud of my lovely daughter, one of the youngest MDs, and probably one of the smallest of choirs with 12 members, but a small link in a big and growing chain, you truly are stronger together, keep singing, keep smiling through, journey on. xx
My daughter is really enjoying being a member of the Dishforth MWC.Her son,Robert, wrote in this column,”a happy Mummy equals a happy family.”I can say that includes a happy Grandma.
I know how much effort the choir members put into creating those beautiful harmonies.It is clear for all to see that they are delighted to have the opportunity to achieve something for themselves rather than just being the ones who wait.
I am looking forward to hearing “Stronger Together” with tissues at the ready.
Credit to them all.Their success is well deserved.
A proud Mum and happy Grandma.
Margaret Nelson in Spain
Big news! Some of the music video for #StrongerTogether will be premiered tomorrow (Thursday) morning on @Daybreak More info soon…
Im currently serving in the Royal Navy and have been in for 27 years, after a recent breakup in my marriage I thought my life was over. It was then that a beautiful shining star reappeared, someone I had not seen for over 25 years. She too had had difficulties in her life and was also struggling. We helped each other get through the dark days and smiled together at the good days too. I am proud to say she is now not only my best friend but also a very special person in my life. She is part of the Marchwood Military Wives Choir and her name is Liz. Since meeting her again I have a new direction and purpose in life and I know I have helped her too. We are Stronger Together and know whatever comes our way together we can deal with it.
For Liz though joining the choir was I think a fantastic choice and I know she gets upset when she cannot attend rehersals!! it gives her a sense of direction and focus but also immense pride at being part of something really special, a real solid band of sisters who are always there for each other supporting each other no matter what! I am very proud to know Liz and the other ladies of the Military Wives Choirs. What you do is an inspiration to us all, thank you all for supporting not only your spouses when they are away but for helping and supporting all of your sisters and brothers around you.
I think you are all “Stronger Together”
I was just a young one when my cousin met and married a soldier. I watched as he was deployed time and again wondering how she managed to do it, then just a year later I was fortunate enough to find out as I met my own young strapping soldier, and they just happened to be best mates. They went through training together and helped each other when times got tough. I soon learnt what it means to be an “army wife”. It can be hard and lonely while they are away. The difference was that I wasn’t alone as my cousin Tanya was right there next to me. We keep each other strong and if we can’t we have our beautiful children to give us a lift. It was Tanya who got me involved with the Marchwood military wives choir and I thank her for it every day. I have met some awesome ladies who Have become friends. It’s been a tough time getting started but we’ve all grown and become “stronger together” I couldn’t be without my ladies, especially my best friend Tanya McKechnie xxx love you millions xxx
The wives, husbands and partners have been a terrific support to me, in the last 10 months my work has completely over taken my life, all whilst my Father was recovering from a severe stroke. some spouses have helped me for just a few hours coming to my house to update the database others have put time and money into our business to help military spouses find work. But all of these men and women have helped me for no financial return and without them the business wouldn’t be the success it is today. There are far too many names to mention but I give a heartfelt thank you to them all. This business was created, grown and developed all by military spouses. They are the force behind the forces and the strength behind the strong amazing people, without a doubt we are #strongertogether
Im currently serving in the Royal Navy and have been in for 27 years, after a recent breakup in my marriage I thought my life was over. It was then that a beautiful shining star reappeared, someone I had not seen for over 25 years. She too had had difficulties in her life and was also struggling. We helped each other get through the dark days and smiled together at the good days too. I am proud to say she is now not only my best friend but also a very special person in my life. She is part of the Marchwood Military Wives Choir and her name is Liz. Since meeting her again I have a new direction and purpose in life and I know I have helped her too. We are Stronger Together and know whatever comes our way together we can deal with it.
For Liz though joining the choir was I think a fantastic choice and I know she gets upset when she cannot attend rehersals!! it gives her a sense of direction and focus but also immense pride at being part of something really special, a real solid band of sisters who are always there for each other supporting each other no matter what! I am very proud to know Liz and the other ladies of the Military Wives Choirs. What you do is an inspiration to us all, thank you all for supporting not only your spouses when they are away but for helping and supporting all of your sisters and brothers around you.
I think you are all “Stronger Together”
you can do it you have done it you will keep on doing it well done to all the choir and gareth love you all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My stronger together story is about 2 lovely ladies, one called Carol and one called Susan. They have both been amazing friends to me since moving into the area, we all set up the local MW Choir together and we have shared a lot of laughs and many tears together! I was very unhappy in my last home, moving to the new place was very daunting but I soon made friends and have a fantastic bunch of ladies around me now thanks to these two! Love you guys xxx
that one party that brought us together and a year later still going very strong! maddy my pride and joy ❤ #strongertogether #iloveyou
Our son is an officer in the Royal Navy based in Portsmouth. Over the last few months he has brought into his and our lives a bright star called Alice. Alice is a member of the MWC and personifies all that this choir has brought to many many thousands, if not millions of people: strength, fun, happiness and caring.
In her there is a compassion and genuineness that knows no bounds: like the choir.
In her there is a soul that brings out so much good in people:like the choir.
In her there is a depth of caring that reaches so deep and is so strong: like the choir.
I raise my hat to all of you ladies and to Gareth who have single handedly made many lives a better place.
Thank you so much.
Jim and A McB.
Families can be funny things and non no more dysfunctional and separated than mine. I very recently lost my dad and I felt honour bound for him to try to re-unite us all for his day when we say our final farewell to him.
I proposed to everyone, that for those that wished to do so, we went as a family to see dad to say our personal good byes at the funeral parlour and then come back to mine afterwards. This was not going to be an easy day in its own right and I was taking a risk gathering us all under the same roof; but something I felt I had to try to do for my dad. The invite was also extended to my dadâ
My story begins some 23 years ago when (you guessed it) I married a soldier. Having served for 12 years my husband and I decided it was time for a career change and we settled locally. Little did I know then, that all these years later, two of our three sons would also be serving soldiers. I joined Catterick choir last September and it has simply been one of the best things I have ever done. My eldest son deployed to Afghanistan last October and I foolishly thought I would somehow be OK with that. After all it’s not like I hadn’t experienced deployment and separation before. However sending one of your babies (all be it a 20 year old one) in to a war zone was a whole different ball game for me. Going to choir each week really lifted my spirits and gave me a focus and a whole new set of friends, who very much understood what I was going through. It was the small things that meant so much. Someone asking how you are, or any news this week really helped me to get through. Singing together is such a positive and uplifting experience and each week I always leave choir practice feeling very much better than when I arrived. In a few short weeks our second son will also be deploying. Knowing that I have the support of not only family and friends but now also the choir is a terrific boost. But it is actually much more than that. It is being there for one another through the good times and the not so good times with like minded women who truly understand. Without the choir I would have (ironically) felt very much isolated from the military community despite both living, working and having such close connections within it. Now I am most definitely part of it. Stronger together really sums it up!
My team. Love you always. @matt_demirs #strongertogether #loveyou
I joined the Catterick choir about a year ago to try and get to know people having only moved to the area at the end of August. This year I have been privileged enough to have been given some amazing opportunities with the choir, including performing at the Queen’s Jubilee Concert in June. However, it was this summer I realised what the choir really meant to me. My husband deployed in July leaving me to try and entertain the children over the long summer holidays, ensure they both had memorable birthdays despite missing daddy and prepare my son for for his first day at school but thanks to the choir, I have never felt alone for long. Although there have been some difficult times and I have had some low moments, these were quickly allayed by hugs from the girls, an encouraging message on Facebook or the bunch of flowers left on my door step after a particularly bad weekend. I thought I might make one or two new friends through the choir, instead I feel like I have gained a whole new family.
My husband is due home shortly but many of our ladies are facing the Christmas period without their husbands/fiances/sons etc as our local Brigade has just deployed. Although they will miss them terribly, I know that the girls will lean on each other for support and it will make the next 6-months seem a little more bearable. We are, after all, #StrongerTogether.
Until “The Choir – Military Wives” programme my only experience of the life of a military family was through my long time friend, Sarah. I would get regular phone, text and email updates from her during her husbands overseas deployments. The sense of loneliness, worry and helplessness regularly came through. As well as the sheer madness of some of the situations she had to cope with alone while her husband was away. Unfortunately Sarah passed away the week before Christmas last year after a long illness. Such a shame as I know she would have loved something like a Military Wives Choir for support in the tough times.
Stronger Together is a wonderful title for the album. Wonderful to hear there are so many MWCs set up across the UK forces community. And so easy to keep in touch with them via Facebook and Twitter where they have so many wonderful supporters! A true MWC family – Stronger Together.
My Mummy is in the Military Wives Choir in Dishforth. I feel very proud of her and we feel #StrongerTogether as Mummy enjoys choir and a happy Mummy equals a happy family.
Good Evening Gareth Malone & the Military Wives Choirs This is Peter Eames here I thought Tonight of all nights to share How your music has made me Stronger Together as one when The Troops Come Home from Afghanistan or Iraq I have stood shoulder to shoulder supporting the Troops when they March through the Towns & Cities of Wales and beyond I also Support Help for Heroes by Selling bracelets for this Charity and being Help for Heroes Representive for The Vale of Glamorgan Council and when I first heard Whereever you are I was Gobsmaked as I never thought A Choir was to be formed from Wives and Girlfriends of Serving Soldiers Gareth Malone is responsible for this and I thank you for getting this off the ground Now with over 50 Choirs and more forming This is what is Making me feel good and I had to be strong and brave when My Mum was ill in August She is making progress and Stronger Together would be an ideal Christmas present so I have ordered 2 Copies one is for my Mum and the other is for my friend & Career to thank him for his hard Work God Speed your Journey to the top at Christmas 2012 from Peter Eames