WHAT started as a group of women coming together to form a choir to keep spirits up while their partners in the forces were in conflict has become a major film.

The Military WAGS Choir in Catterick is the inspiration behind the British blockbuster about to hit the big screen.

Starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Hogan, ‘Military Wives’, is directed by Peter Cattaneo , of multi-award-winning ‘Full Monty’ fame, and is based on the true story of how Catterick’s WAGS’ Choir was born during the Afghanistan conflict and went on to become the phenomenon it is today.

As the name suggests, the WAGS Choir in Catterick embraces services’ wives, affiliates, girlfriends and servicewomen, and it was the first and original Military Wives Choir.

In early 2010, Nicky Clarke and Caroline Jopp approached Carol Gedye with the idea of starting up a choir. The thought was to give those left at home a focus and a support group to keep spirits high with fun and friendship while their loved ones and colleagues were away.

Gareth Malone did wonders for raising the profile of the Military Wives Choirs after setting up two choirs in the TV series The Choir: Military Wives which triggered many other groups across the UK.

However it is the Catterick WAGS who must be credited for creating the concept which is now regarded by many as a national treasure.

Members from the Military Wives Choir family across the country headed to London in January to record some soundtracks from the film. Ten choir members from the WAGS volunteered to take part and spent Christmas learning their parts.

Jane Scott, a teacher at Richmond School and Sixth Form College, was chosen to introduce the trailer to the soundtrack to talk about her experiences in the choir and what it means to her. She said: “It was such a privilege to be asked to open the trailer and acknowledge the enormity of what these choirs mean to so many people.”

A further nine Catterick WAGS choir members were invited to attend and perform at the recent London premiere, together with Carol Gedye, the original WAGS musical director, who picked up the baton and led the choir from its inception until last year.

Mrs Gedye was asked to conduct the WAGS and combined Military Wives Choirs of Chivenor and Plymouth at the premiere, in recognition of the Military WAGS Choir being at the heart of the film’s storyline.

To pay tribute to the enormous contribution that the Military WAGS Choir have made there will be a red-carpet event at opening night of the Military Wives film on Friday, March 6 at the Empire Cinema in Catterick. The WAGS will perform from 6.45pm to 7.45pm, followed by the film at 8pm. Tickets are available from www.catterick.empirecinemas.co.uk.

The Military Wives film is receiving fabulous reviews as the power and positivity of singing, and how it brings people together, shines through.

The Military WAGS Choir have sung at numerous high-profile events over the years and are committed to making music in the local community. They regularly collaborate with Richmond School at concerts with their music and drama groups. In 2014, they recorded a CD, ‘Harmonies for Heroes’, with Reeth and Muker Bands, raising over £8,000 to support the Help for Heroes at the Phoenix House Recovery Centre in Catterick. The WAGS are looking forward to exciting events in 2020 to commemorate their tenth anniversary.