Last year, Nicky Clarke and Caroline Jopp, both spouses of serving soldiers, decided to set up a choir at the North Yorkshire garrison to provide some respite to families of 4th Mechanised Brigade, while their loved ones fought on the frontline in Afghanistan.
The pair approached television choirmaster Gareth Malone for help, but after not receiving a response, enlisted Richmond music teacher Carol Gedye to direct the fledgling group.
Little did they know in setting up the first Army wives choir, that a year later, the idea would have snowballed into a national phenomenon, with a hit television series and Christmas number one on the way.
After being approached by the Catterick Wives and Girlfriends (Wags) Choir, Mr Malone decided to set up his own military wives’ choir in Devon which has now released a single Wherever You Are after appearing in his television show The Choir.
He reportedly acknowledged on the radio a few weeks ago that got the idea following a letter from an Army wife.
Despite being overlooked by the television cameras, the Catterick Wags have gone from strength to strength and now number more than 30 singers including servicewomen, members of Ministry Of Defence (MoD) civilian staff and schoolteachers, as well as helping inspire a raft of new community choirs across the area.
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