Three sisters from Wilmslow have reunited with their school friends from St Winifred's School Choir and entered the race to become Christmas Number One this year.
Now mostly in their 30's the choir has been reformed as The innocent Big Knit Choir and re-recorded a 2009 version of their chart topping song "There's No One Quite Like Grandma". The song which originally rose to fame in 1980 and knocked music legend John Lennon off the number one spot will be re-released tomorrow as the Big Knit charity single.
All monies raised from the single and innocent hatted products will go towards this year's target of raising over £250,000 for Age Concern and Help the Aged.
Katie Murray and her twin sisters Carolyn Charles and Joanne Bridgewater (nee O'Driscoll) are amongst 14 of the original choir members hoping for their second number one single.
Katie, a Marketing Manager and mum of three, told me "It was a great experience back then but we were so young that in many ways it is only when you look back that you realise the enormity of what we did."
"When we got the number one hit we spent a lot of time travelling, mainly to local events but a lot in London too. One of my memories was of us getting to sing for Margaret Thatcher who was in power at the time and she asked me if I was cold. Obviously I was so star struck I didn't answer !"
The single and video were both recorded on October 16th in the Angel recording studios in London. Former X-Factor vocal coach Annie Skates was on hand to ensure the choir sounded pitch perfect.
Katie explained that "We decided to take part in the re-release partly because it will be great fun but mainly because 100% of the proceeds are going to Age Concern and Help the Aged - also we are middle aged house wives and it is great to be given this opportunity to have a great time for 6 months and get away from the kids for the odd day and night out !"
Visit the Big Knit Choir website for further information.
