THE Colchester Military Wives Choir make a welcome return to the Mercury Theatre this weekend.

It was the moving story of Gareth Malone’s own Military Wives Choir, capturing the nation’s hearts and imagination, which prompted the setting up of Colchester’s own version.

It also provided a social group for wives to meet on a regular basis. It first began with soldier’s wife Debbie Price, who while working for the pastoral care team at the Garrison had thought about setting up a Military Wives Choir.

She had already had put the wheels in motion with both canvassing and promoting the idea but was without anyone to act as musical director.

Following a call-out made-by Liz Mullen, presenter of Colchester Garrison Radio, a few days later, while watching a concert to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee staged by Colchester Operatic Society, Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell had a eureka moment when he saw Sally Leung performing.

Not only was Sally headteacher of the Montgomery Infants School, where the majority of children come from Army families, she also organised a concert for Colchester schools each year.

Since forming in July 2012, the choir have around 60 members at any one time and have been much in demand all over the area and further abroad.

As well as public concerts, civic engagements and events such as the Colchester Military Tournament, more recently the choir have performed at the Dominion Theatre, London, alongside the country’s top military musicians, and shared a stage with Lulu as she embarked on a UK wide tour. The choir was also represented by several of members, singing as part of a nationwide Military Wives Choir at Carnegie Hall, New York.

The choir perform on the Mercury stage, tomorrow, September 24, at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £13, are available by calling the box office on 01206 573948.