A FESTIVE music collaboration project to bring the community together is being organised by a Barnard Castle resident in the hope it will spread some much-needed joy.
Tom Howe, club steward at Barnard Castle Workingmen’s Club, was instrumental in putting together the virtual Barnard Castle Meet parade during the height of the first lockdown. Now he is hoping residents, young and old, will get involved to create a collaborative community version of the 1984 charity song, Do they Know It’s Christmas Time?
He said: “The idea hit me when I was practising singing some Christmas songs and I thought I wonder if we could do a community Christmas collaboration video?
“The idea is that it will bring people together at a time when they can’t physically be together and hopefully spread a little joy before Christmas. Because of lockdown it is going to be a very difficult and different festive season for most people.”
The song, which has become a Christmas anthem, was written by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and was performed collaboratively by a number of celebrities to raise as much money as possible to help famine victims in Ethiopia.
“We want to see people sharing joy, singing along and sending in their videos of them joining in with the project. It doesn’t matter if you are a not a strong singer. It’s about taking part together.”
He hopes to encourage as many people as possible to email video clips of their singing the festive tune either at work, school, on a walk and at home or in front of the Barnard Castle town sign.
He added: “We hope to get key workers such as NHS staff, care staff, emergency services, shop workers, postmen and women, volunteers and everyone who has helped keep the country afloat this past year to take part as well as choir members, school children, care home residents. Everyone.
“What I thought would be great is then to edit the videos to form one with all the different participants, much like the original song where different stars sang different lines.
“Logistically it will take some time for me to do that, probably about a week, if I get as many videos as I’m anticipating given the feedback I’ve already had.”
Mr Howe added: “I’ve set a deadline of December 6 to get the videos to me, so it will give enough time to edit it. Then the plan is to premiere the video at the workingmen’s club on the big screen in our event room on Friday, December, 18, as long as we are able to open again.
“It would be great to see as many people as possible getting involved and show the world we are more than a destination – we are a community that comes together.”
Anyone who wants to take part can email their recordings to Howeytom@gmail.com.
