Welshpool firefighters kick off Christmas number one push
An idea that began over a few pints in a Mid Wales pub over a year ago could lead to a bunch of fire service personnel from the region becoming Christmas number one.
In a pub a group of Welshpool firefighters founded a group called the Fire Tones, who have now joined forces with fire fighters from other forces in the UK, and stars of TV shows such as The X Factor and The Voice, to record their own version of Band Aid's Do they know it’s Christmas?
The single is set to raise money for the Firefighters Charity and Band Aid Charity Trust, and now it has emerged the odds of it become Christmas number one have dropped from 100/1 into single figures.
Chris Birdsell-Jones, organiser and firefighter from Welshpool said the singers are ready and preparing for the December 1 launch.
He said: "It started when we were in a bar in Welshpool around this time last year – the first song that came on was Do They know It’s Christmas? said Chris.
“As we sat there everyone in the bar was singing along or tapping the bar and it got me wondering if we could do something for charity.
“I said it out loud and everyone told me I was dreaming! But a couple of days later there was a film on called Daddy’s Home 2 and the song is on the soundtrack so I took it as a sign and got to work.”
The group began their search of talent, and recruit Steve McCrorie, former winner of The Voice, and Andy Quinn, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service firefighter, and star of Michael McIntyre’s Big Show
Former X Factor contestants Marc Higgins and Richard Ryan, an on call firefighter, were also added to the band, along with four fire personnel from Shropshire.
The group got together, and recorded the track in a 12 hour session, after Anthony Greaves from BIMM Music College in Birmingham donated session time at their newly built recording studio.
The single has now been edited, polished and product, and is set to be released on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon music on December 1.
Chris is delighted with how it has turned out and is hoping it can raise as much money as possible.
He added: "I'm over the moon to have worked with such a talented group of people, and I feel proud and honoured to have been involved with such a fantastic project, whatever we manage to raise.
"But the hard work starts now."
