The Chelsea Pensioners Lead the Tributes this Remembrance Day with the Release of Poignant Single ‘White Doves of Peace’ A Song of Remembrance for the Generations….
The Chelsea Pensioners; famous around the world for their iconic, eye-catching bright-red long coat uniforms, spearhead a new single to mark this year’s Remembrance Day titled ‘The White Doves of Peace’.
This scarlet army of extraordinary men and women are all highly respected veterans who all once served their country during some of the biggest conflicts of the last century. In this moving tribute, their voices urge us to remember those that have fallen and sacrificed their lives – ‘When you go home, tell them of us and say ‘for your tomorrow, we gave our today’.
The beautiful and heart felt voices of The Chelsea Pensioners are contrasted with the voices of the next generation, the heroes of tomorrow, represented by the young children from The Bedford School Chapel Choir. Additional lead vocals come from the BBC Young Chorister of the Year’, Alexander Olleson along with the songwriter Jamie Lonsdale.
There is also a mention of the late ‘Captain Sir Tom Moore’, who is referenced in the song lyrics for the way he ‘stepped towards his goals’. Captain Tom captured the nations hearts after he raised £38.9m in three and a half weeks, with donations from 163 countries. Bedford School have a close link with his family, as his grandson attends the school and the school were put firmly in the media spotlight as part of Captain Tom’s 100th birthday celebrations when the school received and displayed the thousands of birthday cards that were sent to him from across the world.
‘White Doves of Peace’ will be released on Friday 5th November to commemorate Remembrance Day and all the souls who have fought so valiantly across the world, with an emphasis on the importance of peace and respect for one another.
A full symphony orchestra and a military brass band were recorded at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios in London.
In the words of singer songwriter Jamie “The song aspires to global peace, a fairer world, living in harmony whilst always remembering those who gave their lives…”
The juxtaposition of the young boys who will be the heroes of tomorrow, the Chelsea Pensioners who are the heroes of yesterday and Jamie in the middle, is a powerful message. Jamie himself is an ex-military man having served with the Royal Navy on board the Royal Yacht Britannia and he also has a strong serving military family history with his 5* Great Uncle being the Duke of Wellington and Jamie is also a descendent of Lord Raglan (the British commander in the Crimean War) and he had a further three great uncles on the battlefield at Waterloo.
Bedford School’s Chapel choir were recorded inside the school’s iconic and beautiful grade II chapel by record producer Robert Emery. Jamie and Robert were very impressed with the vocal ability of the boys and it was a delight for them to also meet Alexander Olleson, a music scholar at the school and member of Bedford School Chapel Choir, who won the grand final of the BBC Young Chorister of the year competition in 2020.
It is not the first time that boys from the Chapel Choir have been involved in Armistice commemorations, having been the sole robed choir at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in 2015.
The single ‘White Doves of Peace’ will be released on Friday 5th November and it will be available to download on all major music platforms.
What an absolutely beautiful song and so fitting, I lived in Bedford for many years and so proud to hear this amazing song with thoughtful words of today and yesteryears. I am a singer and will share it with friends. I hope the words will be available. Love the tribute to Captain Tom. Thank you ❤️