DORSET ECHO
18 October 2013 by Harry Hogger, Dorchester reporter
WE WILL ROCK YOU: Pupils sing for Brian May
PRIMARY schoolchildren have recorded a song for rock royalty in the shape of Queen guitarist Brian May. Children from the Bere Regis Community School recorded the song, composed by local resident Linda Lamon, to celebrate the planting of the first trees in a new woodland area owned by Dr May. The children performed The New Woodland Song at a community planting day and received a special thank you from Dr May for their efforts.
Songwriter Linda had approached the school after 95 pupils had taken part in a song-writing workshop with her last year as part of their music week activities. She said: “Dr May heard the song and asked if it could be performed when we had the planting day so I had no hesitation in asking the children if they would like to sing it.”
The pupils have been rehearsing the folk song since June and a recording was done in the summer after bass player Pip Evans, from Bere Regis, Ringwood guitarist Callum Gibson and drummer Dave George, from Wool, put down the music tracks at Active Recording Studios in Pool.
The young singers also received support from ladies from the Pop-In-Performers choir, school governor Liz Teather and music teacher Rachael Brown.
Headteacher Steve Battishill said: “It’s been a busy time – the children have worked really hard but they have had fun.”
It is hoped that the song will be available on a CD early in the new year, along with another song Linda has written called The Bells of Bere Regis which is raising funds for the St John The Baptist Church bell tower appeal and also features the children’s singing.
New Woodland Song © Linda Lamon
– http://youtu.be/CGZebomH0a4