A former Perth Academy pupil is celebrating being top of the pops as part of the Military Wives Choir that secured the coveted Christmas number one spot.
Sam Stevenson rocketed to national prominence when she featured as the soloist with the choir at the British Legion Remembrance Service in the Royal Albert Hall in November, the culmination of a musical career that began in 1995.
While she lived in Perth, the 28-year-old was a member of the Fair City Singers and spent five years with the group, touring Europe, Canada and the USA and giving her first royal performance at the opening of the Millennium Dome in 1999.
Mrs Stevenson, who now lives at RMB Chivenor in Devon with her husband and two children, said: ”I would like to thank everybody out there for supporting us and buying the single.”
Achieving the number one single with her fellow choir members has proved even sweeter with the return of her Royal Marine husband John from his latest tour in Afghanistan.
Wherever You Are sold 556,000 copies in the last week, more than the rest of the top 12 combined, the Official Charts Company revealed, helping it become the 60th official Christmas number one of all time.
It has touched the hearts of the nation as the ballad combines a poem compiled from letters to and from servicemen and their wives, with music created by composer Paul Mealor.
Proceeds from the single are being donated to the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA).
Mrs Stevenson became part of the Military Wives Choir after renowned conductor Gareth Malone formed the group for the BBC Two programme The Choir, which climaxed with the Royal Albert Hall performance.
Their journey did not stop there, however and their chart success was announced on Christmas Day during the festive edition of BBC1’s Top Of The Pops.
Mr Malone said: ”This is so surreal. Who would have guessed in those first rehearsals that we could take the Christmas number one?
”It’s testament to the Military Wives’ hard work and the nation’s support of them, as well as the power of choral singing.
”Thank you to the British public for supporting the Royal British Legion and SSAFA Forces Help by buying this single, to Chris Evans and Radio 2 for helping us to showcase the talent and strength of these amazing women and finally the fantastic support of the British military for the choir.”
Official Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot said: ”Many congratulations to the Military Wives and Gareth Malone, who have made this year’s race for the official Christmas number one one of the greatest of all time.
”To have achieved more than 500,000 sales in a week without the backing of a vast promotional operation over many weeks, like X Factor, is truly remarkable.”