Gareth Malone believes singing can help people through the most difficult times of their lives.  I can totally understand where he is coming from after having a brother who spent six months in Afghanistan two years ago and my best friend’s husband also served 6 months there last year. 

I may not have quite made it as a ‘Military Wife’ but I was brought up in a military family with my Dad and both my brothers ‘joining up’ as young lads. 

My brother was stationed in Musaquala which was a very ‘unsafe’ area. His regiment celebrated Christmas wearing Santa hats, and even had turkey and Christmas crackers. Families sent shoe boxes full of little memories of home.

The families are well looked after by the welfare team when their husbands are away, where day trips and fun times are arranged on a weekly basis to try and make time go by faster. Also holding afternoons with video footage of their loved ones, but nothing quite compares to having their husband/daddy with them to tuck them in at night or wave them off to school.

The latest series of The Choir was a very touching and emotional series, bringing out amazing undiscovered talents of some women who would never had dreamed that they would ever perform at the Royal Albert Hall in memory of all the soldiers who have fought or lost their lives for our country. 

Joining the armed forces can give you opportunities for an exciting, adventurous and rewarding career, they don’t always prepare you or your families for the time when your loved ones have to go to war.

The Choir Series 4 available to purchase from Acorn Media UK on 6^th February 2012.