Christmas means something different to us all, and after losing my own Mother to Alzheimer's and dementia 10 years ago, it has never been quite the same for me...

Like so many of us who have lost loved ones to this crippling disease, Christmas is when I especially miss her.  I wrote the song and decided that I would use it to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society. I am aiming to raise £25,000 – a huge target, I know – but I hope that the public will get behind such a worthy cause.

I have been a musician for over 50 years, and am also a retired teacher.

Initially, I recorded the song myself in a local Midlands recording studio and decided to make a video and get the marketing done with the help of the Alzheimer’s Society. That’s when I met a lecturer – a fellow musician – Richard Shrewsbury, from the Birmingham Conservatoire. And, in the past few weeks, I have accepted amazingly generous offers of help from him and the Birmingham Conservatoire where the song has being re-recorded with volunteer staff, students and sound engineers.

The new recording took place on 13th October at the Birmingham Conservatoire in the presence of Julian Lloyd Webber. Two amazing singers generously volunteered their time to do the main vocals; Simon Dorey and Michelle Lawson, and one of the verses was beautifully sung by children from Haslucks Green Junior School, Shirley, where I used to teach.

The song will be performed live for the first time on Tuesday 22nd November at the installation ceremony for Birmingham City University's new Chancellor, Sir Lenny Henry in front of a prestigious audience at Birmingham Town Hall. 

The song is available now to pre-order and the release date will be 22nd November. We hope that the thousands of children who I have taught over the years will remember me (affectionately – I hope!!) and download a copy of the song. Pre-order at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-are-we-gonna-do-for-christmas/id1175035811

Keep updated on our journey by visiting my web page www.whatarewegonnadoforchristmas.com. 

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.