Musical Lincoln primary teacher releases charity single with 300 pupils

A Lincoln village primary school teacher is making his musical fundraising dream a reality after composing and recording a special Children in Need song – with the help of over 300 children.

Every child at Cherry Willingham Primary School, aged between four and 11, was involved in recording ‘Will You Help This Child?’, written by teacher Damian Thursby, 43.

Some 1,000 CDs have been produced, to be sold at £3 each as a minimum donation, and staff and students are hopeful they’ll smash a sell-out sales target.

The group have been working hard since April, singing and rehearsing on a weekly basis.

Primary teacher Damian Thursby and his fundraising students.

Damien has even enlisted the help of former students, with Stuart MacLaren from Your Print Partner (a student of his at age 8) printing and donating the 1,000 CD sleeves.

The CD replication has been done through Andrew Deptford from Bright Spark Studios in Lincoln.

Damien, who has been working at the school for 18 years, has been composing songs for children and church since he was 13.

He has always wanted to put his talent to a project to raise money for the BBC Children in Need cause.

He said: “It’s such a fantastic cause that I have always donated to but felt like I could and should do something more! I came up with the idea about six years ago but never quite got around to writing the song.

“The children were my other inspiration. I have worked in schools now for 21 years. Children are at the forefront of everything I do, either at work or at home with my 2 children Jesicca (15) and Harry (11).

“The song is about helping children in need across our country. It’s purposely set out as a question, challenging the public to recognise that here are children with specific needs who require our help and asking, ‘are you going to do something about it?’

“The verses are centred around the types of children the charity support. Homeless children who find themselves on the streets, children who are scared and living in family situations where they feel unwanted or neglected, children who have hearing loss and children who are ill.

“Every child has been involved as I am a great believer in inclusion regardless of ability, especially when it comes to music. Two of my year 6 girls feature as soloists in the first verse and final line of the song, but the rest is an ensemble of all the children.

“All of the recording, mixing and arranging has been done by Nick Gooch, who is a parent in our school. Without his support, we definitely wouldn’t be where we are now. He’s been superb!”

The CDs can be bought directly from Cherry Willingham School or from Stokes cafes, who are sponsoring the project. People can also visit the school’s website to find out more about how to get hold of a copy.

The team hope to raise £3,000 and all the money raised will be donated to the Children in Need Cause.