‘O Hear Us When We Cry to Thee for Those in Peril on the Sea’.

Following huge publicity and much interest, the single recorded by The Fishwives Choir is now available to pre order and will be released on 24th August 2013.  The single, available as a CD or as a download, is a very personal recording of When the Boat Comes In/Eternal Father.

All profits from the song are going to the Fishermen’s Mission and if the girls can sell enough copies, they stand a good chance of breaking into the charts! 

The Fishwives Choir was created by fishermen’s widow Jane Dolby from Leigh On Sea, Essex. Jane, age 47, lost her husband to the sea in 2008 and his body was lost at sea for almost a year which meant she was unable to get a death certificate to ‘prove’ her husband was dead. During this terrible time of emotional and financial devastation, she and her young family were helped by Tim Jenkins - Fishermen’s Mission Senior Officer.  

Jane says ‘When I lost my darling Colin my world went completely black. I didn’t know what to do or who to turn to. Tim from the Fishermen’s Mission was right there with me, every step of the way. If I raised £1m from this single it would never be enough to pay them back for all they have done, and continue to do, for me and my family’.

All the women in The Fishwives Choir are either related to fishermen or work in the commercial fishing industry.  Sadly a significant number of the choir have also lost their husbands, brothers, fathers or sons to the sea.  Fishing remains the most dangerous peacetime occupation in the UK. The Fishermen’s Mission is the only national charity that works solely with fishermen and their families.  

Alison Godfrey, Director of Fundraising for the Fishermen’s Mission adds, ‘Sadly Jane’s story is far from rare for wives and mothers of fishermen.  We are hugely impressed with Jane’s fund and awareness raising efforts and her determination to let others know about the work of the Fishermen’s Mission.  We are also so grateful to all those connected with this single who have waived their fees and their royalties to increase the income to the Fishermen’s Mission’.

The choir members all met for the first time in Hastings in April for 4 intense days of rehearsals and recording.  With a little help from the production team from the Military Wives Choir, the result is a beautifully crafted song which is very much sung from the heart.  

Find out more about the girls at: www.fishwiveschoir.co.uk  or follow them on Twitter at: @fishwiveschoirs

If you would like to know more about the work of the Fishermen’s Mission then visit www.fishermensmission.org.uk or also follow them on Facebook and Twitter @thefishmish