Song written by David Morris MP performed for Armed Forces Day

By Harry Phibbs
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David Morris, the Conservative MP for Morecombe, used to work in the music industry. He was among the Stock, Aitken and Waterman's team of songwriters and he also played keyboards for Rick Astley.

This background proved useful when one of his constituents needed help in a dispute over royalties. Russ Courtenay, 54, co-wrote Whatever You Need for Tina Turner in 1990.  He received royalties at the time, but then battled to get paid when it came out later on a compilation CD. After Mr Morris intervened, EMI paid up.

Having met in this way, Mr Courtenay and Mr Morris decided to write a song together.  The song, Give Me Hope, is being performed today by children from Morecambe, at the Armed Forces Day service at St Barnabas’ Church, in Morecambe’s West End. The children aged eight to sixteen, all sing with the Remix Pop Choir.

Mr Morris says:

“ When Russ and I wrote the song, we did it for an aspiring local singer to sing. We had no idea that a choir would do their own version and that it would be performed at an occasion such as armed forces day. I am pleased the remix choir will be singing the song and I look forward to hearing it when I attend the service.”

Give Me Hope, was originally recorded by fourteen year old schoolgirl Molly Wilson who performed the song at Morecambe’s Winter Gardens as part of the town’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.

It is available for download on itunes.