Wigan singing group in hospice fundraiser for their director's mum

Garswood-based Milltown Sound have created a Christmas video in aid of Wigan and Leigh Hospice, who looked after Jeanette Potter, the mum of their director, Kim Nuttall, who died from cancer.

Ever since, the group have been raising money for the hospice to thank them for the care she received.

Usually the group, known affectionately as “The Millies” will do a lot of carol singing events at this time of the year and bucket collections for the hospice, however restrictions have scuppered this.

So they’ve done their own Christmas video, a rendition of the Pentatonix song “That’s Christmas to Me”, which has been put together individually by members in the choir.

A friend of Kim’s, Sara Wilcox, from Ashton, who is a member of Milltown, said: “When we are allowed we have collections, the proceeds of which we give to a local charity, mainly Wigan and Leigh Hospice which is close to our hearts from when my friend and our director, Kim Nuttall, sadly lost her mum seven years ago and they took such good care of her.”

The year after Jeanette died, the group held a movie musical night where they sold tickets and a had a raffle, quiz and tombola, with all proceeds going to the hospice.

She said: “We have pretty much since then given donations to them through various fund-raising activities and events over the years and that’s why we created our new Christmas video because we weren’t able to do so in person this year.”

Formed in 2009, the group, who usually rehearse on Wednesdays at Garswood Sports and Social Club but are unable to currently due to Covid, are an all-women barbershop chorus, which has 26 members with an age range from 17 to 78.

They are part of the American-based Sweet Adelines International which has given the group the opportunity to perform and compete overseas.

One of their highlights was being placed fifth in the world at a competition in Houston, Texas in 2011. They also competed at the Spanish Association of Barbershop Singers International Competition in 2018 and were ranked fourth.

In total they have won 13 medals.

But the pandemic has meant they’ve had to stay at home this year, and they’ve instead been busy creating their own festive video.

Sara, 37, said: “This year we’re not allowed to sing together due to Covid, so we’ve done a song on video.

“We’ve recorded individuals and put it all together with the help of Band Lab which is an app for music.”

The group have also added a JustGiving page in the hope that people will donate a little bit of money in aid of the hospice. Search for “That’s Christmas To Me” on JustGiving to donate.

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