Balcarras School's Remember My Name video premieres on YouTube at 6pm on Friday 23 October. Watch it here; every penny raised goes to Sue Ryder.

Students from Balcarras School’s music department will release their own version of Sam Fender’s Remember My Name on Friday 23 October, and every penny it raises goes to Sue Ryder, the end of life and bereavement charity.

Updated 23 October: the video is now on the department’s YouTube channel and premieres at 6pm today. You can watch it below.

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Balcarras Music's Remember My Name, premiering at 6pm on Friday 23 October. Video: Balcarras Music on YouTube

The video features a student singer, Thomas Eggelton, with a brass ensemble, filmed outdoors across three locations in the Cotswolds. The school says it has drone footage and sunset cinematography, and its campaign runs under the line “One Song. One Voice. One Cause.”

Why Sue Ryder

Dan Armstrong, the school’s head of music, told us the project “is about more than music”.

“We’ve partnered with Sue Ryder, to raise vital funds and awareness through the release,” he said. “The lyrics of the song are fitting for our chosen charity, and the performance is extremely poignant as a result.”

“We’re hoping to demonstrate the extraordinary power of music to bring people together, evoke cherished memories and make a meaningful difference. Our students and staff have put an enormous amount of work into this project, and we’re incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved.”

The department’s JustGiving page describes Sue Ryder as “a charity providing compassionate palliative care and bereavement support to individuals and families facing some of life’s most difficult moments”, and puts the thinking behind the choice this way: music “can bring comfort in difficult times, evoke cherished memories and remind us that those we love are never truly forgotten.”

When we checked the page on 19 October, before the video was out, it had raised £70 from four donations, plus Gift Aid. On the morning of 23 October, the day of the premiere, it stood at £80 from five donations. It sets no target.

The performers, in their own words

The school sent a “meet the performers” set with a line from each student.

  • Thomas Eggelton, vocals: “The lyrics of Remember My Name are incredibly moving and we’re so glad to be supporting Sue Ryder.”
  • Ben Carroll, trumpet: “This song means a lot to me and I’m really proud to be part of a project that uses music to make a difference.”
  • Will Foster, flugelhorn: “Thank you to all the people who allowed us to film on their land. We filmed across three locations in the Cotswolds.”
  • Theo Charles, trumpet: “I really enjoyed the recording experience, especially having a former student come back to Balcarras.”
  • Harrison Mortor, alto sax: “My favourite part of Remember My Name is the final scene, wait until you see the sunset at Broadway Tower!”
  • Isaac Costa-Hall, tenor sax: “As an aspiring session musician, recording Remember My Name gave me a great insight into life in the professional music industry.”
  • Tom Carroll, trombone: “I really enjoyed being a part of this project for a good cause. I really hope it makes a positive impact!”
  • Thalia Osborne-Jones, trombone: “After we filmed Remember My Name, we sat together and watched the sunset and the World Cup semi final!”

What it means for you

  • Watch it from 6pm on Friday 23 October, above or on the department’s YouTube channel.
  • Give, if it moves you, through the Balcarras Music JustGiving page, which pays Sue Ryder (registered charity 1052076, as listed on the page).
  • Follow the department on Instagram for more from the students.

The school says it hopes coverage will help it “reach a wider audience and, ultimately, raise as much money as possible for Sue Ryder.”