A VOCAL trio is hoping to inspire young people with a song for VE Day despite the coronavirus lockdown.

The Charlalas from Bosham near Chichester have written Shine, a song for the 75th anniversary of VE Day, which is inspired by the stories of women who lived through the Second World War.

The band had planned to teach children the song and run workshops in schools about how pupils can “make a difference to other people’s lives”, but the group is having to change the scope of the project due to school closures and social distancing measures.

Elizabeth McGregor, a member of The Charlalas ,said: “It’s such a bizarre turn of events – we never could have envisaged this happening when we started the Shine project before Christmas.

“We are having to make changes to the project, but in these uncertain times there are many parallels with then and now – in terms of the difficulties we are facing and also the sense of community as people pull together to help others.

“The times are different but the threads of humanity are the same.”

The acapella trio, who have performed at festivals including Glastonbury and Goodwood Revival as well as many charitable gigs, have produced a free education pack to go with the song which can be downloaded from their website.

Although public celebrations for VE Day on May 8 may not take place, the band hopes the occasion can still be celebrated.

Elizabeth said: “The music and the score to our song is all on our website with the learning pack.

“We are hoping to create a digital choir for VE Day, similar to what Gareth Malone is doing.

“We have to mark it in some way.

“The song is a tribute to our mothers and our mothers’ mothers.”

The band has the support of Dame Vera Lynn, who said: “I am delighted that The Charlalas and initiatives like Shine are creating awareness of the remarkable things women were capable of achieving during the Second World War, serving the country they loved.

“I understand the power of music and song to unite and inspire a nation.”

Elizabeth said inspiration for writing the song came from talking to women who lived through the war and from performing for veterans.

She said: “People from that generation often tell us they’ve been told to stop talking about the war, but we must remember what these people did for us.

“We’ve always been touched by the ‘no matter what’ attitude they showed.

“Generations came together – you had grannies looking after children so mothers could work, and women who were spies and surgeons, but they are under-celebrated.

“Shine is a song for everyone, and we want people to think about how they can carry on that beacon and help each other now.”

For more information and to listen to the song or download an education pack, go to www.thecharlalas.co.uk/shine.