A FORMER soldier who had undiagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for more than three decades has just landed a place in the prestigious Invictus Choir

Alan Willetts, 60, is a member of Haslingden-based Veterans In Communities and got a place on the choir two years ago, but he was not in the right place mentally to accept it.

Alan, of Tottington, said: “After I was heard singing in a concert with Sarah Dennise, the Veterans’ Sweetheart, I was invited by The Royal British Legion to sing at the Trafford Centre for Poppy Day Manchester.

“Sarah was leading the concert at the centre and I took to the stage to perform one song ‘Bring Him Home’ from Les Miserables.

“When I finished, I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye because the song meant a lot to me and the audience greeted me with rapturous applause.”

Sarah encouraged Alan to sign up for an audition for the Invictus Choir and at Catterick Barracks, North Yorkshire, he again sang ‘Bring Him Home’ and a song he written and composed himself ‘Shadow Soldier’.

He was immediately offered a place in the tenor section of the choir.

Alan, who was originally from Manchester, said: “I was 18 when I signed up to the Royal Engineers; my dad had just died and I guess I was running away.

“I spent eight years in the army and was posted to different locations. I left the service to get married and at the time, I thought I had no problems.

“My granddad was in the Manchester Regiment and fought in the Battle of the Somme and my father served in the Green Howards, so I came from a military background.

“My mum was one of the best singers on the club circuit in the North West – Doreen Gillian – and as a child I remember watching her sing in the clubs.”

After a string of jobs, including retraining as a nurse, Alan’s marriage failed in 2005. In 2014 he was struggling with low mood and morbid thoughts and he saw his GP.

He was referred to Combat Stress and was diagnosed with PTSD; he was also introduced to Veterans In Communities.

Alan said: “I take my hat off to Operations Manager Bob Elliott. He had the right idea to set VIC up and he knows how to get the best out of everyone who comes in the centre.

“At first I wouldn’t talk to anyone and managed to stay for about 10 minutes at best. Then Bob persuaded me to help with a practical job outside and I started to realise that my PTSD was not as bad and my mood lifted.

“Now I have a place in the choir, I have something to look forward to. In January I will join them for three days of rehearsals in Tidworth, Salisbury.

“In March we will be in Catterick and then in April the choir will perform at Bomber Command’s commemorations in Lincoln.

“In October the choir will perform at the Royal Albert Hall and hopefully they may also be singing at the Invictus Games in Australia.”

‘Shadow Soldier’ has raised almost £850 for veterans’ charities.

Alan added: “Sarah runs a school programme Tour of Remembrance, which I help her deliver. It raises money and awareness of veterans so people realise freedom is not free; in order for us to enjoy it someone has given up their life.”