Musical anti-HS2 group aim for Christmas number one

Dec 6 2011 By Lawrence Poole

Dirty Mavis, who have recorded the official Stop HS2 Christmas number one contender to raise proceeds for the campaign.

A GROUP of musical HS2 campaigners have made an unlikely assault on the much sought after Christmas number one slot.

Dirty Mavis, who hail from Chalfont St Peter and Missenden and rehearse in Little Kingshill, will released 'Oak Tree Lament (Stop The HS2)' on December 12.

The track will go up against heavyweights like this year's X Factor winner in the battle to top the charts over the festive period.

The group decided to get involved in the battle to stop the £33bn HS2 route following a chance meeting at a gig last month.

Violinist and keyboardist Kay Fisher said: "We're were doing a gig at a pub in Speen and there was a campaigner there we got talking to.

"He explained what was happening and the impact, they said they were looking for a band to do an official song and we decided it was something we should get involved in."

Lead singer Martin Davis, who adapted the song for Christmas, was inspired to write the song whilst out walking his dog over the Misbourne Plain - a lot of which will be destroyed if the proposed route from London to Birmingham goes ahead.

The group formed in 1997 and play all over the Chilterns, blending blues, rock, folk and classical and have high hopes for the release.

The violinist added: "I promoted it locally but now Stop HS2 campaigner Joe Rukin has put it out nationally too it's had a great response.

"We all live in areas that will be affected if the route goes ahead, so we wanted to help."

Mr Rukin said: "I'd like to thank them for all their hard work and I hope people go out and buy it and it raises awareness and more funds in case the battle goes on past January."

The track is available on pre-release from HMV from Monday (December 12) and costs 99p to download with 50 per cent of the proceeds going directly to the campaign effort.

It will be then be available for official download on December 19 from iTunes.

You can watch the video for the song at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-0uMZ_Ufww