Ladywell Primary enter UK top 40 charts with Oh Holy Night in memory of Caden Beggan

Dec 5 2012 by Camilla Hellum, Wishaw Press

Ladywell Primary chart toppers

A song recorded by Motherwell’s Ladywell Primary School pupils in memory of their pal Caden Beggan has burst into the UK top 40 chart.

Youngsters in the school’s choir heard the good news on Sunday as Oh Holy Night entered the charts at number 39.

It has sold over 12,800 copies and, with 90 per cent of the download money going to the Meningitis Research Foundation, it means around £7000 has been raised for the charity.

Head teacher Pat Ashworth said: “It’s absolutely fantastic. I’m very proud of all of them.

“It wasn’t what we set out to do, but due to the circumstances it’s a wonderful achievement.

“The money will go to a really good cause.

“We hoped to sell a few hundred downloads to parents and family. We never expected it to go so high into the charts.

“Perhaps with so much support, maybe we could have a Christmas No.1 – that would be very special.”

Caden’s funeral was held last week after he lost a month-long battle with meningitis.

After contracting meningococcal septicaemia in October, surgeons at Yorkhill Hospital amputated both his legs and his left hand in their efforts to save him.

Most of the charity single’s downloads have been in the UK but people have been buying it from as far afield as the USA, Canada, Sweden, Australia, France, Spain, Italy and Hong Kong.

Pupil Connie McClare (11), sings on the track and said: “I check iTunes every hour and tell people what place we are in.

“It is amazing that so many people are downloading the song.”

Stuart Colquhoun, who leads the choir, added: “The money goes to a really good cause and it feels good to see that it goes directly to the right place.

“The social media is an important part of this, who knows if it could have been so popular without Facebook and Twitter?”

Ladywell’s version of Oh Holy Night is available on Spotify and iTunes, and it is likely that it will be a part of many people’s Christmas playlist this year.