Anthem celebrates the Black Country's working class heroes

Written and produced by 63-year-old David Tristram, from Wolverhampton, the song features local musicians, fronted by Doreen, and includes local folk singer Jess Silk, from Stourbridge.

Also featured are members of the choir at Beacon Primary School in Walsall and proceeds are to be donated to Walsall NHS Trust Well-Wishers Charity to help patients suffering from long Covid.

David, who writes scripts for Doreen, played by professional actress Gill Jordan, said: "I have written the anthemic song to pay tribute to the Black Country heroes of yesteryear.

"The Black Country was a centre for nail making and chain making in Victorian times and the women worked in appalling conditions.

"Eventually a woman, called Mary Macarthur led the chain makers of Cradley Heath to strike for a minimum wage.

"She led the women to victory and they doubled their wages to eleven shillings and that was the start of people being entitled to a living wage.

"I also wrote it with the heroes of today in mind, such as the frontline workers of the NHS.

"Pupils from Beacon Primary School really enjoyed taking part and learning about the history of the working class heroes.

"I came up with the idea and approached Doreen as she is a popular figure and on the song she does poetic rapping.

"She has also donated copies of a book she wrote entitled, The Secret Diary of a Lazy Cow in Lockdown.

"We have had some fabulous messages of support and had people saying that it is an amazing tribute to the people of the Black Country and the NHS workers.

"No target figure has been set on how much we hope to raise but we hope to get as much as possible through donations.

"We are also making it part of a wider Working Class Heroes campaign with limited edition enamel badges and T-shirts to recognise modern-day heroes."