Wendy Swan’s song

But on Thursday night, 43-year-old Wendy Swan admits she’ll be ‘cowering’ in front of her television set.

For Wendy is part of the new ITV documentary The Choir That Rocks.

The series follows five months in the life of the inspirational Rock Choir – the biggest amateur choir in the country – as it works towards a landmark gig at Wembley.

Rock Choir is no ordinary choir. There are no auditions, and you don’t need to be able to read music or even have previous singing experience to be part of it.

It has been dubbed as ‘the people’s choir’ as it was formed in 2005 to include anyone and everyone. There are now 150 rehearsals a week in 90 towns across the country and more than 8,000 members.

For some people, it’s the chance to sing after being excluded from school choirs or banned from singing at home.

Rock Choir started in Bournemouth, the New Forest and Christchurch, and has become part of a national phenomenon.

For many of its members, what started out as a nervous rehearsal in a draughty village hall has been an absolute inspiration, leading to life-changing experiences they never thought possible. Wendy, who lives near Wimborne, joined the Bournemouth choir after her life fell apart not once but twice.

“In 2001 I kept dropping to the floor and after some persuasion I was taken for a scan which revealed I had a brain tumour,” she explained.

Life became even harder when her 17-year relationship with the father of her two children subsequently broke up.

“One of the hardest parts was my partner of 17 years and the father of my two children couldn’t cope, so he left.”

Wendy recovered, thanks to a “dogged determination” to get better and move on with her life. She met a new man, Steve, and everything seemed rosy.

“I thought ‘this is it’,” she said. “I was 39 and my life seemed perfect again. Then I found a lump under my arm. I was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and was given two to three years to live. “Steve wheeled me into theatre for my mastectomy and then walked out of the hospital. I never heard from him again.”

Wendy was once again left with two girls to raise alone and to make matters worse, the chemotherapy affected the fine motor movement in her hands so she couldn’t continue working in the job she loved as a dental technician.

Last year, she was taken in for a second mastectomy, and was put on the drug tamoxifen. She was horrified to see “loss or change of singing voice” as one of the potential side-effects.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Wendy. “Cancer had taken away my partner, my job, my potential, my body, my femininity and my confidence. I was determined it wasn’t going to take away my voice.”

By coincidence, her ex-partner’s mother then emailed her a link to the Rock Choir website – something that anyone could join.

“I went out of defiance and loved it instantly,” she said. “There were no stuffy auditions and I recognised the songs – all feel-good rock, pop and soul hits.

“At first I was self-conscious that I didn’t have any breasts, but I could tell from other people’s faces that some of them had been through their own hardships.

“It began to change my life. I flourished with Rock Choir and the warmth and support of its members. It was so therapeutic. I could scream and cry, and release some tense emotions. But ultimately we really do have a ball.”

Life is once again looking more positive for Wendy, whose new fiance Glen was cheering her on as she sang a solo at a concert in Bournemouth Square in December.

“I’m very happy, despite what has happened to me. I like this person better now,” she said.

“I don’t hang on to the illness or wear it like a label. Life’s too short for that.

“Besides, I feel like I’m famous and I’m really excited to be on the telly!”

The Choir that Rocks continues on Thursday at 9pm on 1TV1 • Rock Choir is offering special FREE ITV singing taster sessions including songs from the TV show.

To book your place and take part on weekends from 25 June to July 2 and 3 at 10am and 12.30pm at Brockenhurst Village Hall, visit rockchoir.com or call 01252 714276.