An award-winning British composer has released the rousing final chorus of a powerful musical performance dedicated to an historic town.

Thomas Hewitt Jones wrote the music and lyrics to The Medway Hymn which was recorded at Rochester Cathedral and the Henry Wood Hall in London.

The single comes out ahead of the release of Regards from Rochester, described as a 21st-century choral symphonic concert which will be available on CD and for streaming this spring.

Also written by Hewitt Brown, it was commissioned by Rochester Choral Society to celebrate its 150th anniversary and was premiered at the cathedral last March.

The hymn celebrates friendship and kindness, love and longevity, and also reflects on the nature of life in 2022, the challenges which lie ahead and issues that affect our society, including our collective sense of identity and the climate crisis.

Hewitt Jones grew up in a highly-acclaimed musical family and has been commissioned to write for high-profile presentations.

In December he wrote a piece for television personality and presenter Stephen Fry’s rendition of The Christmas Story.

He said: “Writing ‘Regards from Rochester’ has been an extremely fulfilling and wholesome commission, not only given the richness of the local history, but also due to the strength of the musical heritage of Rochester Choral Society dating all the way back to 1873.

“It was a privilege and a pleasure to discover the fascinating history of the Medway area, which is often referred to about Charles Dickens, the former Dockyard and as a stronghold to and from London, but in fact contains numerous other riches.

“Spending extensive time in Rochester library and reading around the history in detail, it became swiftly apparent that the area’s rich social history made up for any perception Medway may have externally of lack of charm; as the text and music were forming.

“I was delighted to have conversations with local Medway Council operative John Lester, who is an 8th generation of the Lester family in Rochester and who offered personal anecdotes of life in Medway since the Victorian era, some of which I have incorporated into the work.

“Throughout the writing process I have aimed to write all of this history into an ‘oratorio of kindness’ to celebrate the quite astounding 150th anniversary year of Rochester Choral Society, to quote my own lyrics ‘The First Best Choral Society’.

“I am extremely grateful to John Mountford, Jeremy Lloyd, soloists Harriet and Simon, the Carducci Quartet and of the other wonderful musicians. Here’s to the next 150 years of RCS!”

The single was released today (Wednesday, February 21).