Dyserth's Jules Peters on 2020 and the year ahead as The Alarm Christmas Gathering prepares to replay globally

The virtual concert Christmas Gathering beamed into homes across the globe on Saturday.

Mike, who is married to Jules and has two sons, performed 17 songs with The Alarm, including an unexpected finale that had everyone dancing in their living rooms.

As a result of the event being so well received, a worldwide replay event has been organised for Wednesday, December 23.

Jules said: “Traditionally The Alarm have always held a Christmas concert each December, so it was the next best thing to host a virtual concert from our house in Wales.

“Alarm fans from across the global time zones tuned in on Saturday night at their local time of 8pm.

Jules, Mike and Ziggy Stardust at Sandy Cove

“By now, we would have normally played more than 100 concerts during 2020 around the world but due to the pandemic, our last concert was in fact The Gathering at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on January 31.

“Little did we realise that this would be our one and only concert of the year and that the theatre [Venue Cymru] would be transformed into a hospital.

“We’ve missed out band members too as we are normally used to living together at close proximity on a tour bus, so it was extra special to be together again.”

Jules said the last few months have been ‘extremely hectic.’

She added: "We never intended to broadcast from our house. When Lockdown first hit in Wales in March 2020, we were scheduled to perform four sold out concerts in the UK, kicking off that very weekend, so the initial idea of the Big Night In (our TV show) was to give something back to the fans at a difficult time.

Mike and Ziggy walking around the Village

"It was our intention to set up in a theatre and broadcast a concert from an empty theatre but lockdown happened so fast and furiously, that even that scenario wasn’t possible.

"We are fairly private but because the recent BBC documentary, Mike and Jules; Whilst We Still Have Time, followed us at home, dealing with my breast cancer diagnosis, we decided that broadcasting from our sofa in Dyserth was the only way forward.

"We have a vintage jukebox in the living room so that became the focus,” Jules added.

"Mike would perform at the Jukebox stage, I would present from the sofa and the kids would pop in and out, fixing their drinks from the fridge and Ziggy, our puppy, thank goodness was asleep.

"We broadcast over 50 hours of television to The Alarm family worldwide so the last few months have been extremely hectic, scripting, setting up, broadcasting.

Jules Mike and Ziggy training near Trelawnyd North Wales in preparation for Offa’s Dyke

"Thousands tuned in last Saturday night for The Alarm Christmas Party and the Big Night In TV series has attracted over 600,000 views, so we will be virtually broadcasting our way into 2021.”

Reflecting on 2020, Jules said she and Mike have sought out the ‘positives’.

"Our sons have always wanted to spend a Summer in Wales,” she said.

"They have never spent a summer in Wales because we are always in America so from that point of view, the four of us as a family have really loved being together, staying at home and spending time with friends and family, all be it at a distance.

"I think as cancer survivors, the pandemic has felt very similar to a cancer diagnosis.

"All of a sudden, life shifts abruptly and you have to face up to your diagnosis and embrace it to a degree.

"Dealing with the pandemic has felt very similar to Mike and I.

Rocking around the World

"It’s so tough for so many people out there, especially for many of our musicians and industry friends and business acquaintances but you have to stay positive and keep an eye on the light flickering at the end of the tunnel. There is always a way.

"I’ve dealt with Mike’s leukaemia for a long time now and subsequently my breast cancer diagnosis back in 2016.

"There were some very tough times and a big part of our shared cancer chemotherapy experience was all about washing our hands, keeping our distance so we just stuck to those rules.

"When the chemo days sometimes felt bleak, I used to cope by remaining myself that 'all things must pass' and that 'tomorrow is another day'.

"I think the same thinking has to be applied to the pandemic. 'Don’t panic. Take small steps a day at a time.'"

In 2018, Mike was appointed MBE for his voluntary services to Cancer Care in North Wales.

Jules is ready to rock from the jukebox stage!

The musician co-founded the Love, Hope Strength charity in 2007 with the aim of raising money to further improve cancer care and support cancer patients in North Wales.

He formed rock band The Alarm in 1981 and has organised many fundraising events over the years including the annual Snowdon Rocks charity walk, Empire State Steps Challenge and Everest Rocks, a 14-day musical trek to Everest Base Camp.

In 2014, he teamed up with three cancer hospitals to launch his By Your Side Appeal. This started with the Big Busk in the cancer ward of each hospital and ended in June 2017 with his incredible walk from Wrexham Maelor Hospital to each of the main cancer units in North Wales, finishing on the summit of Snowdon.

He also partnered with the Leukaemia Charity DKMS - Delete Blood Cancer with the aim of recruiting potential bone marrow donors.

In 1996, Mike made a recovery from lymph cancer only to receive the news that he was suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in 2005.

Jules was diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 2016.

Following surgery and treatment, Jules has gone on to document her own journey with cancer.

Sunset over Sandy Cove

Jules said her family are feeling positive moving towards 2021.

She added: "We are all fit and healthy and that’s all we can wish for - the greatest gift of all.

"From a personal point of view, I’m hoping to finish my breast cancer reconstruction at some point when it’s safe to do so and would like to take the opportunity to thank our NHS for doing an incredible job, especially from a personal perspective, taking such amazing care of Mike and I.

"I’d also like to take the opportunity to gently remind people to ‘check themselves’ from time to time.

"I mentor a lot of breast cancer birds following in my footsteps and so that message is paramount. I still can’t believe that breast cancer happened to me but it did. If I hadn’t have acted after finding my lump, this interview could have been a whole different story.

"We have a lot going on behind the scenes with our charity Love Hope Strength. We have rescheduled our trek to the Sahara to 2022 and hope to return to Iceland in 2023.

"Next year, Mike and I will be trekking the length of Offa’s Dyke on behalf of Love Hope Strength, starting out in Prestatyn after our 40th Anniversary concert at Rhyl Town Hall the night before on May 21/22 2021, culminating in The Alarm’s sold out performance at Cardiff St David’s Hall on June 5.

"These are the only two UK concerts we intend to stage - fingers crossed that they can go ahead.

"Hopefully we can have a shower after our 10 day monster trek before hitting the stage in Cardiff at the iconic St David’s Hall.

"We have a concert scheduled for June 12 2021 in New York City but only time will tell if that will happen, we shall see.

"There’s a lot of jeopardy in the air for The Alarm 40th anniversary celebrations that’s for sure."

Jules thanked locals in North Wales for their friendship and support.

"Ever since Mike and I met in August 1986 at the Downtown in Rhyl, engaged one week later, we have always shared a love affair with our North Wales home," she said.

"We adore travelling the world but always with the comforting thought of coming home.

"The green green grass of home never ever fades for us - it just gets brighter.

"Nadolg Llawen pawb a blwyddyn newydd dda..."