ALED JONES will be forever remembered as the schoolboy singer who sang Walking In The Air from the animated film The Snowman.

Now, the voice of the famous choirboy will be heard duetting with the adult performer in a 22-date UK cathedral tour that visits both Winchester and Portsmouth Cathedral.

And it comes after a lost album, the last he recorded before his voice broke, was rediscovered among some old socks and pants in his parents’ airing cupboard!

The songs, the last of 17 albums he produced in just four years in his teens, had never been heard by the public before, as the album was stored for safe-keeping by his doting parents long after he had forgotten making it.

Aled, a Classic FM presenter, released the album One Voice last month which has a unique twist in that it features duets with his younger self.

The 45-year-old sings in harmony with his own 16-year-old voice for the album, and does the same for the live performances scheduled for Winchester Cathedral on Thursday, May 26 and Portsmouth Cathedral on Thursday, June 2.

Speaking to me just a few dates into the tour Aled told me it has been an emotional experience for both him and audiences alike:

“The first half is me duetting with me as a kid with never seen before film footage of little Aled with big Aled: I look out at the front rows and everyone is balling their eyes out! It’s very nostalgic.

“You think back to the 80s and what you were wearing and doing. It takes you back to that era.”

He agrees that singing with his 15/16-year-old self is a little odd.

“For me it’s strange but lovely and no one has ever done that before and people do say gosh it’s strange.

“The film footage was found in the ether somewhere by the music director and ‘Little Aled’ even introduces a track!

“It feels like I’m drawing a line under that part of my career and this album is doing that. It’s been a joyous experience .”

I question Aled on just how true it is that the record lay forgotten in the airing cupboard between some old undies and he assures me it is not a PR exercise:

“It is true! It’s what happens when you live in North Wales!” he laughs.

“ My mum and dad are very normal but they collected anything and everything to do with my career.

“The album was never released because my voice broke and someone said just keep it dry and warm and with dad being very practical he put it in the airing cupboard.

“One day we were sitting there at the table and I said can you believe I made 16 albums as a kid and he said ‘no, you made 17...there’s the one in the airing cupboard!”

The collection of folk songs existed on a tape recording and had been sitting there forgotten all those years!

“At the time, my voice had broken, so the record company decided not to release it. I listened to it and I was taken aback; it was probably the best thing I recorded as a kid.

“Within 30 seconds of listening to the first song I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I didn’t even remember recording it!

“It is now my highest charting album ever, going to number three. I was about 15-and-a-half on it. It sounds young and the top notes are really sparkly. It’s an album of folk songs. Danny Boy really suits my voice. When I listened to it at my parents’ house I felt like a proud uncle or father.

“From that came the idea to release the album of duets, featuring my voice as a boy and now as an adult.”

One Voice features duets of classic folk songs such as Lark in the Clear Air and Danny Boy, as well as Welsh songs All Through the Night and David of the White Rock.

Aled added: “In many ways, it feels like I’m coming full circle and I can put the early part of my life to bed. To my knowledge, the concept for One Voice – the same person but with two different voices – is unique and no one else has ever done it before.”

So why do a cathedral tour rather than a theatre tour?

“I’ve always sung in them since I was a tiny kid and I’ve done hundreds of theatre tours and never done a cathedral tour so I’m pleased I put my foot down for this. You Raise Me Up sung live in a cathedral doesn’t get any better!

“With all the lights and the mood setting it’s very much a show. If I never tour anywhere else again other than cathedrals I’d be happy.

“If people have never been to a cathedral before they don’t have to be servant Christians. We get people who come who have never believed in God – we welcome everyone.

“It’s worked so well and the cathedrals are up for putting on a show. In the past you would have markets in cathedrals and even football games.

“Then came the time when they were seen as untouchable but it’s changed and I’m pleased by that.”

How does he remember his life growing up in the spotlight?

“In my four years as a boy treble I made 16 albums. I was singing every weekend and during my ‘O’ level year I was singing every other day. It was amazing. I was a kid so everyone treats you lovely.

“The only other person singing classical music was Pavarotti.

“It was Pavarotti and me, a boy from Wales who got his clothes from Burtons!”

We both laugh at this remark and Aled adds:

“Well it was the only shop in Bangor!”

“When I did Walking in the Air EMI said to me you’d better get a jumper from Top Shop!

“I also wore Simon Cowell style trousers up to my armpits with different coloured bow ties. I think the costume lady at the BBC came up with my look; I was just a little boy!”

One Voice features works by Handel, Purcell, Britten and Vaughan Williams as well as Welsh and Celtic Irish music.

There are Aled’s duets of classic folk songs such as Lark in the Clear Air and Danny Boy, as well as Welsh favourites All Through the Night and David of the White Rock.

Aled has also recorded three new solo tracks as a man including Come To Me Soothing Sleep by Handel and The Ash Grove.