There’s a new choir in town, and it’s bringing the joy of singing to Bradbury House – are you lucky enough to have been entertained by it yet? Set up by 100-year-old Martin Lyth, the group meets on Monday afternoons and residents, families and staff are all welcome to join, so please do ask if you’re interested.
With the recent popularity of TV programmes like Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure, the benefits of group singing are becoming much more widely known. So, when Bradbury House resident, Martin Lyth, 100, approached staff with his idea of setting up a choir within our residential care home in Beaconsfield, they were only too happy to help.
Janine House, Assistant Manager, explains how they wrote letters to all the residents, staff, volunteers and families to introduce the idea of a Bradbury House choir, and to gauge interest. Martin was anxious about whether there would be enough interest, but with the support of Janine and other staff members, Amber and Beverly, they set up a meeting with local singing teacher, Eleanor Donnebaum.
The interest from residents has been incredible and the choir had their first performance at the annual Bradbury House Christmas Party. Eleanor says, “I was so happy to come and meet Martin to see what we could do to make his vision a reality. I lead a few choirs with older people and people who have age-related illnesses such as dementia, so I have seen over and over again what an amazing effect singing can have on people. It’s lovely for everyone at Bradbury House to get together and share music and song together. It just shows that music and singing can be enjoyed by everybody! In the short while we have sung together, I have seen so many smiles and heard such beautiful voices.”
As well as Christmas tunes, the choir enjoys singing songs from the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s and the residents have also been able to sing a few rounds, which has made them really happy. Martin is so pleased to have recognised his dream: “I was concerned that people would not turn up but has had a great turn out. Each week is getting better and better. Eleanor is a great leader and I’m so grateful for Janine, Amber and Beverly’s help.”