Whiteway Golden-Oldies

In March 2008 I attended the Golden-Oldies session at Blagdon Park, Whiteway, to write an article about this new type of activity. Golden-Oldies groups are set up to help older people feel less isolated, by giving them a fun time singing hit songs of the 50s, 60s and 70s. The groups are the brainchild of local choirmaster Grenville Jones, who noticed the effect that music and singing had on the elderly, when a TV documentary brought some pensioners together to form the band called The Zimmers.

The Blagdon Park Golden-Oldies group was the first to be established, and has attracted attention from Canadian and German film crews following reports from the BBC and ITV. Here are some notes that I made when I visited the group.

The session takes place in a small but cosy community room, mainly serving the elderly people who live at Blagdon Park. Some individuals come from further afield and a party from Odd Down are regulars at the weekly event. Walking into the community room, I heard the clamour of many conversations from people happily anticipating the lively renditions. Plates of biscuits and cakes were passed around by the wardens and the warm face of the Queen smiled over the occasion from a couple of photographs pinned to the wall.

   

Grenville Jones walked in with a very large ghetto blaster strapped to his shoulder. The machine was plugged in and plastic folders containing the words to many well known songs of the recent past were given out. Then Grenville abruptly started the session by rushing into the centre of the room and calling out, "Right, good morning!" The first backing track was set to play on the ghetto blaster and about thirty voices filled the air with lyrics by Manfred Mann:

There she was just a-walkin' down the street, Singin' do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do, Snappin' her fingers and shufflin' her feet, Singin' do wah diddy diddy...

Other songs followed in rapid succession - Thank You For The Music by Abba, Big Spender by Shirley Bassey, Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard and many more. Some of the group liked to stand, sway or dance to the music for a time, while the wardens joined in by singing and dancing throughout. Grenville played a central role, clapping, linking arms with the wardens and calling out instructions, providing the old folk with a stimulating form of entertainment in addition to the songs.

Just when it seemed like we were on course to sing every song in the folder, the hour was up. Grenville gave a short Golden-Oldies news update, and people contentedly began to make their way home. Car shares and lifts by taxi are arranged by the Golden-Oldies charity. A lady by the name of Peggy who comes from Twerton said, "I enjoy all the go-ey songs and you can have a bit of exercise." The Golden-Oldies sessions seem very much like a form of karaoke enjoyed by the elderly, thus providing a potential link between the young and the old.

To watch the above video clip, which features the Blagdon Park Golden-Oldies group, just turn up the sound on your computer and double-click the silver arrow button. Twerton now has its own Golden-Oldies group that meets at Quebec, off Dominion Road. You will find a video clip of the Twerton Golden-Oldies in its early stages here: Twerton Goldies.

You can also visit the Golden-Oldies website at: www.golden-oldies.org.uk.