NEWS
One year of the Forget-me-not Singing Club!
October 2024
This photo shows us celebrating the Forget-me-not Singing Club’s first birthday! Over the past year we’ve grown from a tiny little group which couldn’t cover the cost of the hall hire, to a wonderful, friendly and mutually supportive group of people. Our dementia-friendly singing sessions are full of laughter, fun, tea and biscuits. Huge thanks to everyone who has helped us spread the word and make it such a success!
We meet on Friday afternoons in Brockenhurst and new people are always welcome.
One year of the Forget-me-not Singing Club!
October 2024
This photo shows us celebrating the Forget-me-not Singing Club’s first birthday! Over the past year we’ve grown from a tiny little group which couldn’t cover the cost of the hall hire, to a wonderful, friendly and mutually supportive group of people. Our dementia-friendly singing sessions are full of laughter, fun, tea and biscuits. Huge thanks to everyone who has helped us spread the word and make it such a success!
We meet on Friday afternoons in Brockenhurst and new people are always welcome.
Forget-me-not Singing Club
September 2023
I’m delighted to announce a new project starting on 20th October 2023… The Forget-Me-Not Singing Club is primarily aimed at people living with dementia and their friends, but anyone else who just fancies a good sing on a Friday afternoon is very welcome to join us! We’ll be meeting at 2pm in Brockenhurst Methodist Church Hall (New Forest). You can find out all the details HERE.
(I am also on the look-out for a couple of volunteers to help me run the sessions, so please do get in touch if that sounds like you!).
Forget-me-not Singing Club
September 2023
I’m delighted to announce a new project starting on 20th October 2023… The Forget-Me-Not Singing Club is primarily aimed at people living with dementia and their friends, but anyone else who just fancies a good sing on a Friday afternoon is very welcome to join us! We’ll be meeting at 2pm in Brockenhurst Methodist Church Hall (New Forest). You can find out all the details HERE.
(I am also on the look-out for a couple of volunteers to help me run the sessions, so please do get in touch if that sounds like you!).
An introduction to Nature Songs
June 2023
If you have ever wondered what Nature Songs is, what it might be like to take part, or why we do it – here’s your answer!
Have a quick watch of this video where we explain it all in less than 3 minutes!
An introduction to Nature Songs
June 2023
If you have ever wondered what Nature Songs is, what it might be like to take part, or why we do it – here’s your answer! Have a quick watch of this video where we explain it all in less than 3 minutes!
Pop-up choir at Turn the Tide festival
29th May 2023
A great big thank you to everyone who joined our pop-up choir at Turn the Tide festival in Dawlish.
We achieved the brilliant feat of learning a new three part song in less than 45 minutes and then going and performing it in front of a big crowd! It was a pleasure to sing with you all!
Pop-up choir at Turn the Tide festival
29th May 2023
A great big thank you to everyone who joined our pop-up choir at Turn the Tide festival in Dawlish. We achieved the brilliant feat of learning a new three part song in less than 45 minutes and then going and performing it in front of a big crowd! It was a pleasure to sing with you all!
We were on BBC Radio Devon!
24th May 2023
Paul Leather put together a great 5 minute segment for Pippa Quelch’s afternoon show, all about Nature Songs and the ideas behind it. You’ll hear us all singing, the birds tweeting along in the background and lots of laughter. It was a lovely day!
Listen here on BBC Sounds or use the media player below:
We were on BBC Radio Devon!
24th May 2023
Paul Leather put together a great 5 minute segment for Pippa Quelch’s afternoon show, all about Nature Songs and the ideas behind it. You’ll hear us all singing, the birds tweeting along in the background and lots of laughter. It was a lovely day!
Listen here on BBC Sounds or use the media player below:
Nature Songs - Heavitree event
13th May 2023
It was an absolute pleasure to run a special standalone Nature Songs event, funded by Active Devon as part of the Naturally Healthy May campaign. We wandered to some lovely locations within the park, singing some of the old favourites plus a new 3-part harmony song called Four Seeds, written especially for the occasion. We also created beautiful pictures of birds and owls, using nature as our palette. The sun shone down on us and we even had Paul Leather from BBC Radio Devon there interviewing us about the project (and singing along)!
Nature Songs - Heavitree event
13th May 2023
It was an absolute pleasure to run a special standalone Nature Songs event, funded by Active Devon as part of the Naturally Healthy May campaign. We wandered to some lovely locations within the park, singing some of the old favourites plus a new 3-part harmony song called Four Seeds, written especially for the occasion. We also created beautiful pictures of birds and owls, using nature as our palette. The sun shone down on us and we even had Paul Leather from BBC Radio Devon there interviewing us about the project (and singing along)!
Nature Songs - Northernhay Gardens
October to December 2022
The second Nature Songs project ended in December 2022, after 8 weekly sessions of nature connection activities and singing in Exeter’s city parks. This time we had a small but perfectly formed group of lovely people, and by the end of the project we had each written a verse for our song inspired by Northernhay Gardens.
It was wonderful to see the Autumn tree colours building, erupting and then fading into a frosty Winter, all during the period of time we were meeting together. Thanks to Active Devon for funding this project.
Nature Songs - Northernhay Gardens
October to December 2022
The second Nature Songs project ended in December 2022, after 8 weekly sessions of nature connection activities and singing in Exeter’s city parks. This time we had a small but perfectly formed group of lovely people, and by the end of the project we had each written a verse for our song inspired by Northernhay Gardens. It was wonderful to see the Autumn tree colours building, erupting and then fading into a frosty Winter, all during the period of time we were meeting together. Thanks to Active Devon for funding this project.
Exeter Book Songwriting Choir
September to December 2022
After 10 weeks of meeting as the Exeter Book Songwriting Choir, this photo shows us coming together one last time to perform our songs to an invited audience at the Barnfield Theatre.
It was pretty special standing on the stage and singing songs we had helped write, inspired by the Exeter Book Riddles. We even managed to get about half the audience on stage with us to speed-learn and sing a song with us as a finale!
The Exeter Book Songwriting Choir was a collaboration with Jack Dean & Company, funded by the Arts Council.
Exeter Book Songwriting Choir
September to December 2022
After 10 weeks of meeting as the Exeter Book Songwriting Choir, this photo shows us coming together one last time to perform our songs to an invited audience at the Barnfield Theatre. It was pretty special standing on the stage and singing songs we had helped write, inspired by the Exeter Book Riddles. We even managed to get about half the audience on stage with us to speed-learn and sing a song with us as a finale!
The Exeter Book Songwriting Choir was a collaboration with Jack Dean & Company, funded by the Arts Council.
Nature Songs
January to March 2022
The first ever Nature Songs project took place in Bury Meadow Park, Exeter, in the Winter/Spring of 2022. Over 8 weeks we had loads of fun singing in the park and carrying out nature connection activities. Starting in January meant it was pretty chilly at times! But it was all worth it to see how the park transformed from Winter to Spring and to meet so many lovely new people.
The project was funded by Active Devon as part of their Connecting Actively to Nature (CAN) programme, supported by Sport England and the National Lottery.
Nature Songs
January to March 2022
The first ever Nature Songs project took place in Bury Meadow Park, Exeter, in the Winter/Spring of 2022. Over 8 weeks we had loads of fun singing in the park and carrying out nature connection activities. Starting in January meant it was pretty chilly at times! But it was all worth it to see how the park transformed from Winter to Spring and to meet so many lovely new people.
The project was funded by Active Devon as part of their Connecting Actively to Nature (CAN) programme, supported by Sport England and the National Lottery.
"Sing in the Park" for Naturally Healthy May
May 2021
As lockdown eased, we organised a Covid-safe session in the local park for members of the Duryard Songwriting Project, and anyone else who wished to join us. As the song we had written was all about nature and Spring, it was wonderful to sing it in the environment which had inspired us, even if we had to dodge the rain clouds! This session was supported by Active Devon as part of their Naturally Healthy May campaign.
"Sing in the Park" for Naturally Healthy May
May 2021
As lockdown eased, we organised a Covid-safe session in the local park for members of the Duryard Songwriting Project, and anyone else who wished to join us. As the song we had written was all about nature and Spring, it was wonderful to sing it in the environment which had inspired us, even if we had to dodge the rain clouds! This session was supported by Active Devon as part of their Naturally Healthy May campaign.
Duryard Songwriting Project
March to April 2021
The Duryard Songwriting Project was designed to bring together the community in a remote part of Exeter, in a creative way, while we were in lockdown. We met online, but were able to create bonds and friendships that could transfer to “real life” as Covid restrictions eased. Our chosen theme was Spring, particularly as it was experienced in Duryard and during the pandemic. At the end of the project we held an online celebration of Spring, inviting friends and family. It was commissioned by Exeter Northcott Theatre as part of their Get Creative programme.
“We’ve all really enjoyed the project. Thank you to you, I can’t believe you have got me to record myself singing – never thought that would happen!”
UP-DATE: In 2022, Amy, Bee and Cath were interviewed about the Duryard Songwriting Project as part of a programme about women, singing and nature created by Jen Grove of Dreadnought SW. It was broadcast on Phonic FM on 8/3/22 for International Women’s Day. You can listen by clicking the play button below:
Duryard Songwriting Project
March to April 2021
The Duryard Songwriting Project was designed to bring together the community in a remote part of Exeter, in a creative way, while we were in lockdown. We met online, but were able to create bonds and friendships that could transfer to “real life” as Covid restrictions eased. Our chosen theme was Spring, particularly as it was experienced in Duryard and during the pandemic. At the end of the project we held an online celebration of Spring, inviting friends and family. It was commissioned by Exeter Northcott Theatre as part of their Get Creative programme.
“We’ve all really enjoyed the project. Thank you to you, I can’t believe you have got me to record myself singing – never thought that would happen!”
UP-DATE: In 2022, Amy, Bee and Cath were interviewed about the Duryard Songwriting Project as part of a programme about women, singing and nature created by Jen Grove of Dreadnought SW. It was broadcast on Phonic FM on 8/3/22 for International Women’s Day. You can listen by clicking the play button below:
Lockdown Songwriting Project
June to July 2020
At the height of the pandemic, I worked with a small group of strangers, from all over the country, through a series of online sessions. Together we wrote and recorded a song and video about our experiences of the Covid-19 lockdown. Participants said they found the process both enjoyable and cathartic during those troubled times. The video shows the results!
“Just wanted to say a huge thank you for letting me be a part of this. If we’ve achieved nothing else in lockdown, we’ve made something special!”
Lockdown Songwriting Project
June to July 2020
At the height of the pandemic, I worked with a small group of strangers, from all over the country, through a series of online sessions. Together we wrote and recorded a song and video about our experiences of the Covid-19 lockdown. Participants said they found the process both enjoyable and cathartic during those troubled times. The video shows the results!
“Just wanted to say a huge thank you for letting me be a part of this. If we’ve achieved nothing else in lockdown, we’ve made something special!”
If Walls Could Talk
March to July 2014
This was an oral history project rather than songwriting, but I hope to combine the two in the future! “If Walls Could Talk” focused on peoples’ memories of the buildings in the Park District, Weymouth. I held workshops, memory sessions and one to one interviews with elderly residents, and gathered information online from people who had moved away from the area. A key focus of the project was to help reduce social isolation and to increase a sense of pride in the local community. At the end of the project, we held a 1950s themed tea party to celebrate and gave guided tours of the area, led by a local character actor. We also produced a booklet containing the stories and memories we uncovered, which you can download here, for free.
If Walls Could Talk
March to July 2014
This was an oral history project rather than songwriting, but I hope to combine the two in the future! “If Walls Could Talk” focused on peoples’ memories of the buildings in the Park District, Weymouth. I held workshops, memory sessions and one to one interviews with elderly residents, and gathered information online from people who had moved away from the area. A key focus of the project was to help reduce social isolation and to increase a sense of pride in the local community. At the end of the project, we held a 1950s themed tea party to celebrate and gave guided tours of the area, led by a local character actor. We also produced a booklet containing the stories and memories we uncovered, which you can download here, for free.