Over one hundred people packed the Ty Nant Ddu Day Centre at Pontnewynydd on Monday of this week (May 18) to launch a new fun daytime singing session for older isolated people who live in the area. The session is a partnership between the Goldies CYMRU Charity and Torfaen County Borough Council. Goldies CYMRU started in Wales four years ago and, with the support of Lottery Wales and the Moondance Foundation, is developing its daytime singing and activity sessions across Wales. Grenville Jones is the founder of Goldies and he attended the launch this week. He said; “Our small charity has grown to the point where it now reaches out to hundreds of older people across Southern England and Wales. In Torfaen we plan to introduce more sessions in the months ahead.” Part of Goldies CYMRU is an award-winning schools intergenerational programme called Time after Time. This encourages schools to open their doors to local older people in their communities. From the original four sessions in the West of England led by founder Grenville Jones in 2008, the charity has grown to the point where it will be running over 130 by the end of this year, 35 in Wales. Special guests on Monday were children from Pontnewynydd Primary School who delighted everyone with the performance of two songs. Such was the success of their second song that it was repeated as an encore with everyone joining in. Richard Fitzjohn lives in Penarth and is a member of the Goldies CYMRU Management Board. Together with his wife Beryl they are great enthusiasts of the Charity and also attended the launch on Monday. Richard said; “Goldies is very special and on Monday we saw again how it reaches out to older people who have little opportunities to get out as well as those who suffer with dementia and also adults with learning difficulties. “It was a wonderful session led by Rachel Parry who leads Goldies CYMRU in Wales. This is a charity that brings so much joy to lonely people and Beryl and myself are delighted to support everything it does.” Our pictures show children and older people enjoying the new session on Monday May 18 (please note in the open tambourine picture Grenville Jones is behind in the blue jacket). ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
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Monday, April 20, 2015 Children from seven Wiltshire Primary Schools will be putting the clock back 100 years at the Chippenham Olympiad on Thursday May 21st. Together with older people from across the area they will take part in a day-long World War One celebration organised by the Goldies Sing and Smile Charity. Rob Parsons is headteacher at Colerne Primary School and a Trustee of the Goldies Charity which now reaches out to hundreds of isolated older people across Southern England and Wales. He said; “It is a joy to see young people interact with those who are young at heart. “Everyone is welcome to our free admission World War One day which runs from 11.00am until 3.00pm. We are delighted that the Mayor of Chippenham, Cllr David Powell, will attend. I understand that this will be Cllr Powell’s first official engagement as the new Mayor of the town.” Schools taking part are; Colerne Cof E Primary School, Charter Primary School, The Mead Community Primary School/The Mead Teaching School, River Mead School, Forest and Sandridge CE Primary, St Patrick’s RC Primary and Bishops Cannings CE Primary. For full details see www.golden-oldies.org.uk or call 01761 470006 Goldies sessions I Wiltshire take place on; Every SECOND FRIDAY at 10:30am at The Marden House Centre in CALNE _ Every LAST FRIDAY at 2:00pm at Sheldon Road Methodist Church in CHIPPENHAM _ Every SECOND MONDAY at 10:30am at Pound Arts Centre in CORSHAM _ Every FOURTH THURSDAY at 2:00pm at Sheep Street Baptist Church in DEVIZES _ Every SECOND TUESDAY at 10:30am at Thornbank Community Room in MELKSHAM _ Every SECOND MONDAY at 10:30am at Pembroke House in SALISBURY _ Every FIRST THURSDAY at 2:30pm at United Church Warminster inWARMINSTER _ Every FIRST TUESDAY at 2:00pm at Leigh Park Community Centre inWESTBURY . . . And a New Session coming soon to HILPERTON, TROWBRIDGE ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE Tuesday, April 14, 2015 The Komedia Club in Westgate Street, Bath, is hosting a very special viewing of the popular 70s film Grease on Sunday afternoon May 10th. Admission is free for the unique afternoon which will support the Goldies Charity. Tickets are limited, Goldies Founder Grenville Jones explained; “We will start the afternoon at 2.00pm with a run through of all the popular pieces, followed by a viewing of the 90 minute film with everybody singing along! “We are the sing-along charity that brings joy to hundreds of older people across Southern England and Wales. “Admission to our Grease afternoon is free but we will be asking people to make a donation as they leave at 5.00pm.” Full details are on the events page of the www.golden-oldies.org.uk website or call 01761 470006. ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. CLICK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL FLYER:
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Tuesday, March 17, 2015 Pic shows Goldies chair of Trustees Mike Richardson with founder Grenville Jones and (front) long serving session leader Jacqui Cook, from Timsbury, with new Bollywood session leader Gloria Rajput and Dhek Bhal chief executive Zehra Haq. Grenville in full flight Members of the Bollywood Goldies lead the singing ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A singing charity that started in Bath 7 years ago celebrated a very special centenary on Monday morning of this week. The Golden-Oldies started life in January 2007 with just four daytime fun sing-along sessions for older vulnerable people living at sheltered housing community rooms. The sessions then were all taken by the charities founder Bath music-man Grenville Jones working with Somer Housing. Seven years on, ‘Goldies’, fondly known as the sing and smile charity, launched its ONE HUNDREDTH venue, singing Bollywood Bhangra music in partnership with South Asian older people from the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Dhek Bhal Community. Over 10,000 sessions have taken place since the first ones in Bath and there are now 35 dedicated session leaders. Goldies small beginnings in Bath & North East Somerset were at Peasedown, Bathampton, Southdown and Keynsham. There are now 17 across B&NeS including new sessions at Westfield, Oldfield Park and Odd Down, added in recent months . The popular monthly Big Sing at the Carrswood Day Centre, Twerton, also brings together Goldies from across B&NeS and is enjoyed by adults with learning difficulties who attend the centre. In Bath, Goldies works in partnership with Curo and is supported by the Roper Family Trust. Goldies now reaches out across Southern England with sessions in Bristol, Essex, Staffs, Hampshire, Gloucester, Wiltshire, Somerset and in South Wales, as Goldies Cymru, with its popular formula using the memory-evoking songs of the 60s and onwards. It plans to expand its work across the whole of the UK in the years ahead under the banner, GOLDIES UK. Goldies Chair of Trustees is Bath based accountant , Mike Richardson. He said; “We are a very small charity and still only have one full-time member of staff. Without question it is the pure energy and enthusiasm of our founder Grenville Jones that has driven us forward. It is quite remarkable what he has achieved. “In recent months our development across Southern England and Wales underlines our vision to reach out to older people across the whole of the United Kingdom as Goldies UK. “Working in partnership with our local hospice in Bath, Dorothy House, 2015 will see the opening of our first Goldies Charity Shop. Not surprisingly, Grenville intends to make this the first singing shop in the world with regular Goldies singing sessions taking place each month in the shop!” www.golden-oldies.org.uk is the English website. www.goldiescymru.org.uk is the Welsh website. ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. News Release – March 2015 Golden Oldies enjoy Easter Eggs galore with a bit of Bluebird Care A popular charity that runs singing sessions across South Gloucestershire for older people and adults with learning difficulties has received the backing of a local care provider – for the second year. Golden Oldies, who are now in their seventh year, run almost 100 singing sessions a month across England and Wales, ‘Goldies’ were treated to seasonal Easter eggs and bunnies at their get-together at Grace Court in Downend last week. Abby Rakes, who coordinates many of the sessions across the region, said: “In the UK there are millions of older people who are living in isolation and missing out on regular contact with their family and friends. Getting together, making friends and having fun are the basis of this charity. The Golden Oldies Charitable Trust is based on the well documented fact that singing is good for you, it encourages good breathing and brightens up your day and gives you a chance to meet other people. It also puts a smile on your face.” Golden Oldies currently run five sessions across South Gloucestershire in Downend, Filton, Kingswood, Stoke Gifford and Yate. Largely funded by grants, donations and charitable giving - without the generosity of many, these life-line sessions wouldn’t otherwise happen. Bluebird Care, with their offices based in Chipping Sodbury, provide personal care and support to many people across the area. Specialising in domiciliary support for the elderly and in particular those who have dementia, the organisation is always keen to support local groups who share the same ethos as themselves. Managing Director Jack Whitfield, who surprised Goldies last week in Downend with Easter treats, said: “We are delighted to have built a partnership with the Golden Oldies Charity as they completely share the values we hold dear, namely supporting vulnerable people in the community. We have seen the successful development of the charity across South West England in recent years. From very small beginnings in Bath, they now reach out to brighten the lives of hundreds of lonely people – including many in South Gloucestershire. Through our day to day work we have first-hand experience of the increasing issue of loneliness. It is one of the major issues in society and Golden Oldies is certainly making a difference to lonely lives. We are delighted to be supporting the work of the Golden Oldies in our area for a second year.” Golden Oldies sessions in South Gloucestershire are currently held at: · Grace Court Community Room, Grace Court, Dial Lane, Downend, BS16 5UP Second Monday of each month, 10.30am-11.30am · Poplar Gardens Community Rooms, Poplar Gardens, Alma Close, Kingswood, BS15 4EL Last Monday of each month, 2.00pm-3.00pm · The Old School Rooms, The Green, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8PD First Tuesday of each month, 2.00pm - 3.00pm · Kennedy House Community Room, Kennedy House, Kennedy Way, Yate, BS37 4NR Last Tuesday of each month, 2.30pm-3.30pm · Sinclair House Community Room, Sinclair House, Gloucester Road North, Filton, BS34 7PB Second Thursday of each month, 10.30am-11.30am For more details about the work of the Golden Oldies visit www.golden-oldies.org.uk or call 01761 470006 To contact Bluebird Care call 01454 323 624, email southglos@bluebirdcare.co.uk, view their website at www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/southglos or visit their office at 82 Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury. ENDS Loneliness and isolation is a major issue in the growing UK older population. A singing charity that reaches out to brighten the lives of thousands across Southern England and Wales is celebrating a special centenary with Bollywood songs on Monday March 16 in Bristol.
The Golden-Oldies started life with just four daytime fun sing-along sessions for older vulnerable people living at sheltered housing community rooms in January 2008. Seven years on, ‘Goldies’, known as the sing and smile charity, will launch its ONE HUNDREDTH venue, singing Bollywood Bhangra music in partnership with South Asian older people from the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Dhek Bhal Community. The charity now reaches out across Southern England and Wales with its popular formula using the memory-evoking songs of the 60s and onwards. Over 10,000 individual sessions have taken place within the last seven years at various venues including community rooms, church halls and schools. It plans to expand its work across the whole of the UK in the years ahead under the banner, GOLDIES UK. The sessions are led by 35 dedicated leaders and Sir Cliff Richard is the supportive Patron. Goldies reaches out across all communities and, with the support of a grant from The Henry Smith Charity in 2013, sessions engage with Afro Caribbean Elders at the Malcolm X Centre in St Paul’s, Bristol and Chinese Older People in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. It plans to develop more sessions with diverse communities throughout 2015 in Cardiff, Swindon, Gloucester and Weston-super-Mare. Zehra Haq is Chief Executive of Dhek Bhal, she said; “I have seen for myself on so many occasions the enjoyment that comes from a good old fashioned community sing song. “We are delighted to work together with Grenville and the Goldies Charity and to develop our partnership in the year ahead.” During the last seven years Goldies has received hundreds of messages from the older people who look forward to attending their local session. “It’s the fellowship – good to meet people” – an 80 year old lady from Rhymney in Wales “Nothing beats singing together” – a 72 year old man from Llantwit Major Linda attends the Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, sessions with her husband who has Alzheimer’s. Singing is good therapy for him. She said; “Our nearest sessions were in Stafford but now there is no travelling since it opened in Uttoxeter. We go to all of them. I would definitely recommend people to come along, we have such fun” Cath from Bathampton chooses ‘Dancing Cheek to Cheek’ every week as it reminds her of when her and her husband used to dance together – “I like singing and to hear the songs my husband and I used to go dancing” 86 year old Nancy never misses our Goldies session at Withywood in South Bristol. “An elderly person needs a bit of something to look forward to. We do a lot of looking backwards when we get older.” Independent academic research has underlined the value that Goldies is bringing to lonely lives. In a report by Dr Barbra Teater from the University of Bristol, she concluded; “The most important result was the statistically significant improvement in self-reported overall heath from before their participation in the Goldies sessions to now.” The charity first started in Bath & North East Somerset with four sessions at Peasedown, Bathampton, Southdown and Keynsham. There are now 17 across that area including new sessions at Westfield, Oldfield Park and Odd Down. The popular monthly Big Sing at the Carrswood Day Centre, Twerton, brings together Goldies from across the area and is enjoyed by adults with learning difficulties who attend the centre. South Gloucestershire and Bristol soon followed and there will be 18 sessions by the end of this year. One of the original sessions at Withywood Community Centre now attracts over 70 people, including many adults with learning difficulties. A new session has just started in Brislington as well as two sessions in partnership with Bristol Charities. Swindon Borough Council have supported Goldies in the Town for the past six years. There are eight regular sessions and a new session at the United Community Lunch Club will commence later this year. In the county of Wiltshire, session numbers by the end of this year will reach 14. New sessions have recently been introduced at Warminster, Corsham, Calne and Devizes. Hilperton will be the next Wiltshire Goldies session to start up. Across Gloucestershire, Goldies launched three years ago and there are now 15 sessions with a further six planned for Bristol and South Gloucestershire. A total of 18 by December of this year. In Gloucester a new session with Gloucester Black Elders at St Catherine Court will get underway in 2015. In Somerset and Mendip, Goldies has been running sessions for a number of years. A popular new session in Nailsea was launched in 2014 and Goldies arrived in Wells this February. Sessions are held in Yeovil, Chard and Ilminster with plans for a new session in Taunton later this year. Goldies kicked off at Frome Town Football Club in February. Last year Goldies launched in Hampshire, Essex and Staffordshire and founder Grenville Jones aims to introduce new sessions in 2015 across Southern England. In Essex Goldies works in partnership with Greenfields Community Housing Ltd, Sandra Crosby is Housing Director, she said; “When we first met Grenville last year we were so impressed with his passion and enthusiasm for the charity. Goldies and Greenfields are bound to be a winning duet! “We know how easy it is for people to become lonely and isolated. We are eager to play our part in making our communities healthy, happy and resilient.” There will be 10 sessions in and around Braintree by the close of this year with plans for a community Big Sing event in October. In Hampshire Goldies has established sessions in and around Andover and there are plans to develop the work of the Charity across the county in the months ahead. Goldies in Basingstoke is the next target area. In Staffordshire Goldies is taking off with four sessions in Uttoxeter and Burton-upon-Trent. There will be eight sessions by the end of this year. The development of Goldies has been supported by a number of philanthropic Trusts as well as the National Lottery. The charity has also developed its inter-generational programme which encourages schools to open their doors to older people in their local communities. GOLDIES IN WALES Goldies CYMRU launched three years ago and a major Lottery Wales grant in 2013 under-pined the development of regular monthly sessions over the next three years. The target by the end of 2016 is 60 sessions across Wales. Goldies CYMRU has its own dedicated English/Welsh website www.goldiescymru.org.uk. A substantial donation was recently received from Diane Brière de L’Isle Engelhardt from the Wales-based Moondance Foundation. In a letter to Grenville Jones, Diane wrote; “I want to congratulate you and thank you for creating such an organisation. Older people are too often left behind in our rushing society and it is not only a waste of all they have to offer but a very sad reality. You are indeed making a ‘BIG’ difference to the lives of older people in Wales and I would like to help.” WORKING WITH SCHOOLS The Goldies Time after Time programme was chosen by the National Lottery and was highly commended in the 2012 prestigious Lottery Awards, Education section. Over 90 schools have taken part in Time after Time projects to date. Goldies Chair of Trustees, Mike Richardson said; “We are a very small charity and still only have one full-time member of staff. Without question it is the pure energy and enthusiasm of our founder Grenville Jones that has driven us forward. It is quite remarkable what Grenville has achieved. “In recent months our development across Southern England and Wales underlines our vision to reach out to older people across the whole of the United Kingdom as Goldies UK. “Working in partnership with our local hospice in Bath, Dorothy House, 2015 will see the opening of our first Goldies Charity Shop. Not surprisingly, Grenville intends to make this the first singing shop in the world with regular Goldies singing sessions taking place each month actually in the shop!” The new Dhek Bhal session in Barton Hill will be led by Dildar Singh the charismatic leader of the group, RSVP Bhangra and is yet another exciting development for the Goldies Charity. Founder Grenville Jones said; “I find it hard to believe that we have travelled from four sessions to 100 in such a short space of time. Goldies is all about the volunteers who support our work, the brilliant session leaders and the older people to whom our sessions mean so much. “I often have to remind people that Goldies is NOT a choir. We do use the popular hits of the 50s onwards and at many of our sessions there is dancing as well as singing but Goldies is about giving lonely people a REASON to get out and have fun. “I want to become Goldies UK reaching out to older people across the country. My target? To go from 100 to 500 by the end of 2018 across the UK and I know with the support of others, we can achieve this.” www.golden-oldies.org.uk is the English website. www.goldiescymru.org.uk is the Welsh website. PRESS RELEASE Thursday, February 12, 2015 Primary schools across Wiltshire are taking part in a programme that brings together schools and older people in their local communities. It is led by the Goldies Charity that runs its popular sing and smile daytime singing and activity sessions across the county. Goldies was started by Bath-based musician Grenville Jones seven short years ago. Next month it will launch at its 100th location with sessions now taking place across Southern England and Wales. In Wiltshire new Goldies sessions in the last three months includes Calne, Corsham, Warminster and Devizes. The schools project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and is led by Goldies founder Grenville Jones. He explained; “When older people go back to school to meet and sing with children everyone has a wonderful time. “Our project quite simply asks schools to put on an open day to which their local older folk are invited. The theme for many days has been World War One and we are also inviting Wiltshire schools to take part in a special event on Thursday May 21st. “This will be at the Chippenham Olympiad during the day when we would love school choirs to sing and with free admission to everyone and a warm invitation to older people who live in and around Chippenham to come along.” Laura Hurn teaches at Five Lanes Primary School at Worton near Devizes. The school welcomed their older guests in November and further events are planned for the future. Said Laura; “It was a pleasure to watch the children share their learning with pride and sing the World War One songs with our older guests. I don’t know if there will ever be a moment quite like it in my career again. Incredible.” For further details please see http://www.golden-oldies.org.uk/ww1-schools-project.html or email glj@golden-oldies.org.uk ENDS Picture caption : Bringing old and young together with songs and smiles, the Goldies. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE
INVITATION TO Local media to attend suggested best time 2-15 for the BIG singalong - thanks Thursday, February 5, 2015 Voices of all ages will ring out on Wednesday February 25 at Holy Trinity Primary School in Yeovil when the school will be hosting a World War One Heritage Day in partnership with the Goldies sing and smile Charity. Goldies brings together older people across Southern England and Wales through its organised fun daytime singing and activity sessions. Started by Bath music man Grenville Jones seven years ago it has grown from the four original sessions taken by Grenville to over 10,000 sessions at 100 venues led by35 dedicated session leaders. For many, attending Goldies is the only time that some get to meet and enjoy the company of others. The Goldies schools inter-generational programme encourages schools to open their doors to the older folk in their community and on Wednesday February 25 older people who attend the Goldies session at Milford Hall will be the guests of the school. Also attending will be the Mayor of Yeovil Cllr Mike Lock and the Mayoress. Grenville said; “Holy Trinity Primary School are putting on a fantastic day for our Goldies and are also inviting other local people. There will be lots of singing and the children will also be showing the older folk their World War One projects that they have been working on in recent weeks. “Everyone will enjoy lunch provided by the school and the day will end with a good old fashioned sing-along of those World War One favourites led by myself. “It’s going to be a great day, I am really looking forward to it.” For further information see www.golden-oldies.org.uk. All primary schools are invited to take part in the Goldies project, call 01761 470006 or email Grenville glj@golden-oldies.org.uk for more details. ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934 Over 80 older people who attend the Goldies singing and activity sessions in B&NeS enjoyed their annual Christmas party on Monday. St Phillips and St James Church Hall in Odd Down hosted the party and the Goldies were delighted to be entertained by children from the nearby St Phillips Primary School. Goldies was started in Bath seven years ago by music man Grenville Jones who took the first four sessions himself in and around Bath. Since that time the charity has grown, introducing new sessions across Southern England and Wales. Over 90 venues now host daytime sessions led by over 30 dedicated session leaders. Hundreds of people attend and Goldies has certainly become known as the smile charity. There have been many new sessions introduced this year, locally in Oldfield Park, Larkhall and Odd Down and the charity has plans to increase to 130 session venues by the end of next year. Other new sessions in 2014 have underlined the vision of founder Grenville Jones to become a UK wide charity in the years ahead, with launches in Essex Staffordshire, Gloucester and Hampshire. The charities award-winning Schools intergenerational programme Time after Time is also reaching across communities. It encourages schools to open their doors to older people who live in their local communities and take part in projects that bring together the young with the young at heart. Projects this year have been based on the anniversary of the start of World War One. The Christmas party on Monday gave the Goldies the chance to sing their favourite 50s songs to the St Phillips school children. Grenville Jones said: “It was a wonderful Christmas Cracker of a party with bucketful’s of smiles and laughter. I would like to thank the Quartet Trust and Mrs Margaret Roper for helping us to provide the community transport to bring the folk to the party. “At this time I would also like to pay tribute to Mrs Roper and her husband Brian who died earlier this year. Brian and Margaret Roper were at the heart of the community of Bath with their wonderful philanthropic support of so many local organisations, including our Golden-Oldies charity, since we launched in 2007. “Christmas is a time to look back and give thanks to those people who really do make a difference to the communities we live in. Mr Brian Roper was one of those special people.” Ends Enquiries to Grenville on 07778 282934 INVITE AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITY A golden partnership between Greenfields and the “smile charity” A national charity that has built a reputation based on smiles through singing is now working with older people in the Braintree District on a project funded by Greenfields Community Housing. Greenfields Community Housing is working in partnership with Golden-Oldies to introduce four new daytime singing sessions in its older persons’ schemes. ‘Goldies’, as it is popularly known, was started by Bath-based music man, Grenville Jones, six years ago. From four initial sessions, Goldies now runs over 90 sessions across Southern England and Wales. The sessions are based on the memory-evoking hits of the 50s, onwards. Goldies is not a choir; it provides informal singing sessions that lighten the hearts of those who attend. For many, attending Goldies is the only time they get out to be with others, to sing, smile and make new friendships. Sandra Crosby, Housing Director at Greenfields Community Housing, commented: “Our residents have a big say in the projects we support and I’m thrilled that a group of our residents they agreed for us to fund Goldies. We know how easy it is for people to become lonely and isolated, especially in the winter months. We are eager to play our part in making our communities healthy, happy and resilient. The sessions are great fun, with a real variety of songs. I would encourage residents to attend; you won’t be disappointed.” Retired church minister, Rob Cadman, who lives in Braintree, will lead the project. Rob says: “I love the terrific way that Goldies uses well-known songs to remind folk of years gone by, putting a positive spin on experience and memory. It is a real privilege to be working with Greenfields and Grenville on this amazing project.” The first sessions are: 1. Harold Sims House (Sims Close, Earls Colne CO6 2SG) on Tuesday November 25th and Tuesday January 20th 2015 from 2.00pm until 3.00pm. 2. Gladys Malpass House (Colne Valley Close, Halstead CO9 1LE) on Tuesday December 2nd and Tuesday January 27th 2015 from 11.00am until 12.00noon. 3. Rex Mott Court (Guithaven Street, Witham CM8 1UP) on Thursday December 11th and Thursday January 22nd 2015 from 11.00am until 12.00 noon. 4. Tom Davies House (Coronation Avenue, Braintree CM7 1EP) on Friday December 19th and Friday January 30th 2015 from 2.00pm until 3.00pm The project is also supported by an ‘Awards for All England’ grant. More sessions will be added in the coming months, please check www.golden-oldies.org.uk -Ends- |
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