PRESS RELEASE Wednesday February 28, 2018 Remembering WW1 in stories and songs As the nation looks back to commemorate the final months of WW1 leading up to November 11 and the Armistice, primary schools across England and Wales are signing up for projects that will link them with older people in their communities. The Golden-Oldies charity started in November 2007 in the West Country. There are now 160 daytime Sing & Smile sessions supported by an army of volunteers across Southern England, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Devon, Cornwall, Essex and in South Wales, as Goldies Cymru. More fondly referred to just as “Goldies” thousands attend the fun singalongs at church halls, Libraries and community rooms. Eight years ago, charity founder Grenville Jones launched an intergenerational programme for schools, encouraging them to open their doors to older people in their communities. The most recent programme in 2014 ran across the South West and was based on the first two years of WW1. Hundreds of schools took part with heritage and memorabilia days, concerts and special events. This new programme encourages primary schools to commemorate the final months of WW1 leading up to November 11 and the anniversary of the Armistice. The programme is supported by a website… www.ourmemories.org.uk. It offers free access to a host of project ideas for primary schools as well as easy to sing WW1 medleys, specially commissioned by the charity for children and older people to sing together. The website also gives details of the unique 30 minute Armistice Cantata production, written by the children from Thornhill Primary School, Cardiff and available for all schools to access. “We have already been inundated by requests from schools, museums and libraries to take part,“ said Grenville Jones. The WW1 Goldies programme is supported by a number of organisations including Heritage Lottery England and Wales, the Garfield Weston Foundation the Royal British Legion and the Moondance Foundation in Wales. For more details contact grenville@ourmemories.org.uk ENDS Images attached show school children taking part in past events Grenville’s mobile is 0777 828 2934 www.golden-oldies.org.uk
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ARMISTICE WW1 CANTATA launch
At Chapter Arts Centre, Market Rd, Canton CF5 1QE Friday November 10th from 9.15am to 12.00noon --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One hundred years ago on November 10 1917, the third battle of Ypres ended in a small Belgium village called Passchendaele and on Friday morning, November 10 2017 a unique new play commemorating the end of WW1, written by children from Thornhill Primary School, Heol Hir, Cardiff called Armistice Cantata will be premiered at Chapter Art Centre in Canton, Cardiff. On the same morning pupils from Rhydypennau Primary School with older people from the near-bye Goldies session at Rhydypennau Library will perform a new medley of WW1 songs. The original idea for Armistice Cantata came from West Country musician and charity founder Grenville Jones who lives in Bath. Mr Jones started the Golden-Oldies charity back in 2007 with fun daytime singing sessions for older isolated people in sheltered community rooms. He took the first sessions himself and now, ten years on, there are almost 200 across Wales and England, with 50 leaders and many supportive volunteers. Thousands attend the one hour sessions. Sir Cliff Richard became patron in 2012. He says; “Golden-Oldies has made quite remarkable progress, brightening so many lives.” Grenville is a respected UK choir leader but is always anxious to point out that Goldies, as it has become known, is NOT about choir singing but instead is based on the popular memory-evoking songs of the 60’s and onwards. The charity has won many wellbeing awards for its simple “songs and smiles” formula that gives people a reason to get out and make new friends. “ I saw the joy and friendships at my choirs and wanted to try to grab that atmosphere of fun and take it to older people who lived lonely lives and had very little to look forward to,” he says. Back in 2010 he started an intergenerational programme with his charity, encouraging schools to open their doors to older people in their communities. Hundreds have taken part and, in 2014 he introduced a project supported by Heritage Lottery based on the commemoration of the First World War. “I believe it is so important for our young children to understand the sacrifice that was given then and, as a musician, to keep alive the popular tunes and words of 100 years ago,” he says. Mr Jones also has personal reasons for his dedication to the memories of WW1 as his grandfather William Henry Jones lost his life, aged 24 in the early days of the Battle of the Somme. Armistice Cantata was written by children at Thornhill Primary School Cardiff. Liz Berry is deputy head, she explains: “Our school has really embraced the Goldies charity and we have seen the huge benefits that come when out older people visit school to meet and enjoy the WW1 projects and sing the Goldies songs. “When Grenville approached us we were delighted to be asked and our brilliant Year 4 and 5 children, led by Thornhills inspired music teacher Claire Holcombe have written the song words which are adapted to melodies of 100 years ago. I cannot emphasise enough how proud we are of them all and we are nervously looking forward to performing the 30 minute play of words and music at Chapter Arts in Cardiff on Friday morning November 10th for the first time in front of an invited audience.” The Thornhill pupils worked on the project for 6 months and research included a visit to the Glamorgan Archives Museum to see WW1 memorabilia and letters and learn more about the men from South Wales who went to war. There are 7 songs and groups of children composed the lyrics for each and, together with older people who attend near bye Goldies singing sessions, they then worked on the narration script and the images that form the backdrop to the 30 minute production. Professional guidance also came from Goldies Cymru supporters Emyr Wynne Jones and Alwyn Humphreys whose expertise and musicianship then helped to create the final score and script. Armistice Cantata will be offered to all UK primary schools in English and Welsh from January through the new Goldies WW1 website which also launches of November 10. www.ourmemories.org.uk This website will also feature masses of other ideas for primary schools as well as information on WW1 commemorations, song medleys, project guidance notes and much more. “We hope that hundreds of schools and older people will take part in the weeks and months leading up to November 2018 and the Armistice commemoration,” said Grenville Jones. The WW1 programme is supported by Heritage Lottery Fund Wales, The Santander Foundation and the Moondance Foundation, Cardiff. Ends Your contacts .. Grenville Jones, Goldies founder on mobile 0777 828 2934 Liz Berry, Deputy Headteacher, Thornhill Primary School (029) 20 751302 PRESS RELEASE
A charity that started in Bath 10 years ago today (November 9th) launched its new intergenerational programme for primary schools commemorating the final years of the First World War and the Armistice on November 11 1918. A new supporting website www.ourmemories.org.uk has gone live this week. The programme is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund South West, the Garfield Weston Foundation and The Royal British Legion. Bath based musician Grenville Jones started the Golden-Oldies charity in November 2007. His experience as a choir leader had shown how singing in a group made a huge social difference to people’s lives. Always quick to emphasise that “Goldies,” as it is more fondly known, is NOT about choir singing, the charity has made remarkable progress in the past 10 years. “I saw the joy and friendships at my choirs and wanted to grab that atmosphere of fun and take it to older people who are isolated and who have little to look forward to.” Grenville took the first four Goldies daytime sessions himself in and around Bath in sheltered housing community rooms, based on the memory-evoking songs of the 60s and onwards. Now, 10 years later, there are 50 freelance session leaders, an army of volunteers and 100 sessions across Southern England, Yorkshire, the Midlands and Essex. In South Wales as Goldies Cymru and with the support of the BIG Lottery Wales, there will be an additional 65 sessions by the end of 2017. Back in 2010 in Bath the charity started an intergenerational programme with schools, encouraging them to open their doors to older people in their community. As it developed it was recognised by a number of organisations including Lottery England, Goldies being nominated in the prestigious national UK Lottery awards in their educational category. The most recent programme in 2014 ran across the South West and was based on the first two years of WW1 1914- 1916. Hundreds of schools took part with heritage and memorabilia days, concerts and special events. The new programme encourages primary schools to commemorate the final months of WW1 leading up to November 11 next year and the anniversary of the Armistice. At the launch today children from four Bath & North East Somerset schools were represented. They included Farmborough Primary School, St John’s Catholic Primary School, Welton Primary School and Widcombe Junior School. Supporting the programme is a new website for schools to access www.ourmemories.org.uk As well as containing a host of guidance notes for teachers on WW1 projects it also includes medleys of songs from 100 years ago for children to learn and sing as part of their commemorations in the months leading up to November 2018. Ian Dewey is chairman of the Golden-Oldies charity. He told a packed St Michaels church. “Grenville’s vision was to give older people a reason to get out and have fun through daytime singing and activity sessions. The school programme extends this with chances for primary schools to invite local people in to join together in memorabilia days and concerts that recognise the significance of the final months of WW1.” ENDS PRESS RELEASE Thursday, September 21st, 2017 Golden Oldies were invited to the 'Home Instead' event at Hope Church in Worle on Thursday 21st September. Despite the terrible weather lots of people turned out to support the event. 'Home Instead' is a service that helps to lift up lonely people by providing individual companionship and support, and this service and linked in well with our Goldies ethos. Lots of networking was done with other like minded services. The Goldies taster session was met with real enthusiasm and enjoyment. Lots of the other agencies joined in the singing and dancing. Ted from the Weston Super Mare session came along to support our stand and promote Goldies in North Somerset. What a wonderful ambassador for the charity he was! Seen in the picture dancing with a lovely lady from the British Red Cross. A big thanks to 'Home Instead' for their invitation and hopefully we have recruited a few more Goldies to the area. Ends PRESS RELEASE Wednesday, September 13, 2017 The launch of the monthly ‘Goldies’ fun Sing&Smile sessions at the John Betjeman Centre in Wadebridge attracted over 50 people on Monday (September 11). From small beginnings 10 years ago in the Bath and Bristol area the Goldies charity has made quite remarkable progress in recent years. The founder is Grenville Jones, who is based in Bath. He led the first sessions himself with Wadebridge-based Emma Peck who will lead the charity forward in the months and years ahead. “Our number of daytime singing sessions is now approaching 200 with 50 freelance session leaders across the South West up to Yorkshire and across the Midlands to East Anglia. Goldies Cymru with the support of the Big Lottery Fund in Wales is also developing across Mid and West Wales. “It was great to see so many people here and Emma is going to be a brilliant leader. She is looking forward to seeing everyone again on Monday October 9 from 12.00noon until 1.30pm at the John Betjeman Centre.” Full details of the charity can be found on www.golden-oldies.org.uk ENDS Picture Caption: - Emma Peck, Goldies Session Leader in Cornwall with smiling attendees on September 11. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 01761 472468. PRESS RELEASE
Monday 29 August 2017 A charity that reaches out to older isolated people through daytime Songs and Smiles singalongs, called Golden-Oldies launches in Cornwall on Monday 11 September. The venue is the John Betjeman Centre in Wadebridge from 12-30 -2pm with an open invitation for everyone living locally to come along and find out more about ‘Goldies’ as it is more fondly known. A charity which has Sir Cliff Richard as its patron. From small beginnings 10 years ago in the Bath and Bristol area the charity has made quite remarkable progress in recent years. The founder is Grenville Jones, who is based in Bath. He led the first sessions himself and is well known though his many appearances of both TV and radio across the World both as a choir leader and as Goldies founder. Grenville is the founder of a number of choirs including the famous BBCs Last Choir Standing Bath Male Choir and is the patron of the Cornwall Community Choir Association through a long-time friendship with its leader Neil Shepherd. Grenville however is always keen to underline the fact that his charity Goldies is NOT about choir singing but more about social fun sing-alongs to the well-loved and memory-evoking songs of yesteryear. Goldies in Cornwall will be led by Wadebridge-based Emma Peck who will lead the taster session with Grenville on September 11. “The number of daytime singing sessions is now approaching 200 with 50 freelance session leaders across the South West up to Yorkshire and across the Midlands to East Anglia. Goldies Cymru with the support of the Big Lottery Fund in Wales is also developing across Mid and West Wales. “I am delighted that Emma has come forward to help us to reach out to older folk in Cornwall and I look forward to meeting everyone at the John Betjeman Centre on Monday September 11. We will all have a great time,” said Grenville. Full details of the charity can be found on www.golden-oldies.org.uk ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 01761 472468. PRESS RELEASE
Monday 3 July 2017 If you like to sing along to the popular tunes of the 50s and 60s then The Wylye Room at Salisbury Medical Practice (Fisherton House, Fountain Way, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 7FD) is THE place to be on Wednesday July 25. The Golden-Oldies Charity, fondly known simply as ‘Goldies’ will be holding a “taster” fun singalong session from 2.00pm-3.30pm and everyone is welcome to attend. Goldies was started 10 years ago in and around Bath with just four daytime singing and activity sessions in sheltered housing community rooms. Since then it has made amazing progress so that, today, there are over 160 sessions across England and Wales. In Salisbury there is a regular monthly session at Pembroke House (Fisherton Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 7SX – every second Monday of each month from 2.00pm until 3.00pm) taken by Sonia Lower. The session at Salisbury Medical Practice came after an invitation from Katy Gillingham, Signposting Lead and Social Prescriber, who said; “There are so many older people who lead lonely lives and it’s wonderful to know that a charity like Goldies is really making such an impact on isolated lives. We are delighted to host this session, especially as Goldies founder Grenville Jones will be coming along on the day to lead the session with Sonia. For more details please contact Katy on 01722 333034 or Emma Shearman on 01761 470006. The last word goes to Sir Cliff Richard, Goldies Patron, who said; “Our Charity is really making a huge difference to the lives of so many older people across England and Wales.” ENDS Picture Caption : Goldies is reaching out to brighten lives. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. A group of Cliff Richard fans were given a special treat when they met the man himself ahead of his concert at Derbyshire’s Catton Hall. The meeting was arranged by the Golden-Oldies Charity ‘Sing and Smile’, a charity which organises singing sessions for the older generation. And as Cliff is the patron of the charity he invited Goldies founder Grenville Jones and 20 members of the Uttoxeter Goldies to hear him soundcheck and meet him while he’s touring the UK as part of his Just Fabulous Rock ‘n Roll Tour. Grenville launched Goldies 10 years ago in sheltered housing community rooms in Bath and Bristol encouraging older people to get together singing the popular memory-evoking songs of the 50’s and onwards. The hits of Cliff are big favourites at the sessions and so he was invited to be patron. There are now more than 200 Goldies groups across the UK boasting in excess of 5,000 members. Speaking about meeting Cliff, Grenville said: “This is the first time we have come face to face with Cliff so it is very exciting. “I have waited for this day for 10 years and it is very special for everyone involved. With the Goldies we are reaching out to people and giving them something to look forward to. “Loneliness and isolation are major issues in society today. Our charity, through its daytime singing, quite simply gives isolated and (perhaps) lonely people a REASON to get out and be with others, make friends, sing and smile!” 70-year-old Gene Edwards was among the Uttoxeter group who attended the concert and met Cliff. Gene has been to more concerts than she can remember in the past 50 years and said: “He’s wonderful and was as good as ever at the Catton Hall show. We all love him, he’s our Golden boy!” For more information about the Goldies go to www.golden-oldies.org.uk ENDS Issued on Behalf of Cuffe & Taylor Cuffe & Taylor is officially one of the UK’s top 10 live music and event promoters with offices in London and the North West. Established for more than seven years, they present breath-taking tours, festivals and shows across the UK. Cuffe & Taylor have worked with artists including Bryan Adams, Noel Gallagher, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Joan Collins, Lea Salonga, Ramin Karimloo, Collabro and Marti Pellow. For further information please contact: Sarah Rhodes T: 01253 477480 E: sarah@rhodesmedia.com Eighty smiling older folk who attend Goldies Cymru ‘sing and smile’ sessions across Cardiff enjoyed a memorable day with students from ACT Training this Wednesday June 21. The event took place at Ocean Park House in Cardiff and included ‘pampering' from hair and beauty students, exercise sessions, craft making and, of course, singing and smiling those Goldies Cymru favourites. “It was a really amazing day and all of our older folks had such a fun time. Our links with ACT and their students started when they attended our Goldies Cymru daytime singing session at the Central Library. From this came the invitation to a Golden Retreat and it certainly was a memorable day out for all of our older people. “Thank you ACT and thank you to your brilliant students,” said Rachel Parry, Programme Leader for Goldies Cymru. ENDS PRESS RELEASE Tuesday, June 13, 2017 Sing Out in Chelmsford The Golden-Oldies Charity celebrated with songs and smiles at the Salvation Army Citadel in Chelmsford yesterday (Monday June 12). From small beginnings in the West Country, Goldies, as it is more fondly known, has developed to the point where its daytime fun singing and activity sessions for older people now take place across England and Wales. In Essex there are now 22 regular monthly sessions and this number has just been extended through the support of the Genesis Community Foundation. Over 100 Genesis residents attended the Chelmsford celebration with special guests the Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford Cllr Jon de Vries and the Deputy Mayoress Mrs Maria de Vries. Cllr de Vries said; “Goldies is a wonderful organisation and I am delighted to be here today to see for myself how this charity is reaching out to older vulnerable people. My wife and I have enjoyed meeting all the people here who obviously get so much from attending the Goldies sing and smile sessions.” Sandra Maguire, Business and Contracts Manager for Essex and Southend, for the Genesis Community Foundation said; “We are delighted to support the work of the Golden-Oldies Charity and recognise the way that it is brightening the lives of older people through its daytime singing and activity sessions.” For full details of all Goldies sessions see www.golden-oldies.org.uk ENDS Picture One : Margaret Smith from Harlow leads the singing at the singing at the Goldies Chelmsford Big Sing. Picture Two : (left-right) Chelmsford Deputy Mayor Cllr Jon de Vries, Goldies session leader Rob Cadman, Deputy Mayoress Mrs Maria de Vries and Sandra Maguire from Genesis Community Foundation. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. |
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