Care home carol singers unite for community Christmas tree festival

More than 20 residents from six of our care homes across the New Forest and Christchurch came together to sing carols at a community Christmas tree festival.

The parties, joined by relatives, friends and staff members, performed for visitors at the annual charity fundraiser at Lymington’s St Thomas Church.

While some rehearsals took place at homes leading up to the event, it was the first time the combined choir had sung the carols in unison and in public.

The conductor was our Music and Arts Partner, professional musician Fiona Pritchard, who led the singers through a mix of traditional and modern carols.

The 12 piece-set included timeless classics such as The Holly and the Ivy, In the Bleak Midwinter, When a Child is Born, White Christmas and the Angels’ Carol by English composer John Rutter.

Fiona said: “The residents chose the carols to perform and did a lot of preparation beforehand. We sang the Angels’ Carol for the very first time. They loved learning that one and it was a huge achievement for everyone to sing it in public.

“This was a lovely occasion, an opportunity to launch into advent with a wonderful celebration of music, singing and Christmas trees, really unifying for everybody.”

Some of our singers were making a return trip to St Thomas, having performed at the same festival in 2023, while for others it was a new experience.

Fiona added: “More than a few people remembered each other from last year whereas others had no idea what to expect. You could see the anticipation in people’s eyes as we set up and got ready to sing. It was a very special, memorable experience to come together and sing as one, with the acoustics of the church adding to the joy.”

Among the performers were three residents from Kingfishers in New Milton: Susan McPhee, Molly Speirs and Jack Phillips.

Jack said: “We had such a warm welcome at the church and we could see audience members joining in when we sang which was fantastic. A festive singalong is such a wonderful way to bring people together.”

As well as Kingfishers, the singers came from Woodpeckers home in Brockenhurst, Avon Reach in Mudeford and the Lymington homes Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and Linden House.

Residents from the homes also went hands-on to support the festival by making decorations for several trees purchased by Colten Care that were sold in aid of church charity the Friends of St Thomas.

They were among dozens of trees contributed by local companies and organisations that were put on display for sale to the public.

Involvement in the Lymington festival is just one of the many ways Colten Care residents are celebrating Christmas this year.

A choir of residents and staff from Bourne View in Poole, Amberwood House in Ferndown and Fernhill in Longham spent weeks rehearsing carols to perform in St Peter’s Church, Bournemouth, part of a public service hosted by the disability charity Diverse Abilities.

Fernhill is also the venue for two ‘carols by candlelight’ evenings with visiting Girl Guides and Brownies.

Among other homes’ community activities, Brook View in West Moors welcomes a visiting choir from nearby St Mary’s Church, Canford Chase in Poole is hosting a ‘mince pie and quiz social’ and Christmas markets feature at Abbotts Barton and St Catherines View in Winchester and Braemar Lodge in Salisbury.

The Sturminster Newton Choral Society is performing at Newstone House in the Dorset town, while Woodpeckers is offering Brockenhurst villagers an opportunity to ‘meet the reindeer’ at its annual Christmas community get-together.

There are also Christmas fetes and fayres, live music, pantomimes, gala lunches and dinners, Christmas jumper days, donkey visits and a host of other festive games and competitions being held at Colten Care’s 21 homes over the Yuletide season.