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A world of celebration delights music lovers at Colten Care

Fun-loving residents at Court Lodge, and our sister home’s, have celebrated World Music Day with singalongs, karaokes, themed parties and concerts.
From cardio drumming to hillbilly-style dances, there were joyful sounds filling the air to entertain residents and visitors alike at our 21 sister homes across the south.

At Kingfishers in New Milton, Hampshire, there was intergenerational festivity as children from Durlston Court School’s ukulele band came along to perform.
Resident Hugh Cooke said: “They were all so very good. I really enjoyed the concert.”

And Joyce Ponsonby said: “What a wonderful afternoon seeing the kids perform. I really enjoyed listening to them.”
Elsewhere, our staff and residents chose a variety of ways to showcase their own musical creativity and knowledge.

There was a music quiz at Whitecliffe House in Blandford, a six-decade jukebox celebration at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth and song and dance-themed coffee mornings at Court Lodge and Linden House in Lymington.

Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst held a ‘Walking on Sunshine’ music and movement session while Newstone House in Sturminster Newton staged an ‘Abba spectacular’.

Participants in a music and movement session at Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst

At Canford Chase in Poole, residents took the microphone and sang to each other in a garden karaoke.

At fellow Poole home The Aldbury, the focus was on cardio drumming and at Fernhill in Longham there was singing and dancing on the theme of ‘hillbilly blues’.
Fiona Pritchard, our Music & Arts Partner, said: “World Music Day was a great opportunity to celebrate the breadth of musical creativity our residents enjoy.

“There really was a lot of variety. People joined together to say thank-you for the many ways that music brings joy and pleasure to them.”

Having fun at a garden karaoke session at Canford Chase in Poole are Margaret Connor and Frank Daley

World Music Day has been celebrated every June since 1982. It originated in Paris from a proposal by the then French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, as Fête de la Musique, a day when people were encouraged to play musical instruments in their neighbourhoods and in public spaces and parks.

Now celebrated in more than 120 countries, the aim remains to celebrate and have fun with music.

Canford Chase’s Senior Care Lead Abner Saclayan plays guitar. On vocals is Abner’s wife Rowena who visited the home to support the World Music Day celebration.

‘Remarkable’ BSO French Horn player leaves our care home residents astounded 

We visited our sister home Kingfishers in New Milton, for a special performance by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s (BSO’s) new Artist in Residence, Felix Klieser.
Residents enjoyed a stunning performance from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s (BSO’s) new Artist in Residence, the professional musician Felix Klieser, who plays the French Horn with his feet.

Felix was accompanied on the piano by his BSO colleague Kevin Pritchard and the musicians led the audience through a stunning one-hour set which included concertos by Beethoven, Mozart and Strauss.

Felix, who began a two-year tenure as the Artist in Residence at BSO in November 2021, said it was good to play for such an intimate audience.
He also paused to take questions from the audience about his extraordinary life.

Felix explained how he first expressed an interest in playing the French Horn as a four-year-old but was told it was unlikely he would have the lung capacity to start lessons until much later.

Despite this he excelled and at 17, enrolled at the prestigious Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover.

Following the performance resident Bunty Patrick said: “I cannot describe what I have just seen. What a talent! It’s something I’ll never forget.”
Terry Brown agreed: “Felix is remarkable. I enjoyed his playing very much and feel honoured to have seen him.”
Alan Havelock added: “I was extremely lucky to have been a trustee of BSO when I was younger and with my wife saw many of their performances and met many musicians. I have never seen anything quite like I did today. It was astounding. I’d like to thank Colten Care for bringing Felix and his amazing talent to us all.”

Fiona Pritchard, our Music and Arts Partner said: “Most of the people in the audience today from Kingfishers and Court Lodge are classical music fans who, before coming to live at their Colten Care homes were regular concert-goers.”

“Most are no longer able to attend concerts easily, so Colten works hard to bring the music directly to them.”
“Today they enjoyed their own personal recital from some amazing musicians. Everyone agreed it was a treat to behold.”
The BSO’s popular care home concerts returned to homes across the BCP region earlier this year, following the pandemic. The performances marked a decade of ongoing support for the BSO’s music in care homes programme by Tapper Funeral Service and were expanded with thanks to support by Rawlins Davy Solicitors.

Glamour and glitz light up ‘Tea at The Ritz’

The glamour and glitz of the jazz age was in vogue once again as residents from two of our homes came together to celebrate Afternoon Tea Week
Flapper dresses, sequins, forearm gloves and peacock feather headbands were de rigueur as Roaring Twenties’ glamour sparkled anew at our sister home, Belmore Lodge in Lymington.

Our residents took the short trip to Belmore Lodge for a lively, stylish afternoon of music, dance and conversation.

The fun took place in the sunshine of the Belmore Lodge garden with family and friends among the guests.

Jazz singer Wills Bailey-Hobbs performed popular hits and jazz standards from the 1920s decade.

Colten Care chefs prepared homemade quiches and cakes and a photobooth gave residents the opportunity to capture precious memories of their look and outfits on the day.

Belmore Lodge resident Maureen Marks said: “We never need an excuse to dress up, especially when it’s all about the elegance of the 1920s.
“It was a joy to welcome family and friends, including our fellow residents from Court Lodge, and experience ‘The Ritz’ being brought into Belmore.”
Sharon Semple, Companionship Team Leader at Belmore Lodge, said: “Everyone had fun enjoying a glorious garden party full of lovely music and dancing.”

As well as care homes, venues taking part in Afternoon Tea Week across the UK included bakeries, cafés and hotels, all keen to celebrate ‘the great British tradition of afternoon tea’.

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