Bangor-on-Dee choir spreads harmony to local care home residents

A community choir left happy care home residents “all shook up” after belting out a series of pop hits.

The Bangor on Dee Community Choir visited Pendine Park to perform a medley of popular songs, old and new.

Formed in 2013, the choir has over 30 singers from the village and the surrounding areas.

: “I do voluntary work locally and know a number of the staff at Pendine and arranged with Sarah to come along.

“We’re very much a community choir – you don’t have to pass a test to join, you can just come along to a practice and if you like what you see and hear then you’re made welcome.

“You don’t have to be a fantastic singer. It’s all about the joy of singing and it started as so many things do in the local pub in 2013 and it has grown from there.

“When Covid came along we had to curtail our activities but we’ve built back up and we really enjoy it.

“Huw Jones was a founder of the choir and he used to be a music teacher and he is still playing and conducting as our musical director.

“We always enjoy our singing and every Monday, our practice night, there’s always a good turn out of upwards of 25 but what we really like is singing for other people which is what it’s all about.

Artist in residence at Pendine Park Sarah Edwards said: “It was a lovely experience and the residents, who were aged from 20 to over 70, and staff really enjoyed it.

“The Choir were excellent and they tailored their songs to suit everyone so it was brilliant, from Abba to Elvis, and it went down very well with some excellent audience participation too.

“It was wonderful to have the choir here and they’ve promised to come back later in the year.

“The residents love the music and the singing – you can see it in their faces.”

Choir Chair Graham Wilson added: “I think the residents of Pendine enjoyed it as much as we did. It’s a two-way thing and we don’t mind them singing along as well.

“We do try and sing a variety of songs – we started with songs that are easy to learn like You Raise Me Up and then songs from musicals like Oliver and My Fair Lady.

“Many of us were around in the Sixties and Seventies so we sing music from that era, Abba and the Carpenters, and of course many of the audience at Pendine are from the same age group as us.

“Our age range is from 40 to 80s and one of our most enthusiastic members is 81 and still singing very well and with a smile on his face.

“It’s good for our health, physical and mental, and hopefully it is good for our audiences too.”