A WOKINGHAM choral concert has raised thousands to help pay for equipment to support people recovering from strokes.
South Berkshire Singers (SBS) performed at Holme Grange School in Wokingham, and generated £3,000, which will go to the Royal Berkshire Charity (specifically the Acute Stroke Unit). The unit provides acute care and rehabilitation for stroke patients, and has 30 beds, including six higher monitoring beds.
It also provides access to in-patient neuro-rehabilitation and early supported community discharge services.
The money raised by the choir will go towards refurbishing and improving the unit, with extras above and beyond the scope of the NHS budget, which can make a difference to recovery.
The Royal Berkshire Charity says that incorporating elements of nature into the environment has been demonstrated to reduce stress, blood pressure levels and heart rates, whilst increasing productivity, creativity and self-reported rates of wellbeing.
Providing patients and staff with access to calm and relaxing spaces on a regular basis, can enhance recovery and reduce stress.
By supporting the provision of gardens, and uplifting art throughout the hospital, Royal Berkshire Charity aims to give the best environment for care and recovery, as well as staff wellbeing.
“Since Easter, when we performed Faure’s Requiem and Carl Jenkins’ The Armed Man, the choir has been practising a completely different programme of music for our summer concert, Midsummer Music,” said Dave Donaldson from SBS.
“This included toe-tapping rhythms and feel-good favourites from the high seas to the West End with guests Quintessentially Wind, with Louise Webb on flute, Andrew Grey on oboe, Anne Smith playing clarinet, Robert Smith on bassoon, and Simon Hayes playing french horn.
The concert programme included sea shanties sung by ‘captain’ Brian Matthews, ‘able seaman’ Hamish Bruce and ‘vice admiral’ Nick Hird, with choir and audience participation.
The Seal Lullaby and Sing Gently were performed by the choir, and Quintessential Wind played Five Easy Dances, after which the musicians and singers together presented A Cycle Round Britain, which consisted of five traditional folk songs from the United Kingdom: Strawberry Fair, The Ashgrove, The Raith Rover, Danny Boy and Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron.
The Choir then sang a medley, Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel, and individuals performed solos or duets: Lynne Smith, Nick Hird, Doug Cleary, John Fletcher, Mia Headdey and Peter Loring.
Lionel Browne on bass guitar, and Alex Kershaw on drums enhanced the sound.
Quintessential Wind then performed three jazz pieces before the choir sang selections from Oliver, and the concert concluded with an ABBA medley with audience participation.
The concert was led by Karen Phillips with piano accompaniment from Nick Austin.
Karen has provided the choir with inspirational leadership for ten years, but she is retiring this summer, so this was this her last concert with SBS, as musical director.
For information, visit: southberkshiresingers.org.uk, or find the choir on social media.
