22 December 2017
Only Boys Aloud choir performs with Greenhill Manor residents
Residents at Greenhill Manor, our care home in Merthyr Tydfil, recently performed with the internationally-famous ‘Only Boys Aloud’ choir at a special concert held in their honour.
Our award-winning care home was chosen as a rehearsal venue and then later a performance venue after the charity ‘Aloud’ teamed up with the Care Forum Wales as part of a campaign called ‘Home for Christmas.’
The campaign, which saw hundreds of teenage boys move their weekly rehearsals to care homes, aimed to spread festive cheer throughout the care community whilst encouraging the younger generation and the elderly to sing, enjoy music together and interact.
The choir, that rocketed to fame after coming third in Britain’s Got Talent in 2012, rehearsed at our residential and nursing home in November and then did a special performance for our residents and their families.
Also in attendance was Welsh Assembly Member, Dawn Bowden and Labour MP Gerald Jones.
Customer Relationship Manager at Greenhill Manor, Mitchell Minney said: “We are honoured that Greenhill Manor was chosen for this wonderful campaign. The residents had an amazing time rehearsing and performing with the choir and we have already spoken to them about working together in the future.
“At the event we had around 40 residents and family members in the café and another 15 listening contently on the balcony, so I think it’s safe to say that the choir enjoyed it just as much as our residents and guests.”
Lisa James, 46, a resident at Greenhill Manor added: “I am proud to say that I was a member of Only Boys Aloud for one night!”
Aloud Charity Artistic Director Tim-Rhys Evans said: “It is very easy for younger generations to be ‘shielded’ from older people with fewer elderly people being looked after at home nowadays.
“Consequently, young people can have a rather skewed view of people in care homes and all too easily forget that they too were young once with wonderful life-experience, great senses of humour and colourful histories that they want to share.”
Both events, the rehearsal and performance, were a great success spreading festive cheer throughout the home.
The event was also a wish come true for one Hallmark resident whose dream was to sing with a famous choir.
Regency House resident Margaret Matthews, 74, had the opportunity to sing and perform with the Welsh choir after winning our Christmas wish competition, Lucky Star.
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