Keeping busy

On these pages we hear aboutthe great pleasure you can get from taking part in singing and amateur dramatics.

Singing is good for you, it’s official!

People have often said that a good sing makes them feel better and now it’s been proved.

Sing For Your Life is a registered charity operating a number of Silver Song Clubs across the south east of England, including Hampshire. Silver Song Clubs are regular sessions of fun, social music-making for older people and their carers.

Sessions are free, there are no auditions (it’s not like the X factor!) and refreshments are included. A whole range of songs are sung, including old favourites, and hand chimes and percussion instruments are also used.

The sessions are a great opportunity to share in the joy of singing together, meet new friends and share some memories.

Sing For Your Life has been working with Hampshire County Council to establish new Silver Song Clubs in the county, the first of which started in Petersfield in autumn 2008. A number of additional clubs are due to start during 2009.

A recently completed evaluation has shown that people who sing regularly benefit from doing so. Benefits for older people include increased morale, less loneliness, improved breathing, and general improvements to health and wellbeing. Sharing memories triggered by songs and the physical exercise of singing are particularly important. As one Silver Song Club member was heard to say, “you can’t buy this in a bottle”.

If you are interested in finding out more about Silver Song Clubs, or would like to join a club near you, please contact Sing For Your Life on 01303 298549.

Still acting up at 81!

“Age is mostly in the mind. It’s a common misconception that all older people ‘think old’. Older people think the age they want to be. There are some of us who have never grown old in our heads!” So says Colin, 81, a former professional stunt man who has worked alongside stars such as Errol Flynn and Richard Burton.

Given his love of theatre, it’s no surprise that Colin belongs to an amateur theatre group. He joined Romsey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society in 1977 and is still an active member.

“Amateur theatre is a great social activity for anyone of any age,” he explains. “You don’t have to act. We have plenty of members, young and old, who don’t wish to go on stage but who are an integral part of a production – making costumes, building sets, doing props, helping with front-of-house duties. It’s good to be involved in something creative. And it’s fun!”

The last production in which Colin appeared was as the central character, a burglar called Spriggs, in the comedy thriller ‘Theft’ by Eric Chappell. He admits that learning lines does get slightly more difficult with age but asserts that it’s excellent exercise for your brain!

One of the joys of his active involvement in the theatre is the chance to work with young people: “It doesn’t matter how old you are, you are always learning. You can learn a lot from younger people. And young people generate so much energy – which is marvellous.”

And the younger cast members, of course, can learn a lot from Colin. “Well,” he says modestly, “I do have to be careful not to give too much advice. But it’s nice to be called upon for my expertise when it comes to working out a particular move or stunt. It’s always good to feel needed!”

“I’m very fortunate to have the theatre,” he concludes, “but even if it is only going out for coffee, you need to get out and mix with other people. Have a bit of fun. ‘Being old’ is just a state of mind!”

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