My wife, Ruth, and I started Musical Memories in order to give older people the chance to sing together and enjoy each other’s company in a fun, safe and sociable environment. Live music (with me on guitar and Ruth on piano), specially compiled songbooks, a cuppa and a chocolate biscuit and the chance to chat, laugh and sing together helps to combat the loneliness and isolation that is often a part of life in rural North Yorkshire and our regular sessions in Pickering, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Malton and Danby in the North York Moors are really well attended every week.

Our singers are aged between 60 and 96 years old. Over 60% of our singers live alone and a quarter of them are carers for their partner. Some of the people who come along have memory problems, some have mobility difficulties and many are bereaved but when they come to sing with us all of this can be forgotten for a little while as they immerse themselves in a Happy Hour of laughing, chatting and singing together.

Everybody is given a name badge when they arrive, as this really helps us to get to know each other. Our volunteers help us by giving out badges, setting up the room, putting out songbooks, making refreshments and giving lifts to those who find it difficult to walk. There's no need to ‘book a place’ and everyone is welcome to join us if they come once a week, once a month or only once a year. We keep sessions fresh by adding new songs every week, we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and we celebrate a number of events every year.

Every year we hold a Big Sing and Afternoon tea - inviting everyone who has sung with us throughout the year to get together in The Milton Rooms Malton and raise the roof!

People tell us that these sessions are really important to them - giving them a reason to get up and out of the house. In fact some people have said it has given them 'new life'. Please help us to keep these sessions running - our older people really need them.

Thank you very much for your donation - it is much appreciated and we will put it to very good use...