Concert for Veterans at Belvedere House

Posted 26 September, 2011

Our Televisions Manager Jacinta Dalley attended our recent concert at Belvedere House, a care home in Surrey owned by the Royal Alfred Seafarers Society. These are her observations:

“I was delighted to have had the opportunity of attending this concert. As always, Mickie Driver and his team of artistes put on a superb show for the residents and had clearly taken great care to select the right blend of songs for the occasion.

“I am always touched by the way the performers make such an effort for the residents and manage to awaken the buried memories of some very frail people. I even noticed the staff and some visitors stopping to enjoy the show for a while.

“Some of the residents who attended at first looked almost unaware of their surroundings, but after a while they started to smile and clap. Some were too frail even to clap, but they raised their hands a little and moved them in the air. One obviously very weak gentleman on a wheeled bed smiled broadly at some songs which held memories for him. Another one could not lift his head throughout the show, but I saw his feet tapping and when one of the female singers sang close to him and kissed his cheek he made what was obviously a big effort to lift his head to receive her attention. All the elderly men were left grinning as this lovely singer made a special effort to ensure each one had a kiss from her during the song.

“It takes a special type of professionalism to put on a show for people in care homes. Mickie and his team excelled by clearly bringing joy to veterans too weak to get out and about. The concert made me feel incredibly proud of the work that we do at the Not Forgotten.”