Redditch Care Home Resident Overjoyed by Surprise Performance from Old Friends

95-year-old choral music lover, Jean Garvey, was delighted when her friends in the Bel-Canto choir visited her care home for a special performance.

Jean, who lives at Haywood Lodge in Redditch, has been a member of the Bel-Canto choir for 30 years, but had been unable to sing with them since 2019.

A life-long lover of singing and ballroom dance, Jean ran her own choir before joining Bel-Canto, and taught ballroom dance classes for 25 years.

Jean used to travel the country to perform with the Bel-Canto, and also loved to visit ‘anywhere that had a ballroom’ with her husband, John. She even danced with Jimmy Benwell and met his dancing student, Strictly Come Dancing star, Anton Du Beke.

After discovering Jean’s background with the Bel-Canto choir, and how much she missed singing with them, the care team at Haywood Lodge invited the choir to surprise Jean with a special performance.

On arrival at Haywood Lodge, the choir set up in the care home’s lounge and waited for Jean to walk through the door.

Jean was overjoyed to see her old friends in the choir and couldn’t help but sing along throughout their performance. She said, ‘Singing makes me happy. Choir music is my favourite – I like to sing along!’

Gemma Hall, the Deputy Manager at Haywood Lodge, said ‘It was an absolute pleasure to invite the Bel-Canto Choir to sing for Jean and our other residents. We feel so lucky to have been able to organise this surprise performance for Jean, and seeing her reaction was such a special moment for us all.’

You can keep up to date on events at Haywood Lodge on their Facebook page.

Haywood Lodge is a brand-new purpose-built luxury residential and dementia care home, operated by Ideal Carehomes. With 66 ensuite bedrooms, the home provides person-centred care and a full and varied activities programme.

For more information, call 01527 911005, email haywood.lodge@idealcarehomes.co.uk or visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk.