Elderly care provider, Elder spoke to Grenville Jones, choirmaster of Golden Oldies. When he set up the first Golden Oldies in 2007, he had no idea that his singing groups for older people would take off so successfully. With over 200 regular sessions now held across the UK, “Goldies” as it’s known, provides a sociable and relaxed place for singers and non-singers to meet and enjoy themselves. We talked to Grenville about the positive power of making music together at any level.
 
How did you come to set up Goldies?
My background is as a choir leader and I've taken evening choirs for a long time - one of my choirs is the Bath Male Choir, which got to the finals of the BBC’s Last Choir Standing.
 
In 2007 I watched a Channel Four programme called Young at Heart, which featured an American choir for older people. It was very moving and I remember one part where the choir went to a prison and sang to some pretty serious criminals who were crying as they listened.
 
 
“There’s a reluctance to step across the doorstep and a temptation to just put the television on. We’re giving people the opportunity to be sociable – with a good old-fashioned sing-along”
 
 
Not long after, I was talking to a friend and renowned choir leader about singing and we were discussing the best part of a rehearsal. We both agreed that it was the atmosphere at the end, when everyone is packing up to go home. People are usually laughing and having fun at this point in the atmosphere that comes from making music together. 
 
It occurred to me there was an opportunity to take that atmosphere and drop it into community rooms and church halls and other places where people meet during the week, so I decided to start a charity.
 
We had support from Bath Housing Association for the first four sessions, which I took myself. Two ladies who lived in sheltered housing nearby turned up to one of the first - and probably only came because they had nothing else to do.
 
A friend asked me how it went, and I said, “I think it went well, but I'm not sure people will come and if they do then who is going to take all the sessions? How could it go forward and succeed and develop? And my friend said,” If you have faith in it, it will work.” I remember that clearly. Now, years later, we run over 200 regular sessions across England and Wales and have 67 session leaders.
 
What is the aim of Goldies?
There are so many older people who live isolated lives and have so little to look forward to in society today. I believe that governments do, generally speaking, care for older people in their homes reasonably well, but there are no social activities anymore. It’s left for people like me and other wonderful organisations to fill that gap.
 
There’s a reluctance to step across the doorstep and a temptation to just put the television on – and figures show that 51 percent of people say the only company they have is the TV on a daily basis. We’re trying to give people the opportunity to be sociable – with a good old-fashioned sing-along.
 
 
Who is the typical Goldie?
If you had asked me all those years ago to describe the “typical Goldie” I would probably have said, ‘likely to be an elderly lady, now widowed, who doesn’t have many opportunities to get out and be with other people.”
 
Of course, that has changed as we have grown - now it's also those in early stage dementia who come to special memory sessions with our memory books, or adults with learning difficulties who come to sing, as well as our traditional attendees. A young lady with depression has joined one of our sessions in Wales because the folk there are so full of fun. It's the highlight of her week - and she's got 50 aunties and uncles who care for her and look forward to seeing her every week.
 
And of course, we also have a schools intergenerational programme now– for which we won the National Lottery Education award last year - a major achievement for a small charity. In the beginning I would never would have thought that we'd have reached out to people with those sort of issues - but Goldies is for everyone.
 
Why do you not consider Goldies to be a choir?
I always say that Goldies is not a choir – because you don't have to be a singer to come to a session. It’s a bit like going to your pub and joining in when someone starts playing songs on the piano, and we base sessions on the music of the 60s and 70s - which takes people back to happier times and brings them joy.
 
I led a session years ago in Swindon where we were singing The Wonder of You by Elvis. A couple was sitting in the corner and the husband was obviously in the early stages of dementia and had no light in his eyes. When we started singing though, the light came on again all of a sudden - and I saw him singing to her and her singing to him.
 
At the end of the song he wrapped his arms around her, and they had a huge kiss – for them was a magical moment. A few months later he passed on and the family got in touch to say that when the wife came home from that session, she had told her family about how he had come alive to this song.
 
Perhaps that was one of his favourite songs or perhaps he was an Elvis fan? I can't explain that really - but that song reached through all the fog and brought him back to life – and I can explain the privilege of being able to make that happen. The power of singing is well documented now – and we're not the only organisation to help people with isolation through music. But I think we are fairly unique in the way that we deliver our sessions which are open to everyone.
 
How do the sessions work?
The sessions are monthly, and can be held in a community room or other gathering place. People sit round tables or in circles - every session has its own way of doing things.
 
The session leader hands out the song books, which we have as a deliberate policy because reading the songs from the book exercises the brain. We ask the people who come to choose the songs for our song books every year and suggest songs that they'd like to sing. The session leader will then ask the group what they fancy starting off with, and some might say Hi Ho Silver Lining or a bit of Tom Jones.
 
“Goldies is not a choir – because you don't have to be a singer to join in. It’s a bit like going to your pub and joining in when someone starts playing songs on the piano…”
 
Then those who love to sing will sing, and others not - but after about thirty minutes someone will ask for Dancing Queen or another lively song and some people will start to dance. By the end of 60 minutes the room is buzzing, full of laughter and joking and everyone always leaves the session with a smile on their face.
 
How do you find volunteers to lead the sessions?
Generally, session leaders find us - I don't know how that happens. Personally, I think it's a bit of divine intervention.
 
You need to be fairly extrovert to be a session leader -  not everyone can stand up in front of a group of people. And we have session leaders who are singers and sing in a gospel choir community choir for example, but also people who aren’t singers and just care a lot about what we do.
 
When we start a new session, we might put an advertisement in the local paper to say we're looking for session leaders which sometimes gets a response. More often than not though, the session leaders come to us because they may have bought their mum or dad to a session, or perhaps seen Goldies at a local school.
 
Cliff Richard is your patron - did you know him beforehand?
I knew from the outset of the charity that he was the person I would want, because of what he stands for in his outlook and his beliefs and because he'd witnessed dementia first-hand with members of his own family. So, I wrote to him a few times and eventually had a message back to say he had agreed to be our patron.
 
I met him a few years ago when he was doing a show up in the Midlands. I took a group of Goldies with me and we went backstage, where he came and chatted to them - and then let us watch the band’s warm up on the stage, which was great.
 
How would you like Goldies to develop in the next few years?
London is our big challenge. I always knew that one day taking Goldies into the capital would come as a request. But to do that wouldn’t be about setting up five sessions, or 50 –it is more like 150 sessions and I only have one full time member of staff.
 
North Wales is another area we want to develop into, and we've had a huge amount of lottery support there. And generally, across the UK I’d like the 200 sessions to be 500…and why shouldn’t they be? If we have 67 session leaders now, then why not 200? I believe in life that if you want something you have to work hard to make it happen and persevere…
 
This article first appeared on Elder, a solution providing an alternative to residential care home by providing access to first rate live-in care, elderly care and dementia care. You can read more interviews from Elder’s Magazine here.
 
//ENDS//
 

PRESS RELEASE
Thursday September 12th, 2019
 
Eighty singers from across the Bath and Bristol area will be setting out for Truro next Friday, September 20th.
 
Members of the Good Afternoon Choirs will be singing at a joint concert with the SING Choir from Truro and Falmouth for a concert at Truro Methodist Church on Saturday September 21st starting at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm). This is a free admission concert supporting the work of Cornwall Hospice Care.
 
Bath based musician Grenville Jones is the founder of the Good Afternoon Choirs and there are now 10 across the Bath and Bristol area, with over 900 singers. The visiting group of 80 represent all of the choirs and as well as the Saturday evening concert, they will also perform at Truro Cathedral on Saturday afternoon (21st September) from 1-2pm. Grenville said:
 
“We have visited Cornwall on a number of occasions and always have a memorable time. It is great to be working with Matthew Thomason and Giles Woolley with their SING Choir. I am sure that we will all have a great time together making music and supporting a very special Cornwall charity.”
 
Ends
 ​

RESS RELEASE
 
Monday, April 29, 2019
 
Two concert dates for readers diaries! Saturday June 1 and Saturday June 29 – both concerts at St Michael’s Church in the centre of Bath featuring choirs led by Bath’s Mr Music, Grenville Jones .
 
Bath’s celebrated Male Choir will be holding their annual concert on Saturday June 1. The choir hit the headlines when they appeared on the BBC’s ‘Last Choir Standing’ series, reaching the final stages. Since that time they have sung around the UK, toured Japan, sung at the Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate on Remembrance Day. Later this year, will set out for Boston, Massachusetts.
 
At their June concert they welcome a visiting choir from America who are touring England called Encore Chorale. 
 
Grenville enjoys the reputation of being one of the UK’s best-known choir leaders. He was one of the ‘100’ judges on the recent popular BBC1 Saturday night TV series, ‘All Together Now’.
 
Tickets for the annual concert, which starts at 7.30pm, are priced £15 from Bath Box Office www.bathboxoffice.org.uk
 
Also at St Michael’s Church on Saturday June 29 at 7.30pm Grenville’s 70 strong Welcome Community Choir will launch an appeal to support the Mencap Super Saturday Club. 
 
Based at Three Ways School in Bath, they provide weekly activities for children with additional needs between the ages of 5-18 years old. This will be the first fundraising concert and will feature the brilliant soprano Kirsten Barker. Find out more about the Welcome Choir on  www.welcomechoir.org
 
Tickets for the June 29 concert are priced £12 (under 12s £8) and are available from 01761 472468.
 
ENDS
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.

PRESS RELEASE
 
Thursday April 4, 2019
 
As the popular BBC1 Saturday night talent show ‘All Together Now’ reaches its conclusion next Saturday (April 13) after five heats, two of the 100 judges have differing views on who of the 10 finalists they think will win the £50,000 cash prize.
 
Leyland’s (Lancashire) best, Ged Thompson - The man in the braces, singer and BIG Northern Soul fan, and choir leader Grenville Jones from Bath in the West Country met at the first series last year at the BBC Manchester studios where the show is filmed. 
 
‘All Together Now’ is presented by Rob Beckett and Geri Horner is the chief judge, trying to keep the 100 panel of UK wide singers and musicians in order.
 
“Ged and I just hit it off and have become good pals because of the show,” says Grenville.
 
“Some people have compared us to the grumpy old boys on The Muppet Show, that’s probably a bit unfair, but we don’t mind. It’s all about crossing the North South divide and we love being on the show.”
 
Ged sings tenor in a big Sheffield community choir and works as a health and safety manager in an international food factory. Grenville leads a music business with 14 choirs and is also the founder of national award-winning singing charity for older lonely people called Golden-Oldies.
 
Says Ged; “Last year’s show was won by Michael Rice who was the outstanding singer. He is representing the UK in Eurovision. This year’s winner is harder to pick as there are some great finalists.”
 
“But will we agree Ged?” asks Grenville, the southern half of the duo?
 
“We’ll have to see lad,” responds the Northern half...!
                               
ENDS
 
Image shows Ged left and Grenville right.
 
Press enquiries please call Ged on 07789 001536 or Grenville on 07778 282934.

​PRESS RELEASE
 
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
 
 
Bath’s celebrated Male Choir will be holding their annual concert at St Michael’s Church in the centre of Bath on Saturday June 1.
 
The choir hit the headlines when they appeared on the BBC’s ‘Last Choir Standing’ series, reaching the final stages. Since that time they have sung around the UK, toured Japan, sung at the Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate on Remembrance Day and, later this year, will set out for Boston, Massachusetts.
 
At their concert on June 1 they will welcome a visiting choir from America who are touring England. Encore Chorale is dedicated to providing music for older adults, 55 and over, regardless of experience or ability. Currently comprised of numerous individual choirs around the United States, its members come together regularly to host workshops, go on tours, and present joint concerts. The group is led by its founder and artistic director, Jeanne Kelly.
 
“We will be singing some new songs that have been chosen by choir members and we look forward to a very special concert with the Encore Chorale,” said Bath Male Choir founder conductor Grenville Jones.
 
Grenville enjoys the reputation of being one of the UK’s best-known choir leaders. He is currently one of the ‘100’ judges on the popular BBC1 Saturday night television series ‘All Together Now’.
 
Tickets for the annual concert, which starts at 7.30pm, are priced £15 from Bath Box Office www.bathboxoffice.org.uk
 
ENDS
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
 

​PRESS RELEASE
 
Monday 25 February 2019
 
 
Back for second series
 
The popular BBC1 talent show All Together Now returns to Saturday nights this Saturday March 2 at 7.30pm. Introduced by comedian Rob Beckett and with a £50,000 cash prize for the winner, viewers may recognise a familiar face on the second row amongst ‘The 100’ judges.
 
Bath music man, choir leader and founder of the Goldies Charity and Goldies Cymru, Grenville Jones, will feature in all the programmes from the BBC studios in Salford Manchester this series. Grenville was a judge last year but because of his work commitments could not do all of the shows.
 
With former Spice Girl Geri Horner as chief judge The 100 are drawn from across the music industry. From the acts each week they choose the top two who then go through to the final and the chance to perform for the £50,000 prize.
 
Last year’s winner Michael Rice will be the UK’s Eurovision representative in Tel Aviv this May.
 
Said Grenville;
 
“There is a great new line up of talent this year, all trying to get us to hit our red buttons, stand up and join in. It’s going to be a great series.”
 
Grenville is pictured with show host Rob Beckett.
 
ENDS
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934 - www.grenvillejones.biz
 
 

PRESS RELEASE
 
Monday, February 18 2019
 
One of the UK’s best-loved choirs will perform at St Peter’s Church, Ruthin, on Saturday evening March 23.
 
Bath Male Choir achieved national acclaim when they reached the finals of the BBC1 series ‘Last Choir Standing’. Since that time they have travelled around the world including a memorable tour to Japan. In November this year they will be visiting Boston, Massachusetts.
 
The founder of the choir is Grenville Jones who has a national reputation as a choir leader but also as the founder of the Golden-Oldies Charity. Grenville started ‘Goldies’, as it is more fondly known, back in 2007 and it now reaches across England and Wales with its popular fun daytime Sing & Smile sessions. Grenville is always quick to point out that Goldies is NOT a choir, it is simply a chance for older folk to have the opportunity to get out, have a good sing-song and make new friends.
 
Under the Goldies Cymru title the sessions are extending across Mid and South Wales and Grenville plans to bring Goldies Cymru to North Wales in the next two years.
 
As part of the day at Ruthin Grenville will lead a ‘come and sing’ workshop from 3.00pm-5.00pm. The accent will be on easy to sing melodies and the workshop choir will perform as part of the evening concert.
 
“The workshop is for everyone especially those who may have wondered just what it would be like to sing as part of a choir.”
 
Tickets are priced : Workshop and Concert £5 or Evening Concert only £8 and can be purchased from the Church office on 01824 707820 or 01824 705755.
 
ENDS
 
Picture shows Grenville with Katherine Jenkins receiving an award for his Goldies charity as winners of the National Lottery Awards 2018, Education Category.
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
edit.

​KATHERINE JENKINS OBE & WELSH WW1 ‘GOLDIES’ EDUCATION PROJECT HIT THE HIGH NOTES WITH NATIONAL LOTTERY AWARD SUCCESS
 
Welsh singing sensation Katherine Jenkins today (September 12th 2018) surprised Cardiff-based project, Armistice Cantata, with the news that they have won Best Education Project in the National Lottery Awards 2018.

The mezzo soprano broke the news of the win to pupils at Thornhill Primary School in Cardiff, who piloted the intergenerational education project with Goldies charity founder Grenville Jones which commemorates the Centenary of the end of WW1 (November 11 2018)!

The National Lottery Awards are the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects and celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding. Marking 100 years since the end of the Great War (November 11 2018), Armistice Cantata is part of a two-year intergenerational education project led by Grenville and his Goldies charity that encourages primary schools to open their doors to older people.

As part of the programme, from Goldies Cymru – which helps older people get involved in music through daytime FUN Songs and Smiles – teamed up with youngsters from Thornhill Primary school in Cardiff who have written a musical to celebrate the end of World War One. The children from Thornhill Primary appear on stage together in a 30-minute production, named Armistice Cantata. The musical – which includes popular songs from World War One – is now being rolled out to a number of schools across England and Wales. More than 7,000 children and 800 older people from the Goldies charity are taking part.

Katherine, who has been hailed as the new ‘Force’s Sweetheart’, has performed for British troops in war zones across the world over the years. She followed the announcement today by meeting school pupils and representatives from the Goldies Cymru charity who have developed a new friendship by taking part in the Armistice Cantata project whilst learning more about the Great War. Katherine releases her new album ‘Guiding Light’ on 30th November. 

Katherine, from Neath, South Wales, who has been dubbed new ‘Force’s Sweetheart for her performances to British troops across the globe, said: “I’m delighted to announce Armistice Cantata as the winner of the UK’s Best Education Project in the National Lottery Awards 2018. It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes, that amazing projects like this are possible.  

Grenville Jones, the Founder of the Golden-Oldies Charitable Trust and Goldies Cymru in South Wales, lost his Grandfather at the battle of the Somme in WW1. This personal history formed part of his decision to develop the WW1 inter-generational education programme. 

He added: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for us. We are delighted to be crowned the UK’s best Education project in the National Lottery Awards.  
 
“This is a remarkable project and it is very special because it can be adapted by schools who wish to localise their own productions. We have seen on so many occasions the joy that comes when children and older people meet together on school projects, especially when they are joined in song.”
 
The Goldies school project website is          www.ourmemories.org.uk
 
                                                                               ENDS
 
For further information please contact Grenville Jones on 0777 828 2934 or The National Lottery Awards:
Oswyn Hughes on 07976 324 179 or email oswyn.hughes@Lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
 
PICTURE CAPTION: 
Welsh singing sensation, Katherine Jenkins, crowns Armistice Cantata the National Lottery’s Best Education Project.  

​PRESS RELEASE
 
 Wednesday, May 2, 2018
 
They wowed BBC Saturday night audiences on ‘All Together Now’ and on Saturday evening June 2 The Sundaes singing group will be top  the bill in a variety show at The Forum, Bath. The Sundaes are, quite simply, the ‘biggest’ girl group in town! With stunning vocals, sensational choreography and those flamboyant costumes.
 
Bath’s own Grenville Jones was one of the ‘100’ judges for the popular Saturday night BBC ‘All Together Now’, which was screened earlier this year.
 
“The Sundaes sang through to the final of the show and as soon as I saw them on stage at the BBC in  Manchester I knew that I had to book them to sing at a show in Bath. ” said Grenville.
 
Tickets are on sale priced £20 for the variety show at The Forum now from Bath Box Office on 01225 463362 and the evening is packed with personalities and performances. Grenville’s own celebrated Bath Male Choir will be singing. They hit the headlines on the BBC’s ‘Last Choir Standing’ and have since sung across Europe with a tour to Japan three years ago and a reputation for standing ovations..
 
Apart from Grenville’s many choirs he is the founder of the Golden-Oldies Charity which now has spread across the whole of England and Wales with its 150 FUN daytime singing for older isolated people.
 
A Grenville initiative was to introduce an intergenerational project with his charity and schools. This year the focus is on the final months of WW1 with a project supported by Heritage Lottery, the Royal British Legion and others. The first half of his show on June 2 will be a poignant performance by young people from the Curtain-Up Theatre Group of a production entitled Armistice Cantata, a unique new focus on the end of WW1 written by children for young people to perform.
 
There will also be community singing for all with those well-loved songs of 100 years ago; ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’, ‘Tipperary’ and much more.
 
“Tickets priced £20 from Bath Box Office for a really special evening,” says Grenville.
 
ENDS
 
Picture shows The Sundaes …
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.