Grenville Jones, founder of the Golden-Oldies Charity, looks back on the hundreds of special events held during the Christmas season bringing Songs & Smiles to older isolated people.
“At Goldies we know that Christmas is not everyone’s favourite time of year, for many it’s a reminder of loss and isolation. This is why we make an extra special effort every year to bring as many isolated people as possible together for fun and laughter. Our special daytime events entertain and delight with old friends and new. Organised Christmas events to celebrate at Christmas and provide events to look forward to. This is what Goldies is all about.
“The Charity launched in 2007 with just a handful of daytime FUN Sing&Smile sessions in and around the Bath area, all taken by founder Grenville. Now there are over 170 across England and Wales with 48 freelance session leaders and 100’s attending.
“During November and December 2024, we hosted a fantastic eight county-wide Christmas BIG SINGs across Southwest and Southeast England by our team based in the South West. These events could only have taken place with the amazing support of the Edward Gostling Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Julia Rausing Trust, the National Lottery, the People’s Postcode Lottery and Swindon Borough Council.
“Where possible, we provided free transport and a full afternoon of entertainment for over 1,000 people, 2000 cups of tea were served along with sandwiches, cake and a multitude of mince pies. We sang, danced and smiled our way through the festive season.
“We launched our Christmas activities on November 28 at Nailsea Methodist Church with all our North Somerset sessions attending. Kingshill Church School delighted us all with their acapella singing of Christmas songs followed by the Kookie Ukes Ukelele Band.
“Next up on December 3 was our largest event attended by 190 people at St Michael’s Church Centre in Stoke Gifford for our Bristol and South Glos sessions. The Auditorium was packed, especially when joined by 60 children from St Michael’s Church Primary School singing Christmas songs and allowing us to join in playing Boomwhackers. After lunch Mel Wittmaack joined us for some Chair Dance which caused lots of laughter! A special thanks goes to the John James Bristol Foundation and the Monmouthshire Building Society for supporting our work in these areas.
“The Wells party on December 4 was held at The Bishops Palace. Sandwiches, cake, tea and coffee were served in the Stable Yard on arrival, with Christmas Crackers, small gifts and drinks. This was followed by an hour of Goldies singing Christmas music in the very beautiful Chapel. Our thanks to the team at the Bishops Palace who make this event possible.
“Deputy Mayor Councillor Fay Howard joined the celebrations on December 5 at Coleview Community Centre in Swindon. With some raucous singing and line dancing, as well a wonderful performance from Covingham Park Primary School lead by Jo Crabbe. Our thanks go to Swindon Borough Council for supporting our work across the area. As always Swindon had a huge raffle with prizes donated from participants and local businesses throughout the year.
“On December 6 we held two Parties. The first at Martock Parish Hall in South Somerset was completely full of Goldies participants and their families from across the County. Martock Primary School children sang us some fabulous Christmas Songs and Chaffcombe Reservoir Dogs Ukulele Group thoroughly entertained us with popular hits and Christmas numbers. The Ukulele group welcomed one of our regular Goldies, Frank Wilson, onto the stage to play his harmonica to ‘Imagine’ by John Lenon. Frank has dementia but is still able to play his harmonica note for note and regularly plays at Sing&Smile sessions in Yeovil, Queen Camel and Martock. It was extremely moving to hear Frank play, he finished to a huge cheer from the audience, after which he took his bow!
“The second party on the December 6 was held in Essex at the Braintree Community Centre. Goldies Session Leaders Rob and Sue hosted this brilliant afternoon for all Essex Sing&Smile session participants. Beckers Green Primary School entertained everyone with some beautiful singing. One lady participant said she was “moved to tears by their wonderful rendering of ‘O Holy Night’ which was her most favourite song in all the world. After lunch came the wonderful performance of Braintree Male Voice Choir. A special thanks goes to Braintree United Charities and FSJ Charities who helped fund our work in Essex.
“The Key Centre in Keynsham was the next location on December 13 for some of our BANES and Bristol Sing&Smile attendees. We were joined by the Kooky Ukes and enjoyed plenty of singing, dancing, laughing and smiling along to hits from the 60’s onwards and Christmas songs after refreshments. Not to mention a pompom snowball fight! Thanks go to Keynsham Town Council who helped fund the party and the Masonic Charitable Trust who support our work across B&NES.
“The final Christmas Party was held on December 19 Edwards Court in Exeter, kindly supported by Exeter City Council. Our Leaders Katie and Lisa encouraged ample singing and dancing with everyone, with sandwiches, tea, cake, crackers and small gifts!”
With the wonderful support of the Julia Rausing Trust, Goldies in England again reinforced their commitment in bringing together children in Primary Schools with older people in their award-winning intergenerational programme. A unique new song called ‘Forever Young’ was commissioned by Grenville Jones and was performed at many of the events listed above. It also featured as a open Goldies Day which was held at the Pavilion in Bath and attended by four local Primary Schools and 300 older people. It was introduced by special guest, The Mayor of Bath.
Across South West England and in South Wales 35 Primary Schools and 750 young people joined together with older people in Christmas celebration. All this was made possible with the support of the Julia Rausing Trust.
“We will be continuing our Primary School events throughout 2025,” said Goldies Founder, Grenville Jones
If you are interested in joining one of our Goldies Sing&Smile sessions, becoming a Goldies Leader, starting Goldies up in your area or for more information please visit our website at www.golden-oldies.org.uk or contact the office on 01761 470006 or email events@golden-oldies.org.uk