Twinkle-toed residents at a care home danced their way through the decades at a surprise concert courtesy of an award-winning painter.<\/p>\n
After the long months of lockdown, Pendine Park\u2019s Hillbury Care Home in Wrexham opened its doors to The Adderbury String Quartet for an afternoon concert, much to the delight of residents and staff.<\/p>\n
The performance was funded by talented artist Angela Scott who hosted a charity art exhibition in honour of her sister, 91-year-old resident and former Mayor of Knutsford Jenny Holbrook, who suffers with dementia.<\/p>\n
The watercolour painter, who lives at Sodylt Home Farm, Ellesmere, Shropshire, was joined by leading ceramist Caroline Pearce for the fundraiser, which netted more than \u00a33,500 from the sale of 10 of Angela\u2019s paintings while Caroline made a generous donation of \u00a3525.<\/p>\n
The funds were split between Alzheimer\u2019s Research and Hillbury Care Home, where Angela and Jenny\u2019s niece, Rose Redgrave, daughter of the famous British sculptor, painter and poet, William Redgrave, helped organise an afternoon of music by leading musicians from The Adderbury String Quartet.<\/p>\n
Jenny, 91, was diagnosed with dementia 10 years ago and has been living at Pendine Park\u2019s Hillbury Care Home since March following her rapid decline in the first lockdown.<\/p>\n
Angela said the music afternoon provided a much-needed boost to her sister and all the residents, who always respond positively to musical therapy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was amazing, it really brought a smile to my face and I just thought to myself, this is just what people with dementia need,\u201d said Angela.<\/p>\n
\u201cJenny was really animated \u2013 it was lovely to see. One of the care workers got a lady up to dance and soon, another joined in. There was plenty of foot-tapping and everyone really seemed to enjoy it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had \u2018Eleanor Rigby\u2019 and \u2018Yesterday\u2019 by the Beatles. It was popular music they would remember and enjoy, mainly from the 70s and 80s. Rose plays the viola and teaches as a professor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire so she searched for a playlist that dementia sufferers could respond to.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was all funded from the paintings sold at the exhibition. It was really rewarding to be able to give something back to the carers and staff, who work so hard on behalf of the residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was so grateful that after all these months the concert finally happened. It was the icing on the cake and especially lovely that Rose and Jenny could spend time together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hillbury manager Cindy Clutton added: \u201cIt was an extremely successful afternoon and the residents really enjoyed it. Music does make a huge difference to anyone suffering with dementia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a bit of a waltz and a few of the residents were tapping their fingers or feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been really difficult through Covid but we\u2019re starting to bring entertainment in again now, especially music. It has huge benefits for mental health and seeing new faces is so important for our residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously the team did what it could during lockdown but it\u2019s not the same as someone different coming in and presenting a new face.<\/p>\n
\u201cHillbury is very grateful for everything Angela does. As an artist, she plans to come in and hold some art therapy classes with the residents herself so we\u2019re hoping to do that soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
In her younger days, Jenny lived a busy and active life. She was a former England Reserves Lacrosse player, Cheshire County tennis player and four times Mayor of Knutsford.<\/p>\n
A lifelong teacher, Jenny wrote a book on the Art of Movement and Dance based on the Laban movement. She also held teaching positions in Wythenshawe in Manchester then in Canada and finally at West Sussex College.<\/p>\n
Grandmother-of-four Angela, who has two sons, grew up in Altrincham and studied Fine Art and Pottery at Manchester College of Art and Design, graduating in 1964.<\/p>\n
She has previously spoken of her sadness at the rapid deterioration of her intelligent and high-achieving sister through dementia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a long and slow road as Jenny was diagnosed many years ago,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you see your lovely and intelligent sister, who has done so much in her life and for the local community, start to decline it\u2019s so tragic.\u201d<\/p>\n
After graduating, Angela became a studio potter in Llangollen before teaching part-time at Wrexham College and then bringing up her family. It was after she was asked by a neighbour to illustrate a poetry book she considered returning to painting.<\/p>\n
Her work reflects the beauty of nature and includes seascapes, landscapes and sunsets, mostly inspired from local beauty spots in Wales.<\/p>\n
Angela’s large watercolour paintings have been exhibited extensively throughout the UK including at the RWS Bankside Gallery in London and the Air Gallery Dover Street, London, as well as winning numerous prizes.<\/p>\n