Purton vocalist gets Golden Oldies singing (From Swindon Advertiser)

Purton vocalist gets Golden Oldies singing

11:57am Monday 29th September 2008 in Purton News

ELDERLY residents across Swindon have been singing their hearts out in celebration of a new health and fitness class called Golden Oldies.

The sing-along craze, which has already taken Bath by storm, was launched in Swindonby more than 50 residents at Elsie Hazell Court, in Freshbrook.

Golden Oldies, founded by Purton vocalist Grenville Jones, was inspired by the TV programme The Zimmers and aims to help people in their senior years exercise their vocal chords and move to the beat.

Grenville's Golden Oldies sessions were recently featured on the BBC TV show Last Choir Standing which featured Bath Male Choir, which he conducts.

"Golden Oldies is very much intended to keep the brain cells whirring and the body in fine voice," said Grenville.

"When you get to a certain age, it's so easy to sit back and let things just wash over you but with Golden Oldies you are up dancing and singing your heart out - it's the perfect way to keep healthy in body and mind."

The first session heard residents get into fine voice as they sang to Cliff Richard, The Monkees, Abba and The Kinks.

Grenville is hoping that Golden Oldies will be as much of a hit in Swindon as it has been in Bath and eventually plans to take it across the country and even the world.

He said: "We're delighted to be bringing Golden Oldies to Swindon.

"I hear there is a lot of enthusiasm for music and singing in the town and look forward to stretching residents' voices to the limit.

"It's not just about singing - we encourage everyone to dance and really get in the swing of things.

"I think it's a tremendous thing to get people involved in and I certainly hope it'll be something that is adopted in towns right across the country and indeed internationally. " Elsie Hazell Court is one of six sheltered accommodation schemes in Swindon which will host Golden Oldies sessions on a fortnightly basis.

The oldest resident, 94-yearold Winifred Luker, said: "I want to listen to the oldies and enjoy a good sing song.

"I am a big fan of the music and I think the sessions will be popular across the town."

For more details about Golden Oldies visit the website www.golden-oldies.org.uk.