Volunteer carol singers perform again for older folk in true spirit of Christmas

A GROUP of carol singers came together for the third year running to sing for residents of Henley’s almshouses and care homes.

Henley Community Carols, led by Emma Taylor, of Western Avenue, sang outside the almshouses in Church Avenue, Western Close and Vicarage Road as well in The Close and at the Acacia Lodge nursing home in Quebec Road.

The singers performed a range of carols and Christmas songs and many residents joined in. Ms Taylor said: “A relatively small group of people sang this year as a few got ill and we did just one evening. I couldn’t say how many people we sang to but it was really lovely, especially at Acacia Lodge, where all the people watching knew all the words and sang along.

“All the residents who were interested came to the sitting room, which was full. We stood in a space cleared for us near the Christmas tree.

“The activities co-ordinator Wendy Fricker said it started their Christmas off. She said some of them have dementia so they forget things and it’s music that connects them back with their memories.”

The group began during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Ms Taylor said: “As one of the members of the Henley Mutual Aid committee, I was delivering medicines and things to people and I realised how isolated some of the older residents were. I set up the group and we sang for them so they knew the town was thinking of them.

“This is the third year now and it’s really nice. We have got a WhatsApp group chat and a Facebook page and lots of people are interested. It would be lovely if we had lots of people come along so that we could do all the care homes over multiple days — that’s the dream.”

At Church Avenue almshouses, off Hart Street, the residents don’t come out of their homes but Ms Taylor receives feedback that they hear and enjoy the carols.

She said: “They know when we’re going to come and we also usually give a little knock on the door. In Vicarage Road, there are just four almshouses and they all come out and sing and one of the residents usually gives us some chocolates. We don’t stay for long, especially when it is very cold outside. It is a nice tradition to bring back and I personally find it really joyful — the true spirit of Christmas is doing something for someone without getting anything back.

“I always joke that I sing out of tune and we didn’t even practise this year but one lady came along who knew the descant to the carols and it was really beautiful. We are not a choir, just a group of people who get together to spread some joy at Christmas.”