New dementia choir launched in Petersfield

A group of people with dementia enjoyed the first choir session held by Dementia Friendly Petersfield on Tuesday 28 January.

Cllr Julie Butler, East Hampshire District Council Deputy Leader and portfolio holder for welfare, granted the group £480 to get the choir started.

Cllr Butler attended the session and joined in with the singing. She said: “It’s amazing to see first-hand the effect music can have on people.

“It’s a cause very close to my heart, and the choir is something people with dementia can come along to, be part of a community, enjoy themselves, be uplifted, relax and meet others.”

Choir leader Kevin Jacot guided the choir through the tunes ranging from ABBA, to musical classics and war time songs.

For organisers Jeff Williams and Caroline Blatter, the choir has been a year in the making. Caroline said: “One of the core reasons behind starting the choir, and working with Kevin especially, is that so many of the groups are angled towards older people and Alzheimer’s.

“Dementia is an umbrella term, and there are different types, of which Alzheimer’s is just one.

“People are affected at different ages and in different ways, according to the type of dementia they have.

“Singing is wonderful, as it embraces all the types of dementia.”

The sessions are held at Petersfield Rugby Club, Penns Place, and will run from 10.45am to midday on the first, third and fourth Tuesday of each month.

For further details and to get involved, contact Jeff Williams from Dementia Friendly Petersfield (07849 195702) or Caroline Blatter (07557 914954).