August 20th 2023: Singing is best medicine in fight against dementia.

On Sunday 20th August, Yarmouth Sailing Club is hosting a celebration of music, dance and song in support of the West Wight Dementia Friendly Choir at The Towers, Yarmouth.

The festival of local musical talent includes the JC and Angelina Band, The Solent Swing Band, Slainte Va Ceilidh Band and Double Take. The Dementia Friendly Choir will also be inviting everyone to join in with classics, show tunes and standards in the beautiful surroundings of The Towers gardens.

As well as top quality musical offerings there will be artisan stalls offering local crafts and produce, freshly baked pizzas, local ice cream, a summer bar, home-made cakes and savoury treats.

Festivities kick off at noon with Susie Sheldon - Lord Lieutenant of the Island - and go on until 7pm. Entry is £5.00 per adult and children under 16 are free. A car park is being operated by YSC – pay by donation – look out for signs around Yarmouth.

The West Wight Dementia Friendly Choir began in 2018, led by author and musician Pam Wedgwood and Marion Bretell. They were inspired by BBC1s “Our Dementia Choir”, the popular documentary series fronted by BAFTA-award winning actress Vicky McClure. The two women saw a need in West Wight for the social and therapeutic benefits a choir can bring.

Five years on the choir continues to grow and flourish, with over 100 members they sing with children from local primary schools, and were honoured with a royal visit in March 2023 when the Duchess of Gloucester joined the choir for a morning.

Pam Wedgwood said “Music taps into emotional memories in those with dementia, singing can reduce anxiety and create happy shared experiences. In the five years we have been running the choir I have witnessed amazing results. Dementia is not going away and as a community we need to embrace and support those living with the condition. We are raising money to set up choirs across the island to provide support to those that need it.”

Martin Palmer, Commodore of Yarmouth Sailing Club said, “The Yarmouth Sailing Club is delighted to be supporting the West Wight Dementia Friendly Choir. I have seen how valuable the choir is to not only the those with dementia, but their carers, friends and families. Pam’s vision of dementia choirs across the island is our target, we must help make this happen and I know we will.”

On a recent visit to the Island, Mark de Lisser, internationally re-knowned choirmaster and musical director of Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure said, “Through my work with ‘Our’ choir in Nottingham I have seen how music can unlock memories, bring joy and create community. The team at West Wight Dementia Friendly Choir need to keep doing what they are doing, it is important work.”

The therapeutic effects of singing on dementia sufferers are well supported by clinical research; listening to music lights up many parts of the brain. Musical memory is a form of implicit memory, which is less prone to the degeneration caused by dementia. Music can trigger memories from early life, and as a shared experience it can create relationships and connections between people struggling with isolation and loneliness.

For further details about this event or YSC please contact: Martin Palmer commodore@yarmouthsc.org

For further details of West Wight Dementia Friendly Choir please contact Pam Wedgwood 07729 938893.