Last Saturday saw us back with our mates at The Sunflower Café for a good old sing-a-long. After all, as winter turns to spring, snowdrops peep, daffodils abound and cherry blossoms bloom how could the odd nightingale not sing in Berkley Square?

The Sunflower Café in Putney and The Jasmine Café in Battersea are monthly gatherings where people with dementia can meet to share experiences and spend time together. More information about both can be found here www.carerswandsworth.org.uk/dementia-cafes/.

For anyone interested in shaking things up, we’ll be hosting a Disco and Pop Sing-A-Long at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 3rd April in St Margaret’s Church Hall. More details can be found here.

Wednesday 27th February saw our Sing n Slurp evening come together with the birthday of our musical director, Carl Speck.

Unaware we had rumbled his birthday discrete discussions had taken place over email as to whether we would be up to rendering “Happy Birthday” in a four part harmony but in the end the traditional version with some cake and candles was plumped for in a surprise presentation!

Carl has worked with us for many years and spares no effort to show us at our best. Music is arranged around our voices, backing tracks are provided for those less able to sight read, vocal sessions are built into our rehearsals to help build our voices … the list goes on …

Aside from his work with us Carl can also be spotted leading Pub Choirs at The Turk’s Head in St. Margarets, The Duke’s Head in Putney and The Anglers in Teddington. He also has a Good Morning Choir in Teddington and runs Now I Can Sing courses across London.

More information about all of this, and more, can be found at www.carlspeckmusic.com.

Here’s hoping for many more musical years together Carl!

We were delighted to be graced by the presence of Wandsworth Mayor, Councillor Piers McCausland, who dropped in for some coffee and cake at the Macmillan World Cancer Day Coffee Morning and Sing-A-Long at St Margaret’s Church Hall on Saturday 2nd February.

In good old Doverhouse fashion, Delilah was done in, kites were flown and after about an hour’s singing, everyone came away seeing so much more clearly. A good time was had by all with the Mayor and some of the other attendees even taking to the floor to have a bit of a boogie.

A heartfelt tribute was paid by one of Macmillan’s volunteers for the invaluable role Macmillan played in supporting his mother through cancer. Should anyone wish to assist or receive assistance from Macmillan more information can be found at www.macmillan.org.uk.

The next Doverhouse knees up will be our Sing n Slurp evening starting at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 27th February at St Margaret’s Church Hall. Anyone interested in coming along can find out more here.

We brought our musical year to a close with a carol singing session at East Putney tube station on 14th December and another at Wandsworth Town railway station on 19th December, both to raise money for our chosen charity Regenerate Rise.

Regenerate Rise, who’ve been the focus of our fundraising activities for many years, work to alleviate the isolation often felt by the elderly and arrange lunches, outings, activities, support, outreach and visits. You can learn more here.

Doing a little more work for the isolated elderly, we can be spotted at a FISH Neighbourhood Care Sing-Along taking place lunchtime on Friday 4th January at Barnes Green Centre. Details about the event are here .

As 2018 draws to a close, we’d like to wish everyone the best over the festive season and a Happy New Year!

The start of December saw us kicking off the festive season with a weekend of festivities.

Our official Christmas Concert was held on 1st December at St Mary’s Church Putney with us all in fine voice. One audience member even confessed our rendition of “O Holy Night” brought a tear to her eye…

A haunting rendition of “The Coventry Carol” was given by an ensemble and another small group performed a touching “Mary’s Boy Child”. Whilst our very own Kirsten Borkowska enchanted all with her solo, “Let It Go” from the film “Frozen”.

Friday had seen us in a more casual mood “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree(s)” at St Margaret’s Putney Christmas Tree Festival. Stretching through to Sunday the festival promised a weekend of Wine Tasting, Festive Stalls, Afternoon Tea, a BBQ, Santa’s Grotto and a Toy Service.

For anyone unable to make the festivities but still interested in purchasing Christmas trees please do feel free to get in touch with Joanna Beadsley at joanna.beadsley@gmail.com