A group of Cliff Richard fans were given a special treat when they met the man himself ahead of his concert at Derbyshire’s Catton Hall.

The meeting was arranged by the Golden-Oldies Charity ‘Sing and Smile’, a charity which organises singing sessions for the older generation.

And as Cliff is the patron of the charity he invited Goldies founder Grenville Jones and 20 members of the Uttoxeter Goldies to hear him soundcheck and meet him while he’s touring the UK as part of his Just Fabulous Rock ‘n Roll Tour.

Grenville launched Goldies 10 years ago in sheltered housing community rooms in Bath and Bristol encouraging older people to get together singing the popular memory-evoking songs of the 50’s and onwards. The hits of Cliff are big favourites at the sessions and so he was invited to be patron.

There are now more than 200 Goldies groups across the UK boasting in excess of 5,000 members.

Speaking about meeting Cliff, Grenville said: “This is the first time we have come face to face with Cliff so it is very exciting.

“I have waited for this day for 10 years and it is very special for everyone involved. With the Goldies we are reaching out to people and giving them something to look forward to.

“Loneliness and isolation are major issues in society today. Our charity, through its daytime singing, quite simply gives isolated and (perhaps) lonely people a REASON to get out and be with others, make friends, sing and smile!”

70-year-old Gene Edwards was among the Uttoxeter group who attended the concert and met Cliff.
Gene has been to more concerts than she can remember in the past 50 years and said: “He’s wonderful and was as good as ever at the Catton Hall show. We all love him, he’s our Golden boy!”

For more information about the Goldies go to www.golden-oldies.org.uk

ENDS


Issued on Behalf of Cuffe & Taylor 
Cuffe & Taylor is officially one of the UK’s top 10 live music and event promoters with offices in London and the North West. Established for more than seven years, they present breath-taking tours, festivals and shows across the UK.
Cuffe & Taylor have worked with artists including Bryan Adams, Noel Gallagher, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Joan Collins, Lea Salonga, Ramin Karimloo, Collabro and Marti Pellow.
For further information please contact:
Sarah Rhodes T: 01253 477480 E: [email protected]
 
 

​PRESS RELEASE
 
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
 
Sing Out in Chelmsford
 
The Golden-Oldies Charity celebrated with songs and smiles at the Salvation Army Citadel in Chelmsford yesterday (Monday June 12).
 
From small beginnings in the West Country, Goldies, as it is more fondly known, has developed to the point where its daytime fun singing and activity sessions for older people now take place across England and Wales. In Essex there are now 22 regular monthly sessions and this number has just been extended through the support of the Genesis Community Foundation.
 
Over 100 Genesis residents attended the Chelmsford celebration with special guests the Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford Cllr Jon de Vries and the Deputy Mayoress Mrs Maria de Vries.
 
Cllr de Vries said;
 
“Goldies is a wonderful organisation and I am delighted to be here today to see for myself how this charity is reaching out to older vulnerable people. My wife and I have enjoyed meeting all the people here who obviously get so much from attending the Goldies sing and smile sessions.”
 
Sandra Maguire, Business and Contracts Manager for Essex and Southend, for the Genesis Community Foundation said;
 
“We are delighted to support the work of the Golden-Oldies Charity and recognise the way that it is brightening the lives of older people through its daytime singing and activity sessions.”
 
For full details of all Goldies sessions see www.golden-oldies.org.uk
 
ENDS
 
Picture One : Margaret Smith from Harlow leads the singing at the singing at the Goldies Chelmsford Big Sing.
 
Picture Two : (left-right) Chelmsford Deputy Mayor Cllr Jon de Vries, Goldies session leader Rob Cadman, Deputy Mayoress Mrs Maria de Vries and Sandra Maguire from Genesis Community Foundation.
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.

​PRESS RELEASE
Monday 5 June 2017

An award-winning charity is putting more smiles on the faces of hundreds of older people as its plans to extend across West Wales are coming to fruition. Goldies Cymru, fondly known simply as 'Goldies', started in and around Cardiff and the South Wales Valleys over six years ago, with a small number of daytime singing and activity sessions for older people to attend.

It has grown to the point where there are now over 50 sessions taken by 12 sessions leaders taking place at Church halls, community rooms and libraries. Sessions include members of the Cardiff Institute for the Blind and members of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation and Sheltered Housing Schemes. 

There are a number of sessions for Adults with Learning Difficulties and for people living with dementia. At the heart of each session are the pop favourites and memory-evoking songs of the 50s and 60s. A song book of Welsh folk songs is very popular with everyone who attends.

Supported by a 3 year People and Places, Big Lottery Fund in Wales grant the first new session to open was on Wednesday, March 8 at Evergreen Hall, Bridgend. A taster was met with a wonderful reception and is now successfully running each month, this was closely followed on March 18 in partnership with Port Talbot Age Cymru and has been enjoyed by many since.

The charity met with the team at Morriston Library in March and a new session will soon commence. Gwaun Cae Gurwen also had their first taster session on May 30 with a regular monthly session planned at the Community Library with fantastic local support.

Further meetings in May have secured the first session in Gorseinon from June as well as Maesteg, Clydach and Pontarddulais.

For further information on all sessions, see www.goldiescymru.org.uk.

The Goldies Cymru sessions are led by dedicated freelance session leaders and, with the support the Big Lottery Fund in Wales, a further 50 sessions will be added across Mid and West Wales in the next three years.

Sir Cliff Richard OBE is Patron of the Charity, he said;

"In a very short time our 'Goldies' charity has really made quite remarkable progress."

The Charity works with many organisations and community groups in the delivery of its sessions. The most recent addition being at Evergreen Hall, Angel Street in Bridgend, the session is taken by Rachel Marsh on the last Wednesday of each month from 10.30am to 11.30am. Everyone is welcome.

As Goldies Cymru spreads across Mid and West Wales it is keen to hear from all local age support groups, Churches and other organisations who would like to know more about hosting a Goldies session for older people in their community.

The Charity is always looking for enthusiastic new session leaders and the Goldies Cymru contact is Rachel Parry on 07796 714816.

www.golden-oldies.org.uk

ENDS

Picture Caption : Goldies Cymru reaching out to older people.
​
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.

​PRESS RELEASE
 
Thursday June 1, 2017
 
SING YOUR HEART OUT - Contact Grenville Jones 07778 282934
 
The People’s Lounge at Goodison Park will be alive with the sounds of singing and laughter on Thursday afternoon, June 15.
 
That’s the day that the Goldies Charity will be bringing its unique brand of songs and smiles to older people across Liverpool.  
 
The Golden-Oldies Charity started with just four sessions 10 years ago in the West of England. By the close of this year that number will have increased to 200 across England and Wales, with Sir Cliff Richard as its Patron ‘Goldies’, as it is fondly known, reaches out to thousands of older people through its daytime fun singing and smiling sessions.
 
It is certainly not a choir but sing-alongs are at the heart of everything that Goldies does.
 
The Goodison Park session takes please from 2.00pm until 3.00pm and everyone is welcome to go along and discover what the Goldies Charity is all about.
 
Founder Grenville Jones will be travelling from the West Country to lead the session, he said
 
“If you love a good old sing-song then please, please come along to the People’s Lounge and its brilliant that Everton, through their community programme, are supporting us – they are wonderful.”
 
The Charity is hoping to find someone in the City who will have the available time and enthusiasm to lead the Goldies work forward over the months and years ahead. If this maybe something that interests you then please check www.golden-oldies.org.uk and come along on the June 15 to meet Grenville.
 
ENDS


Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.