Armistice Cantata beat off competition from 700 entries to win £5,000 cash prize and an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and will have its work celebrated on a special BBC One programme to be broadcast on the 26 September.

Welsh singing sensation Katherine Jenkins today (September 12th 2018) surprised Cardiff-based project, Armistice Cantata, with the news that they have won Best Education Project in the National Lottery Awards 2018. 

The mezzo soprano broke the news of the win to pupils at Thornhill Primary School in Cardiff, who piloted the intergenerational education project with Goldies charity founder Grenville Jones which commemorates the Centenary of the end of WW1 (November 11 2018)!

The National Lottery Awards are the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects and celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding. Marking 100 years since the end of the Great War (November 11 2018), Armistice Cantata is part of a two-year intergenerational education project led by Grenville and his Goldies charity that encourages primary schools to open their doors to older people.

As part of the programme, from Goldies Cymru – which helps older people get involved in music through daytime FUN Songs and Smiles – teamed up with youngsters from Thornhill Primary school in Cardiff who have written a musical to celebrate the end of World War One. The children from Thornhill Primary appear on stage together in a 30-minute production, named Armistice Cantata. The musical – which includes popular songs from World War One – is now being rolled out to a number of schools across England and Wales. More than 7,000 children and 800 older people from the Goldies charity are taking part.

Katherine, who has been hailed as the new ‘Force’s Sweetheart’, has performed for British troops in war zones across the world over the years. She followed the announcement today by meeting school pupils and representatives from the Goldies Cymru charity who have developed a new friendship by taking part in the Armistice Cantata project whilst learning more about the Great War. Katherine releases her new album ‘Guiding Light’ on 30th November. 

Katherine, from Neath, South Wales, who has been dubbed new ‘Force’s Sweetheart for her performances to British troops across the globe, said: “I’m delighted to announce Armistice Cantata as the winner of the UK’s Best Education Project in the National Lottery Awards 2018. It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes, that amazing projects like this are possible.  

Grenville Jones, the Founder of the Golden-Oldies Charitable Trust and Goldies Cymru in South Wales, lost his Grandfather at the battle of the Somme in WW1. This personal history formed part of his decision to develop the WW1 inter-generational education programme. 

He added: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for us. We are delighted to be crowned the UK’s best Education project in the National Lottery Awards.   

“This is a remarkable project and it is very special because it can be adapted by schools who wish to localise their own productions. We have seen on so many occasions the joy that comes when children and older people meet together on school projects, especially when they are joined in song.”
 
The Goldies school project website is          www.ourmemories.org.uk




                                                                               ENDS
For further information please contact Grenville Jones on 0777 828 2934 or The National Lottery Awards:
Oswyn Hughes on 07976 324 179 or email oswyn.hughes@Lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
PICTURE CAPTION: 
Welsh singing sensation, Katherine Jenkins, crowns Armistice Cantata the National Lottery’s Best Education Project.  
 
 

PRESS RELEASE
 
Thursday September 13, 2018
Celebrate and Commemorate
 
ON Sunday November 11 this year the nation will commemorate the end of the First World War in 1918. A special event will take place on Monday morning October 1 at Chelmsford Museum bringing together school children and older people at the launch of a unique exhibition.
 
The Goldies Charity reaches out to older isolated people through its popular daytime Sing & Smile sessions across England and Wales. The charity also has an award-winning schools intergenerational programme which this year is based on commemorating WW1. Last evening, September 12, Goldies celebrated with the news that they had WON the Education Category of this year’s prestigious National Lottery Awards. They will feature in the BBC1 special awards programme on Wednesday September 26.
 
Children from Springfield Primary School have been working together with Chelmsford Museum on a project which has involved research into Chelmsford’s links with those who served in The Great War. The children’s work will be on display at the museum and this will be officially opened on Monday October 1 at 10.00am.
 
Headteacher at Springfield Primary School Jacquelyn Pick said;
 
“It is vitally important that children of today understand the impact that was made by those who served 100 years ago. Included in our project work has been the learning of popular WW1 songs which we will be performing at the exhibition opening and also to our parents at a special Armistice Cantata. The children’s English and art work this term has been based on WW1 and they have thoroughly enjoyed finding out about the uniforms, an individual Essex Regiment soldier, the role of women in the war and lots more beside.”
 
Nick Wickenden is Chelmsford Museum’s Senior Curatorial Consultant, he added;
 
“The children from the school have come into the museum to look at some of the artefacts that we hold here. From September 29ththrough to November 11 we will be displaying many of them for the public to see, including the personal effects of two young Essex soldiers who died on the Somme.  Some 9,000 officers and  men from the Essex Regiment gave their lives during the First World War, including over 400 from Chelmsford alone, and we hope that many of their descendants will be able to come to the museum to see the exhibition during this time.”
 
The exhibition will be opened by Major Peter Williamson, Chair of Trustees of the Essex Regiment Museum. Also attending will be The Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Yvonne Spence, many of the older people who attend the ‘Goldies’ sessions around the city as well as member of the British Legion and other invited guests. The founder of the Goldies Charity, Grenville Jones, will also attend on October 1.
 
www.ourmemories.org.uk
 
ENDS
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
 

​PRESS RELEASE
 
Images shows Thornhill children with the vote telephone number
And Vote for Us image, with chidren
 
WEDNESDAY 11th  July 2018
 
Children from a Cardiff primary school are celebrating after being nominated as the only Wales school in the National Lottery Awards 2018 categories, just announced.
 
The Awards cover seven categories in total from Arts to Heritage, including Education. Across all the categories there are 49 UK nominated projects. The WW1 commemoration Armistice Cantata in the Education category was written by pupils at Thornhill Primary School Cardiff as part of the Goldies Cymru charities schools intergenerational programme.
 
Thornhill Primary have a long association with Goldies Cymru. Deputy head Liz Berry explains;
 
“We love the work they do, brightening the lives of older isolated people and have held a number of events at our school inviting older folk from our local community as well as the grandparents of our children.”
 
‘Goldies’, as it is more fondly known, runs daytime fun sing and smile sessions across South Wales. Its intergenerational projects have linked with many schools and last year founder Grenville Jones approached Thornhill with his ideas about commemorating the final months of WW1. He explains;
 
“I met with Liz Berry and Claire Holcombe, their brilliant music teacher. Over a six month period the children from the School Choir researched and wrote the words and songs to Armistice Cantata. There were visits to local museums to help children with research and the seven songs including in the Cantata are all popular melodies from 100 years ago with new words originated by the children.
 
“There’s also narration based on a grandma character who takes mementoes out of her treasure box of 100 years ago. Each treasure introduces a new song.”
 
“Everyone at Thornhill Primary is now working hard to encourage everyone to vote as the awards are based on  public support to the National Lottery Awards website, by telephone or by social media,” said Liz Berry.
 
“We are pulling out all the stops and our children are buzzing with excitement. Everyone at Thornhill is very proud of our nomination and we are also delighted that Armistice Cantata is available across the UK and many other schools will be performing it in the months leading up to November 11, 2018.”
 
The development and growth of Goldies Cymru has been supported by the Big Lottery Fund in Wales and their intergenerational WW1 project is possible through the Heritage Lottery Fund.
 
Final word goes to Sir Cliff Richard, Patron of the Goldies Charity, he said;
 
“We reach out and bring together children with older people in their local communities through our schools programme. Armistice Cantata is a brilliant production researched and written by talented children from Thornhill Primary School, Cardiff.  
 
“To be nominated as one of the Education projects in the National Lottery Awards 2018 is a tremendous accolade and we are asking everyone who supports our work to vote either online, by telephone or through Twitter for Armistice Cantata. 
 
“Please help us to win this award.”
 
 
ENDS
 
www.ourmemories.org.uk
 
www.golden-oldies.org.uk
 
Media enquiries to Liz Berry at Thornhill Primary School on 029 2075 1302
 
or Grenville Jones Goldies founder on 07778 282934.
 

PRESS RELEASE
 
Wednesday 27 June 2018
​
Picture shows members of the Bath Curtain-Up Theatre Group with a Lottery phone number reminder.

A Bath-based charity that started in and around the city 11 years ago now reaches out to 1000s of older people across England and Wales. Today – June 27- it is celebrating after being nominated in a prestigious national education competition.
 
The four initial daytime Golden-Oldies, “Goldies” sessions in 2007 were taken by founder and Bath music man Grenville Jones. Now in 2018 there are over 150 daytime SING & SMILE sessions and 59 freelance leaders from Yorkshire to Cornwall and Essex across to Swansea.
 
Part of the charities development has been with projects that encourage schools to open their doors to older people. The latest one is based on the 100 year commemoration of World War One as the nation looks ahead to the Armistice in November. This Goldies programme is supported by the Royal British Legion and the WW1 Heritage Lottery Fund.
 
As part of the programme Grenville Jones commissioned a 30 minute production of words and music called Armistice Cantata, researched and written by primary school children for UK schools to perform.
 
Today – June 27 – National Lottery Awards has announced that it has been selected from 700 other projects in the Education Category 2018 Awards.
 
Grenville is over the moon with the news. He has a personal interest in the history of WW1, his grandfather William Henry Jones lost his life aged 24 in the early days of the Somme. He said:
 
“Armistice Cantata has narration and songs based on the popular melodies of 100 years ago. It was written by children at Thornhill Primary in Cardiff and early in June young people from the Curtain Up Theatre here in Bath, performed it to an audience of over 1000 at The Forum..
 
“The children worked on the project for 6 months and research include visits to WW1 Archives to see memorabilia and letters and find out more about the men who went to war.
 
“There are 7 songs and groups of children composed the lyrics for each one.  They then worked on the narration script and the moving images that form the backdrop to the 30 minute production. It is brilliant.”
 
Sarah Carter from Curtain Up said;
 
“Our students found the whole experience of learning and performing Armistice Cantata a very moving one, some of them had little knowledge of the First World War and through the Cantata they certainly now have a much clearer understanding about how this War of 100 years ago has meaning to their lives today.”
 
Ian Dewey is Goldies Trustee chairman;
 
“This is a remarkable National Lottery funded project which has bridged the generations in commemorating those who served during the First World War. Armistice Cantata is very special because it can be adapted by UK schools who wish to localise their own productions. There are also opportunities to include local choirs, something of course that is very close to Grenville’s heart.
 
“We have seen on so many occasions the joy that comes when children and older people meet together on school projects, especially when they are joined in song. We’re hoping that all our supporters will vote for Armistice Cantata to be named the UK’s Best Education project.”
 
Voting can be on line
 
www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/armistice-cantata
 
The project has a dedicated phone number       0844 836 9678
 
 
For the duration of the campaign, the project also has its own unique hashtag. It is   #NLAArmisticeCantata
 
Final word goes to Sir Cliff Richard, Patron of the Goldies Charity. He said,
 
“We reach out and bring together children with older people in their local communities through our schools programme. Armistice Cantata is a brilliant production researched and written by talented children from Thornhill Primary School, Cardiff.
 
“To be nominated as one of the Education projects in the National Lottery Awards 2018 is a tremendous accolade and we are asking for everyone who supports our work to vote either online, by telephone or through Twitter for Armistice Cantata.
 
“Please help us to win this award.”
 
ENDS
 
Enquiries to Grenville on 0777 828 2934 …
 
 

PRESS RELEASE
 
Monday 21 May 2018
 
Cantata Remembers the Fallen
 
A unique 30 minute production of words and music has been written by primary school children in Cardiff to commemorate the end of World War One.
 
Thornhill Primary School were approached by the Goldies Cymru charity last year with details of their intergenerational programme linked to the final months of World War One.
 
Through deputy head Liz Berry and music teacher Claire Holcombe the school has a close link with the ‘Goldies’ charity that brightens the lives of hundreds of older isolated people across South Wales through its daytime Sing&Smile sessions.
 
“Goldies is really very special and we have worked with its founder Grenville Jones in the past on WW1 projects which the children have thoroughly enjoyed and it has certainly helped to broaden their knowledge of the importance of how the First World War affects lives and communities today.”
 
Following conversations with Grenville Jones, the charity founder, the school set out to research and write their special production called Armistice Cantata. It contains seven songs with original words from the children and set to popular tunes from 100 years ago. The children composed the melodies and also the narrative that accompanies the piece. There are solos which feature the children and plans to perform Armistice Cantata in the months leading up to Armistice Day Sunday November 11.
 
It was launched last November in Cardiff and was then made available for schools across the United Kingdom to access and perform as part of their individual WW1 commemorations.
 
Goldies Cymru is supported by the Big Lottery Fund in Wales, Heritage Lottery Fund First World War, the Moondance Foundation and the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust.
 
“Armistice Cantata is a very poignant and moving production and special credit must go to Claire Holcombe, the music teacher at Thornhill, who guided the children in all aspects of originating both words and music. There is a full information pack with CDs, music scores, narrative and supporting visuals and over 20 schools have already ordered their copies,” said Grenville Jones, founder of Goldies Cymru.
 
Full details of Goldies sessions across South Wales can be found on the website www.goldiescymru.org.uk
 
ENDS
 
The attached photographs were taken at the launch last November and show children from Thornhill Primary School performing Armistice Cantata.
 
Press enquiries to Liz Berry, deputy head at Thornhill Primary School, can be contacted on 02920 751302
Or Grenville Jones, Goldies Cymru founder, on 07778 282934.

PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, March 19, 2018
 
Masonic Golden support
 
Keynsham Masonic Hall hosted an informal evening on March 24 with friends and family celebrating the generosity of the Cornucopia Lodge members. With a number of fundraising events and raffles they raised the magnificent sum of £1,000 for the Golden-Oldies Charity and its work with older isolated people.
 
During the evening, Mike Richardson a trustee of Goldies was presented with a cheque on behalf of Cornucopia Lodge by their Master, Jonathan Watts and Barry McCormack, assistant Provincial Grand Master. Mike told everyone that it would be put towards initiatives in the local area for older people and supporting more of the Goldies popular daytime SING&SMILE sessions.
 
The Goldies Charity Shop in Keynsham high street opened 2 years ago where it is run in partnership with another successful local charity Dorothy House.
 
Throughout the evening the happy revellers were entertained by Mission Impossible 2, comprising singer Rowland Smith and keyboard player Steve Lawrence, who coincidently was the organiser of the evening and secretary of Cornucopia Lodge
 
Ends
 
Picture shows left-right ..
 
Jonathan Watts – Master of Cornucopia Lodge
Mike Richardson – past chairman, trustee and treasurer of the Golden Oldies
Steve Lawrence – music maestro, organiser and secretary of Cornucopia Lodge
Barry McCormack – Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Somerset
 
 
 

PRESS RELEASE
 
Wednesday February 28, 2018
 
Remembering WW1 in stories and songs
 
As the nation looks back to commemorate the final months of WW1 leading up to November 11 and the Armistice, primary schools across England and Wales are signing up for projects that will link them with older people in their communities.
 
The Golden-Oldies charity started in November 2007 in the West Country. There are now 160 daytime Sing & Smile sessions supported by an army of volunteers across Southern England, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Devon, Cornwall, Essex and in South Wales, as Goldies Cymru. More fondly referred to just as “Goldies” thousands attend the fun singalongs at church halls, Libraries and community rooms.
 
Eight years ago, charity founder Grenville Jones launched an intergenerational programme for schools, encouraging them to open their doors to older people in their communities. The most recent programme in 2014 ran across the South West and was based on the first two years of WW1. Hundreds of schools took part with heritage and memorabilia days, concerts and special events. This new programme encourages primary schools to commemorate the final months of WW1 leading up to November 11 and the anniversary of the Armistice.
 
The programme is supported by a website…
 
www.ourmemories.org.uk.
 
It offers free access to a host of project ideas for primary schools as well as easy to sing WW1 medleys, specially commissioned by the charity for children and older people to sing together. The website also gives details of the unique 30 minute Armistice Cantata production, written by the children from Thornhill Primary School, Cardiff and available for all schools to access.
 
“We have already been inundated by requests from schools, museums and libraries to take part,“ said Grenville Jones.
 
The WW1 Goldies programme is supported by a number of organisations including Heritage Lottery England and Wales, the Garfield Weston Foundation the Royal British Legion and the Moondance Foundation in Wales.
 
 
For more details contact grenville@ourmemories.org.uk
 
ENDS
 
Images attached show school children taking part in past events
 
Grenville’s mobile is 0777 828 2934

www.golden-oldies.org.uk

ARMISTICE WW1 CANTATA launch
 
At Chapter Arts Centre, Market Rd, Canton CF5 1QE
Friday November 10th from 9.15am to 12.00noon
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One hundred years ago on November 10 1917, the third battle of Ypres ended in a small Belgium village called Passchendaele and on Friday morning, November 10 2017 a unique new play commemorating the end of WW1, written by children from Thornhill Primary School, Heol Hir, Cardiff called Armistice Cantata will be premiered at Chapter Art Centre in Canton, Cardiff.
 
On the same morning pupils from Rhydypennau Primary School with older people from the near-bye Goldies session at Rhydypennau Library will perform a new medley of WW1 songs.
 
The original idea for Armistice Cantata came from West Country musician and charity founder Grenville Jones who lives in Bath.
 
Mr Jones started the Golden-Oldies charity back in 2007 with fun daytime singing sessions for older isolated people in sheltered community rooms. He took the first sessions himself and now, ten years on, there are almost 200 across Wales and England, with 50 leaders and many supportive volunteers. Thousands attend the one hour sessions.
 
Sir Cliff Richard became patron in 2012. He says;
 
“Golden-Oldies has made quite remarkable progress, brightening so many lives.”
 
Grenville is a respected UK choir leader but is always anxious to point out that Goldies, as it has become known, is NOT about choir singing but instead is based on the popular memory-evoking songs of the 60’s and onwards. The charity has won many wellbeing awards for its simple “songs and smiles” formula that gives people a reason to get out and make new friends.
 
“ I saw the joy and friendships at my choirs and wanted to try to grab that atmosphere of fun and take it to older people who lived lonely lives and had very little to look forward to,” he says.
 
Back in 2010 he started an intergenerational programme with his charity, encouraging schools to open their doors to older people in their communities. Hundreds have taken part and, in 2014 he introduced a project supported by Heritage Lottery based on the commemoration of the First World War.
 
“I believe it is so important for our young children to understand the sacrifice that was given then and, as a musician, to keep alive the popular tunes and words of 100 years ago,” he says.
 
 
Mr Jones also has personal reasons for his dedication to the memories of WW1 as his grandfather William Henry Jones lost his life, aged 24 in the early days of the Battle of the Somme.
 
Armistice Cantata was written by children at Thornhill Primary School Cardiff. Liz Berry is deputy head, she explains:
 
“Our school has really embraced the Goldies charity and we have seen the huge benefits that come when out older people visit school to meet and enjoy the WW1 projects and sing the Goldies songs.
 
“When Grenville approached us we were delighted to be asked and our brilliant Year 4 and 5 children, led by Thornhills inspired music teacher Claire Holcombe have written the song words which are adapted to melodies of 100 years ago. I cannot emphasise enough how proud we are of them all and we are nervously looking forward to performing the 30 minute play of words and music at Chapter Arts in Cardiff on Friday morning November 10th for the first time in front of an invited audience.”
 
The Thornhill pupils worked on the project for 6 months and research included a visit to the Glamorgan Archives Museum to see WW1 memorabilia and letters and learn more about the men from South Wales who went to war.
 
There are 7 songs and groups of children composed the lyrics for each and, together with older people who attend near bye Goldies singing sessions, they then worked on the narration script and the images that form the backdrop to the 30 minute production.
 
Professional guidance also came from Goldies Cymru supporters Emyr Wynne Jones and Alwyn Humphreys whose expertise and musicianship then helped to create the final score and script.
 
Armistice Cantata will be offered to all UK primary schools in English and Welsh from January through the new Goldies WW1 website which also launches of November 10.
 
                                                                  www.ourmemories.org.uk
 
This website will also feature masses of other ideas for primary schools as well as information on WW1 commemorations, song medleys, project guidance notes and much more.
 
“We hope that hundreds of schools and older people will take part in the weeks and months leading up to November 2018 and the Armistice commemoration,” said Grenville Jones.
 
The WW1 programme is supported by Heritage Lottery Fund Wales, The Santander Foundation and the Moondance Foundation, Cardiff.
 
Ends
Your contacts ..
Grenville Jones, Goldies founder on mobile 0777 828 2934
Liz Berry, Deputy Headteacher, Thornhill Primary School (029) 20 751302

​PRESS RELEASE

​A charity that started in Bath 10 years ago today (November 9th) launched its new intergenerational programme for primary schools commemorating the final years of the First World War and the Armistice on November 11 1918.
 
A new supporting website www.ourmemories.org.uk has gone live this week. The programme is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund South West, the Garfield Weston Foundation and The Royal British Legion.
 
Bath based musician Grenville Jones started the Golden-Oldies charity in November 2007. His experience as a choir leader had shown how singing in a group made a huge social difference to people’s lives. Always quick to emphasise that “Goldies,” as it is more fondly known, is NOT about choir singing, the charity has made remarkable progress in the past 10 years.
 
“I saw the joy and friendships at my choirs and wanted to grab that atmosphere of fun and take it to older people who are isolated and who have little to look forward to.”
 
Grenville took the first four Goldies daytime sessions himself in and around Bath in sheltered housing community rooms, based on the memory-evoking songs of the 60s and onwards.
 
Now, 10 years later, there are 50 freelance session leaders, an army of volunteers and 100 sessions across Southern England, Yorkshire, the Midlands and Essex. In South Wales as Goldies Cymru and with the support of the BIG Lottery Wales, there will be an additional 65 sessions by the end of 2017.
 
Back in 2010 in Bath the charity started an intergenerational programme with schools, encouraging them to open their doors to older people in their community. As it developed it was recognised by a number of organisations including Lottery England, Goldies being nominated in the prestigious national UK Lottery awards in their educational category.
 
The most recent programme in 2014 ran across the South West and was based on the first two years of WW1 1914- 1916. Hundreds of schools took part with heritage and memorabilia days, concerts and special events.
 
The new programme encourages primary schools to commemorate the final months of WW1 leading up to November 11 next year and the anniversary of the Armistice.
 
At the launch today children from four Bath & North East Somerset schools were represented. They included Farmborough Primary School, St John’s Catholic Primary School, Welton Primary School and Widcombe Junior School.
 
Supporting the programme is a new website for schools to access
www.ourmemories.org.uk
 
As well as containing a host of guidance notes for teachers on WW1 projects it also includes medleys of songs from 100 years ago for children to learn and sing as part of their commemorations in the months leading up to November 2018.
 
Ian Dewey is chairman of the Golden-Oldies charity. He told a packed St Michaels church.
 
“Grenville’s vision was to give older people a reason to get out and have fun through daytime singing and activity sessions. The school programme extends this with chances for primary schools to invite local people in to join together in memorabilia days and concerts that recognise the significance of the final months of WW1.”
 
ENDS