Many of you know that I attend hospital every week as a volunteer to chat with and entertain patients, playing musical requests using a Bluetooth speaker and the Spotify App. Last Monday morning was quite eventful. I stayed 4 hours in all and visited two wards and I need to split the tale into two! This is Part 1.
There was a tube strike last Monday and many volunteers were unable to get in, so I was asked to take and distribute about 30 newspapers (the Metro and the Mirror) to patients in bed. The inside pages were splashed with many colour photos of the royal family and party crowds. So after introducing myself, I brought up the Queen’s 70th Jubilee celebrations in conversation with near everyone and opened up the newspapers to show the colour pictures. All the ladies I spoke to had such wonderful things to say about the Queen. Even lying in bed unwell, they spoke so lovingly of the Queen. I found it quite moving. I said to one lady how much I would have liked to have filmed and recorded everyone's wishes and posted the video to Her Majesty.
The first bay I visited had four lady patients, one of whom was moving about in a wheelchair, but for reasons I cannot now remember, I decided to play woodland bird song to the patients in that bay! I think I was in adventurous mode - a kind of Danny Kaye in lights. I'm interested in the patients reactions. And the nurses!
One lady was entranced by the bird song. She lay in bed with her mouth wide open and her face expressionless, except her eyes were transfixed on the cylindrical Blue tooth speaker. She raised her arm to touch it with her fingers. I let her place her fingers round the cylindrical Bluetooth speaker. She moved it and placed it upright against her body whilst lying in the bed. What she thought in her mind no one will ever know. I gave her a smile and the thumbs up sign. But still her face was expressionless. But I stayed with her, ten minutes or so of birdsong with the occasional sound of a waterfall! The lady opposite was less generous, saying to me "The birds sing better in my garden!" Maybe she was referring to the squeaking wheels of the wheelchair, a noise comparable to sparrows sharpening knives on telegraph wires!
Finally, in this account I will mention a rather quaint and demure lady, sitting on top of her bed with an Alpaca blue patterned blanket wrapped around her with a midnight blue woollen shawl draped over her shoulders. She was very prim and proper. Very petite and demure. Short cut black hair going on grey. Petite features. Of course I said I was a Ward Musician and could play requests. She told me she played the clarinet and that her husband died 3 years ago. He liked jazz and used to listen to jazz record requests on a Saturday afternoon. I sat by her bedside and suggested I find a clarinet solo which I did. I then mentioned Nat King Cole and she brightened up “Oh yes”. So, it was “Let There Be Love” with George Shearing on piano accompaniment. It was then she asked, "Can you find Stranger on the Shore", a song made famous by Acker Bilk, he of the bowler hat, goatee beard and striped Waistcoat. It was one of her husband’s favourite tunes. If you don't know it, I find it a bit melancholy but oddly comforting. I found the tune on YouTube and began to play it. At the same time I chanced upon the most recent YouTube comment which I just had to show Gill. It read:–
“My husband died 10 years ago today. This was one of our favourite songs. We did dance on the shore. We loved on the shore. We sailed past many shores, we lived and loved the sea. I will always love you Roger.”
I had to confess, listening to the music and reading this comment, made my eyes water. Music can be so powerful and especially in hospital. Gill too, shed a tear, but these were tears of happy reflection, tears to show she had eyes and ears to enjoy life still. At one point, Gill took a call from a relative or friend and I heard her say “I’m being entertained by a lovely young man.” It doesn’t get better than that.
I will follow this up with the remainder of my visit in a few days time.
Written by
Greenthorn
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As I’ve said before David, you and others do a wonderful job and seem to make people very happy. I love Strangers on the Shore and remember Acker Bilk well. Can’t wait for the second part of your story. Xxx
Carole, do you sit astride the portals of this site! You are so reliable in responding to most posts as soon as they are in print! I think its great that you and Bernadette greet everyone, especially newcomers - you provide a very valued service. Part 2 will include a Teddy Boy aged near 80 with his body tattooed with Elvis regalia. Also a patient who tries to escape out of the hospital, and a man from Syria who I played the Oud to - a pear shaped fretless type of guitar. (Via Spotify anyway!) Thanks very much for your comment. X
It does seem that way but pure coincidence I assure you David. I like to welcome newcomers if I can and think our dear Bernadette is wonderful. Thank you for the compliment.
You mention Elvis, I loved his voice and find the song "In the Ghetto" one of the songs to live by, I would also add The Hollies, "He ain't Heavy He's My Brother". Hope I have not said this before. As to the lady with the speaker, do you think she could feel the sound on her chest?
Thanks Sorrel - Its interesting what you say about the lady patient. I didn't think that at the time. Had she put it on her chest or against her skull, then you might be right, but she planted it against the side of her body in an upright position. I think she did hear the bird song well enough as her attention was focused on the speaker as I approached, and the volume was up too. I will definitely revisit her next week. I'm glad you mention Elvis. I was never a great fan of his, not when I was younger, but now in later years I have grown to respect his singing. Whenever I play Danny Boy, I always choose Elvis's version. Its very slow, a little gospely, but very moving. And I'm completely with you on your anthemic choices. One of the joys of visiting patients is that I discover new songs, new tunes all the time from patient requests.
NB You will enjoy the 2nd part of my visit when Elvis comes into his own!
There seems to be many strikes going on at the moment. 🤔 In my sister's area they are having a bus strike. I am happy to hear the patients enjoyed reading the papers. I am sure the pictures were eye catching and lovely and perhaps took them out of hospital even for a short time.
As always , your service to these people must be so very appreciated. You always give such joy. Have a good weekend. xx 🙂👍
Good morning Greenthorn. I read all your posts although I never comment until now. But you do a lovely rewarding hobby if I can call it that. And obviously brighten up many peoples lives. Hope your day goes well today. Brian
Hi Brian, thanks for your comments. It's always good to read that I'm being read. I do try to be entertaining! You mention "hobby*. Well it's more like a mission! It's when I focus on other people that my life gets better. 😜 Best wishes David.
How wonderful to read your stories, Greenthorn. A reminder of the power of music to reach us on the deepest levels.
Interesting to read about the lady who held the speaker to her side. Years ago, I was badly affected with rheumatoid arthritis and my right ankle had fused solid and was immovable. The consultant said that I would never be able to move it again and it would eventually need to be replaced. I wasn’t happy with that prognosis as I was only in my 20s, so looked for an alternative approach. I eventually found a practitioner who was a chiropractor and acupuncturist. I assumed he would use one of those techniques but instead, he wheeled out the most ancient tape recorder I have seen with a probe attached, rather like a they use for ultrasound scans, and a selection of cassette tapes. I was beginning to think it was time I left 😊but he played different frequencies of sound whilst applying the probe to my ankle and after 15 minutes I was able to move it slightly - the first time I’d been able to do so in 18 months! Over time and in combination with range of motion exercise once I could start moving it, I regained full use of the joint. Sound can do incredible things! Sorry to waffle on about that but the lady holding the speaker just reminded me of it. Maybe she could feel the vibration and found that soothing.
Thank you for the wonderful service you and the other volunteers provide and for sharing your stories here😊
Thank you Threecats for going to the trouble to share your story. It is absolutely fascinating, and I hope other members here, pick on your response. No way are you waffling on. You raise a fascinating subject and I'm glad my post lit your memories.
That’s lovely you do that for people. When I was in hospital a few years ago it was Christmas time and the nurses were singing Carols in the hall way. I thought it was amazing and thanked them.
I was in hospital over one Christmas as a child and I still remember the nurses standing in the corridor signing carols on Christmas Eve- quite magical and still a vivid memory nearly 50 years on!
Thank you once more, Greenthorn, for another lovely account of your hospital visit. I do love 'Stranger on the shore', I find it quite moving. I'm really looking forward to your 2nd episode as I am a big fan of Elvis, especially his gospel songs. xxx 😊
Thanks Ergendl, that tune remains as popular and as haunting as ever. My brother played it on piano as a teenager. But there's something about the clarinet that carries the tube o'er hill and dale!
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