MEDIA RELEASE: Monday 18 March, 2024
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Youth and wisdom: the perfect musical combination at Kirriemuir care home
A talented pair of musicians have transcended the generations by performing together at an Angus care home, bringing the home’s musical tradition full circle.
A bringing together of youth and wisdom, Abbie Ogilvy, an 18-year-old Care Assistant and singer, and David Rattray, an 80-year-old- resident and pianist, have been wowing residents and staff at Balhousie Lisden care home in Kirriemuir.
Both from Kirriemuir, Abbie was approached to sing for the residents by Robyn Oliphant, the Clinical Lead at Balhousie Lisden, after Robyn saw Abbie performing in the Kirriemuir Panto Group.
David’s connection to performing at Lisden is one that has been ongoing for decades. A sociable and popular member of the local community, over a 20-year-period, David visited the home every Thursday to play the piano for the residents. Now, he calls Balhousie Lisden his home as a resident.
His piano performances at the home are remembered by many in the local community. None more so than Agnes Oliphant, the Home Manager. Long before she worked at Lisden, Agnes visited on her wedding day in 1995 to show her dress to her husband’s granny who was a resident there. Agnes said:
“We got married on a Thursday, so I remember that David was playing in the lounge that day. They called us in and he played ‘Here Comes the Bride’ for us. It’s such a special memory from our wedding day and quite amazing how life can come full circle really.”
David plays by ear to accompany Abbie as she sings classic songs more from David’s era, from Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz to Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley.
Abbie is currently completing an access course to go to university and study Adult Nursing and she couldn’t be happier to be learning about care in a home like Lisden. Abbie said:
“I’ve learnt so much. Every resident has such unique needs, so I’m learning about lots of different aspects of their care. I love being able to help the residents, getting to know them, speaking with them. And, as singing is a passion too, to be able to sing for our residents is the icing on the cake.”
Abbie and David are planning to perform together again in the coming months, something that both are looking forward to. Abbie said:
“It was so heart-warming to sing with David. He had a huge smile on his face the whole time he was accompanying me. It will be lovely to perform with him again.”
David added:
“I came here every Thursday to play for the residents and I always really enjoyed doing that. I play everything that I know from memory, no music needed. Now I am really enjoying living here myself and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I am so well looked after.”
For more information about Balhousie Care Group visit www.balhousiecare.co.uk
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For media enquiries please contact Anna Gunn or Melanie Brockway on: Anna.Gunn@balhousiecare.co.uk or Melanie.Brockway@balhousiecare.co.uk
Or call 01738 254 254
Notes to Editors
About Balhousie Care Group
Balhousie Care Group (BCG) was formed 30 years ago to fill a gap in quality residential care in central and North East Scotland. Today, with 24 homes, providing care to almost 900 residents and employing over 1400 team members, it is one of the leading providers of care for older persons in Scotland, along with specialist dementia and Huntington’s care, care for young adults with a diagnosed learning disability and a Youth Physical Disability service.
Owned by AcalisCare, Balhousie Care prides itself on its person-centred approach to care and inclusivity: putting people right at the heart of everything they do.
Their person-centred approach to care, innovative practices and close community links have made them a trusted name in care and earned them a swathe of awards.
In 2022 alone, BCG took home three Courier Business Awards, including the prestigious Business of the Year, a Great British Care Award, a Scottish Care award and an s1Jobs Shine Award. In 2023, Balhousie Care were finalists in four categories of the UK-wide Housing with Care Awards, winning the award for Supported Housing Innovation. They also achieved four finalists in the 2023 Scottish Care Awards, winning the Training, Learning and Staff Development Award.
