A very special ‘Monkscroft Christmas’ song has been written and performed by Chris Webb. The musician met residents from the Care Centre virtually, via zoom, as part of a pioneering Live Music Now project to bring music to care homes. In September Chris started a virtual residency with Monkscroft Care Centre in Cheltenham, run by the Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT).

The song features the names of several residents and team members in its catchy chorus:

It's gonna be a Monkscroft Christmas

With Pat, Penny and Ken

Gonna be a Monkscroft Christmas

With Paddy, Sarah, and Bea

With Christmas pudding and Guinness

Sinatra playing by the fire

It'll be a Monkscroft Christmas

This year

As the pandemic had curtailed in-person music sessions, music charity Live Music Now looked for new ways to bring music to care homes. Singer-songwriter Chris was invited to work virtually with residents at Monkscroft Care Centre. He met weekly with two small groups of residents and ran a series of interactive performances over zoom.

During the music sessions, Chris collected residents’ memories of, and hopes for, Christmas, which he turned into lyrics for a new song, “A Monkscroft Christmas”.  He performed the song and shared it on YouTube so that residents and supporters could enjoy his tailored song.

This is one of a number of projects run by Live Music Now in collaboration with Monkscroft Care Centre. Chris’s residency was made possible thanks to funding for Live Music Now from The Rayne Foundation to enable it to build on its relationship with a select group of care homes.

Chris’s performance is available to view on YouTube, the Live Music Now website and the Monkscroft Facebook page.

For more information about Live Music Now visit www.livemusicnow.org.uk.