Kathleen’s love of music lives on with family’s Lost Chord donation
LEADING South Yorkshire dementia charity Lost Chord has received donations worth almost £250 from the family of a woman whose life was touched by the organisation’s pioneering work in musical therapy.
Lost Chord is the charity that provides vital interactive professional musical experiences for people living with dementia in care homes and day centres across the region.
And it was after seeing the impact that Lost Chord sessions had on their mum Kathleen McClure that her family decided to make donations from her recent funeral worth a total of £245 to the charity.
“Performances by Lost Chord were a source of great joy for our mother during the last few years of her life whilst she was a resident in Forest Hill Nursing Care Home in Worksop,” said daughter Ann Tudor-Hall.
“Her father, Frederick Toon, was musical and during his spare time he played in a small Dance Band and also in a local Brass Band and he passed on his appreciation and joy of music to Kathleen.”
Kathleen spent most of her working life in education in the Maltby and Bawtry area and latterly at Dinnington High School, where she assisted the Bursar.
She spent her retirement travelling between the households of her three daughters in France, Kent and South Yorkshire but her love of music and singing accompanied all her daily life and she shared this with her six grandchildren.
“During her last few years Kathleen suffered from Vascular Dementia which took her speech, movement and awareness of everyday life,” said Ann.
“The performances by Lost Chord, which took place almost every month at Forest Hill, awakened her for a couple of hours from her silent, vacant world.
“The wonderful singers and musicians had great empathy and rapport with the residents, often, through their interactions, restoring equilibrium and dignity so that the person behind the dementia could Shine through.
“Observing and participating in Lost Chord performances throughout our Mother’s last few years, we saw the truth in their motto “Where words fail, music speaks.”
Lost Chord Chief Executive Helena Muller commented: “We are delighted that the work of our professional musicians meant so much to Mrs McClure in the final years of her life and that her family have chosen to recognise the pleasure she received with this extremely generous donation.
“We can only continue to provide our full programme of events across the region thanks to the continuing support of the public and I know Kathleen’s family will be happy to know that other people can enjoy the same support she received from Lost Chord’s musicians.”
To find out more about the work of Lost Chord and how to get involved as a musician or as a volunteer or fundraiser please call the Lost Chord office: 01709 811160. Alternatively, please don’t hesitate to message us with your details.
