Testimonials From Shepway Voices Members

Since 2017 the Choir has been my “life support system” and I didn’t realise it until post Covid. My wife of almost 60 years died in 2015 and I was rebuilding my life when a choir member, at the time, persuaded me reluctantly to come to Shepway Voices with him. I had done a bit of choral singing in my teens but after the first three months, had it not been for the fact he transported me each week I think I would have given up. Covid however changed my entire outlook on life mainly thanks to the choir for the following reasons. My family live 200 miles away and during the pandemic, choir members regularly left cakes in a bag on my front gate, shared their families with me on Facebook, responded to my (often stupid or juvenile) comments on Facebook, encouraged me by liking something I put on Facebook or phoned to see how I was.

They also forced me to have a glass of something standing by on choir and quiz evenings on Zoom and when rules were slightly relaxed persuaded me to submit my singing for various songs that were made into video recordings.

When we got back to singing together it was such an emotional experience and I have continued to benefit, and help The HeadStrong Singers more when I can, which is for the benefit of stroke victims and anyone of any age with dementia or head problems. I have actually seen the elderly and the not so elderly people sing all the words to songs once the music started when they could not find the words to speak to their neighbours beforehand. Music can improve the quality of life more than medicines in some cases.

I have sung in choirs since I was a child, but in latter years work meant that singing in choirs became sidelined.  So in 2018 I put this right and joined Shepway Voices - and I’m so glad I did, little did I know what a good decision I had made!

Shepway Voices is so much more than just a group of people who sing together on a Wednesday evening; it is ‘a family‘ of people from all walks of life, with a range of talents and life experiences who not only sing together but support and care for one another. I can honestly say I have made some wonderful friends through joining Shepway Voices.

Over the last six years, singing, or perhaps more importantly, the ‘Shepway Voices family’, has helped me personally through some tough times: deteriorating vision, cancer diagnosis (and successful treatment🤞), being a carer and bereavement.  I’ve never really said ‘thank you’, but during those times Wednesday evenings were my therapy! 

We are very lucky to have an inspirational MD, who selects a wide range of music, guides us to sing pieces we thought were impossible, and provides us with the opportunity to take part in events we couldn’t even have imagined.

If you are considering joining but think this sounds like hard work rest assured, it isn’t - it’s joyous! Yes we sing; but we laugh, chat (never at the wrong time!), drink tea and eat biscuits.  

Singing with Shepway Voices is definitely good for the mind, body and spirit - come along and find out for yourself!