We’ve been visiting Great Ormond Street Hospital every Wednesday for quite some time now. Getting to know medical staff, play specialists and of course patients and their families. This week singer / guitarist Marcus Bonfanti played for children on Pelican, Koala and Squirrel wards.
On Pelican ward we hung out with T, one of our regulars. He’s waiting for a transplant and had recently moved rooms so we complimented him on the new decorations. He wanted to sing “The Yoshi Song”. After much head-scratching and googling, we decided that perhaps there wasn’t a Yoshi song but that we could write one! T loved this idea, and being of that age where kids are obsessed with all things toilet and bottom-related, writing a song about the green dinosaur laying an egg led to much hilarity. (for those who don’t know, Yoshi is a dinosaur from the Super Mario video game series)
T***** and Yoshi are best friends,
They’ll be best friends until the end,
When Yoshi turns round and shows me his bum,
An egg pops out, isn’t that a lot of fun.
An instant classic. We made our way around the wards, playing the usual requests of Taylor Swift, Wheels On The Bus, various Disney Songs and ABBA (very popular with the kids, who knew!?) One of our last clients of the day was eating her lunch on Squirrel Ward. Dinner and show for her and her dad was very well received.
The following day we were back at Bridgeside Lodge Care Home for a session with regular pianist Pete Lee, accompanying singer Patrick Clarke. What followed was a lovely afternoon of jazz numbers and laid-back versions of pop classics.
On Friday we were joined by children from Hanover Primary School which stands on the Regent’s Canal, opposite Bridgeside Lodge. A mini choir, led by their teacher Ms Holden entertained residents with a selection of songs about love and friendship for Valentine’s Day. Here’s a recording of their rendition of Let Love Shine Through which had everyone singing along.
If life was in black and white,
All the world would be grey.
If there was just one instrument,
No orchestra could play.
Like every note in a song,
Each special voice in a choir,
Like snowflakes, clouds, and fingerprints,
Uniqueness gives us power.
You are you, I am me, celebrate variety,
Let love shine through.
You are you, I am me, rich in our diversity,
Together we make harmony, yeah.
