A couple share a tender moment on the sofa in the lounge: a resident’s husband gently strokes her hair as they listen to a live rendition of Joni Mitchell’s hauntingly beautiful River. A son lovingly adjusts his mother’s hat while she watches the musicians in awe. A resident spontaneously bursts into song, singing long vibrato notes at the top of her voice.
Spitz singers Alice Zawadzki and Emine Pirhasan playfully bounce off each other with improvised vocals over the crowd-pleaser Winter Wonderland. As the evening continues, the party atmosphere builds and carers and residents spontaneously begin to dance together in the dining area. A carer takes to the stage and performs O Come, All Ye Faithful, both delighted and shocked by the unanimously positive reception she receives.
Perhaps inspired by this bravery, the granddaughter of a relatively new resident performs Jingle Bells to the whole room, as her grandmother looks on with tears of pride in her eyes.
Before too long, the dining room is full of voices, with residents, staff and family members singing along from the corridor and nurses’ station too, joining together in a shared rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah — a communal and utterly joyous end to the evening.
Our annual Winter Solstice event at Bridgeside Lodge is one of our favourite nights of the year, with members of the Bridgeside and Spitz community — past and present — all invited. We are privileged to have our much-loved Spitz musicians perform each year, bringing Christmas and contemporary classics to life with their trademark spontaneity and musical prowess. Ben Hazleton and Pete Lee, alongside Alice and Emine, have all played frequently at Bridgeside over the years. This continuity has allowed them to form meaningful and intimate relationships with residents, and the annual celebration often feels like a reunion, as family members and staff return to gather together and join in the festivities.
Traditionally, the Winter Solstice celebration culminates with everyone wrapping up warm and heading out into the garden after dark, illuminated by flaming torches — a quiet, magical moment to welcome the longest night. Unfortunately, this year’s persistent rain kept us indoors, but the sense of warmth, togetherness and reflection remained just as strong within the building.
Some moments during the evening were poignant and reflective; others were joyous, and some even raucous. The full spectrum of human emotion was welcomed and expressed in the room, and the small moments of intimacy and connection noticed throughout the evening are a reminder of why we do this work. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the staff, residents, family members, and musicians involved, and to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
