Tony Christie opens BBC Songs of Praise to mark Dementia Awareness Week

Is this the way to Amarillo?

Tony Christie opens BBC Songs of Praise to mark Dementia Awareness Week

“Music can be enough to turn a difficult moment around and get you through the day.”

Music for Dementia’s MD Sarah Metcalfe who partnered with Lichfield Cathedral for a BBC Songs of Praise special to mark Dementia Action Week.

Tony Christie’s Is this the way to Amarillo is always a crowd pleaser and it certainly didn’t disappoint when the man himself sang it as the opener for a BBC Songs of Praise special for people living with dementia held in Lichfield Cathedral this week.

Mr Christie, who has himself been diagnosed with dementia, is an ambassador for Music for Dementia, and he said:

“It was a real honour to perform in Lichfield Cathedral for their dementia-friendly service.

“I’m a local resident and my grandchildren were choristers at the Cathedral when they were younger, so it holds a special place in my heart.

“The service was fantastic. It was great to see so many people attend. It was a joy to sing two songs as part of it. Amarillo is a crowd favourite, and I always end my gigs these days singing Thanks You For Being A Friend, which is a song I recorded last year as a charity single for Music for Dementia, who I work alongside as an ambassador.”

The service was recorded for BBC Songs of Praise, scheduled for broadcast on 12 May to mark the start of Dementia Action Week and included Lichfield Cathedral Choir as special guests too.

Lichfield Cathedral has been hosting regular dementia-friendly services and is part of the Dementia-Friendly Churches and Schools network.

Canon Treasurer at Lichfield Cathedral, David Primrose said:

“Worshipping with people impacted by dementia is always an inspirational experience. Today, even more so as the power of music gave us a deep sense of unity. It was wonderful seeing over 400 adults and children come together from churches, care homes, schools and the wider community across our diocese.”

Music for Dementia’s MD Sarah Metcalfe says

“Lichfield Cathedral’s Songs of Praise service for people impacted by dementia was a wonderful event, and I’m delighted to have been invited to be part of it. This special service was a celebration of the wonderful work that Lichfield diocese does within their community, and it was fantastic to see so many people of all ages attend.

“Singing hymns is a great example of how people living with dementia can benefit from the power of music to ease their symptoms of anxiety or distress.

“We all have a soundtrack to our lives and for many of us we will remember hymns from schooldays if we were a girl guide or scout. Just singing a familiar tune at home, like a favourite hymn, can be very calming and comforting for someone with dementia.

“Music can be enough to turn a difficult moment around and get you through the day. We urge carers just to give it a go,’ she added.