Musicians perform live concert for Colonel Tom Moore and NHS workers
By Melissa Kasule
Musicians performed a live music concert in tribute to Colonel Tom Moore and NHS workers in lockdown.
In Norwood, Lancaster Avenue Residents’ Association (LARA) has put its own twist on the Clap For NHS with live music performances from their front garden.
LARA’s secretary Penny Alford reached out to local musicians Annie Houseago, known as Tin Pan Annie, and her son Harry Houseago.
The pair who are known for their Christmas sing-alongs, were asked to lift the spirit of the community and those vulnerable in self-isolation.
The music group leads the street in a sing-along every Thursday for 15 minutes up to clap for carers at 8pm.
The residents recently performed a live music tribute for Sir Tom Moore’s 100th birthday.
He raised more than £31million for NHS’ charities.
In celebration of the colonel, the musicians sang James Brown, David Bowie, and Mick Jagger tunes.
The mini-concert was ended with a sing-along of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow and wishing Sir Tom Moore a happy birthday.
In lockdown, Harry and Annie have live streamed music classes for children and sewed scrubs for the King’s College Hospital’s paediatric team, where the duo are volunteer music play specialists.
Annie said: “We thought we would just play a few weeks in a row before someone else in the road wanted to take over, but we have many awesome musicians in the road, but the committee just asked us again and again.
“Each week the set’s getting longer with requests from residents. Apparently there are various residents joining in remotely from their gardens all the way along the road, including two eight-year-olds on their violins in their front garden.
“It became our favourite part of the week, and the atmosphere of the whole road was so wonderful.
“We could tell that people really appreciated it and it was such a pleasure to show our appreciation, too.
“We decided to play for the last time on Colonel Tom’s Birthday and it was a very special evening.”
LARA’s performance for Sir Tom Moore’s 100th birthday can be found here.
Picture: Harry Houseago and Annie Houseago