Duo’s rest home love

LUKE KIRKEBY

It’s easy to see the appeal of Tokoroa country music duo Les and Nancy.

For 11 years they’ve been carting their custom and homemade instruments to rest homes throughout the North Island with their three dachshunds in tow.

In his younger days Les performed with the likes of the Topp Twins, Eddie Low, and Dusty Spittle.

While he and Nancy might not be topping the charts, seeing the joy they bring to the rest home residents keeps them going.

‘‘We were invited to come up to a local rest home 11 years ago and we have been going back ever since,’’ he said.

‘‘They love the dogs and we’ve even had a 104-year-old up doing the hula. We just love doing it.’’

Les sings and plays the guitar while Nancy plays a range of instruments he’s made including the tea chest bass, wooden spoons, and washing board.

‘‘I went out one day and Les said ‘Nancy you better buy yourself a new washing basket’ and I said there was nothing wrong with my washing basket but when I went out he’d cut it up [to make an instrument],’’ Nancy laughed.

She said they make a point of calling into any rest home they stumble upon when travelling. Les said they were always warmly welcomed.

‘‘Anywhere we go we just call in and ask if we can perform and the old people love it,’’ he said.

Despite being in their mid 70’s the musicians have no plans of stopping any time soon.

‘‘We have two local rest homes we visit on the second Monday and Wednesday of every month and we go up early and sit down and have a chat with the old people and have a laugh and joke,’’ Les said.

‘‘We do their songs for them and it brings back memories.’’

‘‘The staff are absolutely marvellous too and join in. Just after Christmas we had them up doing the Hokey Tokey,’’ he laughed.