Glee-ful kids raise voices to revive a war classic
AHEARTWARMING video performance by Middleton children of the wartime classic “We’ll Meet Again” has been viewed more than 5,000 times on Facebook.
Their efforts are made all the more impressive by the fact that none of the children singing in the video, who are aged between four and seven and are members of the musical theatre Glee Club at Demesne Community Centre, knew the song before recording their individual parts.
The song, made famous by Dame Vera Lynn in 1939, is emblematic for people all over the world of the struggles and separation from loved ones endured in the Second World War, and has reentered public consciousness after it was referenced by the Queen in a rare televised address to the nation last Sunday (April 5th) amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Joanne Cochrane of Tracing Steps theatre and dance company, which provides free musical theatre, street dance and youth theatre classes for children at the centre situated on the Langley estate, said the aim of the performance was to help the children continue to engage with music, performance and their own emotions during lockdown.
Ms Cochrane said: “After we heard the Queen’s speech, we had a little think about what we could do to let the kids express themselves, how they were feeling about things and who it was they missed most - so we just messaged everyone yesterday and and pulled it together really quickly.”
Parents were contacted to help film their child singing an extract from the song at home and send their clips back, and the finished video was edited and completed in less than a day.
Each child was invited to appear holding a picture or item representing someone they are missing while stringent social distancing measures are still being enforced across the country.
Joanne’s son James, 6, can be seen in the video alongside an image of his 89 year old great-grandmother Lily, who he calls Gigi.
“He got to choose who he wanted and straight away he said “I want to hold a picture of Gigi”,” she said.
“He’s really worried about her - he picks up on everything, so he’s had lots of questions about is she going to be OK.”
Although weekly classes cannot continue during lockdown, Tracing Steps has been asked to find ways to continue its provisions for children in the Langley area by the People’s Health Lottery, which funds the free sessions on offer at Demesne Community Centre.
Over the following weeks, this will see them send out resources like online activities and craft packs to help the children keep creative, some of whom may not have reliable internet access or art supplies like paper and coloured pens at home.
“Each group will still meet in some capacity, whether it’s an online Zoom meeting, whether it’s us putting a challenge for them on Facebook, or whether it’s them receiving something in the post,” Ms Cochrane said.
Social distancing has also failed to put a stop to the seated dance and exercise classes Tracing Steps runs for elderly people sessions are now being conducted on the company’s Facebook page, and DVDs have been sent out to those without access to the internet.
In the spirit of “We’ll Meet Again”, planning is also beginning on alternative arrangements to help the whole community celebrate VE Day on May 8th, after it became clear a party being planned by the centre’s youth group would have to be cancelled in accordance with social distancing instructions.
Ms Cochrane said: “There will be other things that our groups will be doing over the next few weeks to try and get a little bit of a buzz around the day still, and hopefully we can still celebrate it - for so many of the older people that come to the centre, VE Day is so important for them and they’re so proud of that heritage.”
Demesne Community Centre is making weekly welfare calls to all families involved in its projects to offer assistance in shopping for essential items and delivering prescriptions, or just a friendly chat to help isolated elderly members of the community ward off loneliness. As a substitute for its twice weekly luncheon club for senior residents, centre volunteers will deliver meals to the doorsteps of regular lunch guests.
Residents who want to seek help and support from the centre can get in touch by ringing 0161 6532902.
“We had a little think about what we could do to let the kids express themselves”