Maddie’s World
In her weekly column, Maddie Grigg shares tales from her life in rural Dorset . . .
BY the time you read this, I should be in France, if travelling restrictions have been lifted. We were meant to be here much earlier in the year, and then back in Lush Places again for the village fun day, but of course, that didn’t happen.
Instead, the fun day weekend saw the end of my stint as DJ for “The Sound Of Music Through The Square Window”, culminating in a selection of personally chosen songs rather than ones requested over the 74 days I was doing it.
It included a surprise, socially distanced performance of “YMCA” by Mr Grigg and his friends, popping up around the village square.
A special “It’s Raining Men” was meant to follow, but he was unable to get enough of his pals to don Speedos and wellies.
I told the story of “The Sound Of Music Through The Square Window” in a special edition of Radio 4’s “Desert Island Discs” focusing on the power of music in lockdown.
Being interviewed over the internet by my broadcasting idol Lauren Laverne was incredibly exciting.
It also made me think more deeply about the whole one o’clock music slot I’d dreamed up two days into lockdown.
Lockdown life, for me, hadn’t been that much different. As a writer, I lead a pretty solitary existence.
But what I have missed is the connection with family and friends.
The song I chose for “Desert Island Discs”, which featured pieces of music from listeners all over the country, was “The Sound Of Music” theme.
This is the song that acted as the village’s call to arms – the one o’clock music slot was starting.
“What sort of reaction did you have from your village?” Lauren asked me.
It wasn’t the best interview I have done. I kept getting feedback in my headphones.
It was so discombobulating, at one point I described nearby Bluebell Hill as being the lowest point in Dorset, when I meant the highest.
It was just as well it wasn’t live and could be edited!
I was able to tell Lauren that the reaction from locals had been fantastic.
I had a lovely note through my door from a “Friend” reader who said she’d been in the garden when she first heard the music, and it brought a big smile to her face every day.
Another lady, who has three sons with special needs, said she loved the music because she could be in her garden yet feel connected with the rest of the village as she knew they were hearing it, too.
And there was a mum and two children I hadn’t seen in the village before, who made a point of coming up to the village square every day. At the weekend, they’d be joined by the dad.
“It’s like a mediaeval curfew bell calling us to lunch,” one woman told me as she requested “Red, Red Wine” for her wedding anniversary. “We’ve very much enjoyed it.”
One of the highlights for me was slipping down the stairs to do some high kicking with Mr Grigg for “Zorba’s Dance” on a sunny Sunday.
“And what about you?” Lauren asked. “What did you learn from this? Did it bring the community together?”
I couldn’t think. The village is lively at the best of times and has a real community spirit to it.
But I suppose the music did bring us together at a time when we couldn’t be together, keeping that feeling of oneness alive through lockdown.
I’ve always loved all kinds of music. Its power should never be underestimated.
The challenge for me is how I take “The Sound Of Music Through The Square Window” forward. ■