The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Play it again, Tara, as socialite hits right note
SOCIALITE TARA Palmer Tomkinson has been “humbled” by the work of a small charity for young children with autism.
She played the piano for children at Speur Ghlan’s base in Bridge of Allan.
Palmer Tomkinson became patron of Speur Ghlan — Gaelic for Blue Skies — last November and yesterday was her first official visit to its base.
After playing a piece she wrote specially for the children, Palmer Tomkinson, a talented pianist said: “It was very exciting but nerve-racking too.
“I have played in the Royal Albert Hall but I don’t think I have ever practised more than I have done for this.”
Palmer Tomkinson, who decided after her last stint in rehab to dedicate her life to helping others, said she was very impressed by the work of Speur Ghlan as well as the parents of the children benefiting from the therapy provided by the charity.
“It really puts years of my life into perspective,” she said.
“But here I am now as patron and I’m really excited about it.
“It’s a real honour to have been asked because the work they do is amazing and seems to be really effective.
“If I can be part of that progress in the children or help raise some money to keep the charity going that will be the best thing I have done.
“I would rather be in a room with these kids than on a yacht in the south of France with a bunch of people who are only thinking about themselves.
“If you work with a charity like this you see how much people need and also how even a little help can go a long way.”
She added: “I have given up everything and I’m nearly two years sober.
“I’ve found I’m happiest when I’m helping other people and it is humbling to see the work Speur Ghlan does.”
Palmer Tomkinson first heard about the charity through Twitter and decided to take on the role as patron after several months of research into their work.
“I was fed up with a materialistic lifestyle and I decided that this was something I wanted to do as these people work 24/7 to try and help these children,” she said.
“I’m very interested in music as therapy so I thought it would be good to play for them with the aim of trying to trigger a connection in their minds.
“This is about the children and their families so I very much hope I measure up.”
The charity’s founder, Ruth Glynne-Owen, said: “Everything we do is about connecting through play and music games and it has been a joy to watch Tara interact and connect with our children.
“Delivering therapy through play is very much a hands-on experience and it has been wonderful to watch Tara play alongside our therapists and the children were mesmerised when she played the keyboard for us at song time in both of our groups.
“The children will be sad to learn that she won’t be back to play again tomorrow, but we know that this is just the beginning of a long lasting friendship between us and our wonderful first patron, and we look forward to welcoming her back to Speur Ghlan again soon.”