Concert for Dementia UK
| Type of post: | Whats New |
| Sub-type: | Concert |
| Posted By: | Andrew Harte |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Mon, 18 May 2026 |
On Saturday 9th May a large audience came out to hear Reading Phoenix Choir sing at St Paul's Church, Wokingham in support of Dementia UK.
The concert was the idea of Wokingham resident and choir member, Gill Leishman, following her experience with her mother's dementia. She wrote:
Saturday 9th May finally arrived after months of planning our concert in aid of Dementia UK. My mother who lived with me until her passing in December 2024 had Dementia for the last few years of her life. As the title of the concert indicates we lived for the moment trying to make each day count.
As well as the choir singing a range of music - including two pieces sung at Mum's funeral: Amy Beach's 'Peace I Leave With You' and 'Teddy Bears Picnic' arranged by Andrew Carter - one of mum's carers, Janet, spoke about dementia and Stephen, a former member read the Donna Ashworth poem 'In Rest They Remember Me.' Many friends including former Phoenix members supported the concert and we ended up raising £1,424 for Dementia UK.
Here are a few accounts of the concert by a member of the audience and some of our singers, reflecting on the mood and emotional impact that it had upon them as individuals. Thank you to everyone who helped us raise an amazing sum of money.
Click Here to read the account from an audience member
Click Here to read what the concert meant to some of the singers in the choir
The concert was the idea of Wokingham resident and choir member, Gill Leishman, following her experience with her mother's dementia. She wrote:
Saturday 9th May finally arrived after months of planning our concert in aid of Dementia UK. My mother who lived with me until her passing in December 2024 had Dementia for the last few years of her life. As the title of the concert indicates we lived for the moment trying to make each day count.
As well as the choir singing a range of music - including two pieces sung at Mum's funeral: Amy Beach's 'Peace I Leave With You' and 'Teddy Bears Picnic' arranged by Andrew Carter - one of mum's carers, Janet, spoke about dementia and Stephen, a former member read the Donna Ashworth poem 'In Rest They Remember Me.' Many friends including former Phoenix members supported the concert and we ended up raising £1,424 for Dementia UK.
Here are a few accounts of the concert by a member of the audience and some of our singers, reflecting on the mood and emotional impact that it had upon them as individuals. Thank you to everyone who helped us raise an amazing sum of money.
Click Here to read the account from an audience member
Click Here to read what the concert meant to some of the singers in the choir
