IT’S been a vintage summer for the Tonbridge Lions, with a concert of beloved musical standards as part of a memory project, and a classic car tour.
The Musical Memories choir, a Tonbridge Lions project for those with or without memory issues, performed golden oldies such as ‘Bangers and Mash’, ‘Moon River’ and ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ for an audience at Tonbridge Methodist Church on July 30.
Musical Memories is organised by the Tonbridge Lions Club, as a joint project between the Tonbridge Dementia Friendly Community (TDFC) with Kent County Council.
Charity
TDFC is the chosen charity of the Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling, Cllr Sue Bell. She said: “Without community organisations like the Tonbridge Lions, we would not have the benefit of important events like this.”
Explaining the importance of music for memory issues, Christine Parker of the Tonbridge Dementia Friendly Community, explained that the amygdala – the part of the brain which is generally affected in the later spread of dementia – is associated with emotion, which, triggered by music, can unlock long-forgotten memories.
This has made music a powerful way of helping and caring for those with dementia.
There were more memories in the social calendar on July 24, with the 8th Classic Car Tour, which raised money for local charities, including £1,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of Malcolm Sanger.
Malcolm, who was a great supporter of the local Lions Car Tours, passed away earlier this year.
A lifetime’s worth of cars took part in this year’s tour, with the oldest two cars dating from before World War II – a 1934 MG PA Midget and a 1936 Riley 12/4 Adelphi.
Mayor Cllr Bell started the tour, waving off 51 vehicles from Tonbridge School. They travelled through the lanes of Kent and Sussex before lunch at Powdermills Hotel in Battle, East Sussex.
After lunch they returned by a different route back to Tonbridge School, where they were welcomed by Tonbridge Lions President Richard Hill, and finished the day with a cream tea.
