Main fundraiser photo

Pianola Memories Restored!

Creating A Christmas Story and a glimpse into the dementia mind ......

Our father,  Roger Taylor, is now 85 and although physically well and energetic has very little mental capacity and lives in the wonderful High Broom Care Home in East Sussex . They have been imaginative and creative entertaining the residents in these challenging times but have lost the support and variety of visiting groups and with Christmas on the horizon they would appreciate a touch of magic to help what will undoubtedly be a different festive season.

In my garage is a very special but rather sad and dilapidated pianola which predates 1910. It has been a very special machine in our family and has lived in   many different homes and featured in all family celebrations  as Dad and later the grandchildren peddled like fury to the strains of Daisy Daisy , Get me to the Church on Time and The Dashing White Sergeant . Friends and Family have very fond memories of these occasions.  Recently a family friend recalled how . Roger, on moving to a smaller home, built a brick wall in the garage so he could play the pianola without disturbing the neighbours! 

I have spoken with a Pianola restorer, Micheal Boyd  ( who in fact sold our father  music rolls for the pianola in the 1980's when he and my mother and the pianola lived at Batemans ( Rudyard Kipling's House)  in Burwash)  in Rye and we are confident we can provide High Broom with a working pianola which will give great entertainment to staff and residents without the need for bringing in outside support.  Please help us to write a different Christmas story and provide High Broom with a working pianola which might unlock memories but will certainly provide a great deal of fun to a whole community for many years.   I will cover all transport costs. 

 Music has played a great part in his life, he was a trumpet player , a piano player and a fine singer winning a scholarship to Eton College Choir School in the 1940's. We are also hopeful that although Dads memories are confused and fading , learned and sustained skills tend to be be retained and we would love to see him peddle away again with the familiar twinkle in his eyes and perhaps be able to share it with his Great Grandson, who arrived this year, in the same way he shared the experience with his five grandchildren on many happy occasions. 

Please help us raise the funds to restore a little piece of history and give the High Broom Community a Christmas Gift to remember and share ( and they do video links with other care homes , imagine the party and singalong!) 

http://www.housingcare.org/housing-care/facility-info-137121-high-broom-care-home-crowborough-e     

Organiser

Trudy Harper
Organiser

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