Roll up! Roll up! Circus magic comes to Pendine care home

Musicians from a world famous orchestra brought the roar of the crowd and the smell of the grease paint to a Pendine Park care home as part of a "magical" circus workshop.



Two members of Manchester's acclaimed Hallé orchestra brought the joyous sounds of the Big Top to Wrexham, engaging residents in a magical melee of entertainment.

It was particularly appropriate because Mario Kreft MBE, the owner of Pendine Park, comes from a circus family.

His late father, Franz Kreft, travelled the world as a lion and bear tamer and Mario was Christened in a circus tent in South Africa by the Bishop of Durban.

Franz Kreft, a native of Slovenia who died aged 90 in 2014, made history just over 60 years ago when he starred in the first ever live TV broadcast from Rhyl.

He led a remarkable life travelling the world amid the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the circus crowd. He carried on working until he was 77.

Maths whizz, Joan Hayes, aged 93 and almost blind, was among those who delighted in the circus themed extravaganza led by Hallé musicians David Petri on keyboard, and violinist Caroline Abbott.

Visually impaired Joan agreed to set the pace for one of the songs by tapping her feet in time to the music, encouraging everyone else to follow her rhythm.

Joan worked in the demanding world of book-keeping and accountancy for many years.

Despite her deteriorating eyesight the perceptive nonagenarian said she found the circus workshop inspirational.

She added: "It's a great way to lift the spirits and encourage a good mood vibe.

"I'm struggling to see the detail of the costumes and individual actions of some of the performers but I can certainly make out the bright colours and, of course, the vibrant beat of the music is easy to follow. It's been lovely joining in with everyone."

She told Caroline she was looking forward to a pre-Christmas return visit from the Hallé team when she hoped they would play her festive favourite White Christmas.

The two-hour circus themed event was the culmination of an arts and music project held over the last year at Pendine Park's Highfield care home.

Other residents who helped keep the fun going included wheelchair-bound Sophie Williams. Assisted by care practitioner Pam Taylor, she used her stripey-socked feet to tap a tambourine to the musical beat.

Lindsey Wright and Noel Hughes threw some body shapes for fellow residents to copy and Lindsey added some loud 'whooping' sounds to inject more fun into the already upbeat Nellie the Elephant tune.

Residents played an array of percussion instruments including maracas, castanets, finger symbols, hand drums and wooden blocks to accompany David and Caroline in cheery numbers ranging from That’s Entertainment to The Hornpiper and Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines.