Watford 2012 & 5 Gold Rings

The Olympics will be upon us before we know it, not to mention the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and a little more local will be the BIGGEST Community Event - “Watford 2012”. Our Community Action Group (CAG) are in the process of planning this and it will take place on 21st July to mark the 2012 Olympic games with Watford and Three Rivers coming together to celebrate this historical event.

As well as the local groups, CAG are also working with the Rugby Club, the Purcell School of Music, and Vibe radio. There will be something for everyone, even 'It’s a Knock Out' style races! How lucky we are to have the Purcell School, which is based in Bushey right on our doorstep. This is a school of excellence for talented young musicians from around the globe and we are very privileged to be linking up with them to be part of this exciting project across Hertfordshire called Five Gold Rings. Not that I am at all vain regarding my talents or that I like to “blow my own trumpet” pardon the pun, but when the school sees my talents they are going to be arranging to send me to perform at concerts world-wide a real protégé. They will have a real problem deciding which instrument I should play as I excel in playing my Maracas, I mean it’s a real talent shaking in time to the music, and of course there is the Saxophone. I seem to have a few problems with my neighbours when I practice although I don’t understand why, as I could easily win “Top musician for the Year”. They obviously don’t recognise real talent when they hear it!! And, my favourite, the violin – I have this continuous dream and there I am performing with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the New Year Concert playing nostalgic music from the vast repertoire of the Johann Strauss family.

We are one of five housing associations in Herts who will be working with the Purcell School to bring music to our communities at an event called “5 Gold Rings” and we will be doing this in a number of ways. First, we’ll be launching ‘Singing in the Schemes’ – a chance for tenants in our sheltered schemes to start a new community choir, with expert help from the Purcell School.

We will also be starting projects with local community groups, and working with Westfield Technology College, to help local people of all ages to tap into their musical talents.

Residents will also have the opportunity to work with talented composer Edward Longstaff to create a ‘fanfare for Watford’ – Watford’s very own theme tune for this Olympic year!

Later in the year, you will be able to hear the music we’ll be creating. On Saturday 21st July at Knutsford Playing Field we are holding our grand community event ‘Watford 2012’, which will feature performances from the residents who have been working with the Purcell School – and on the same day, a brass band will be playing the Watford Fanfare in the town centre. We will also be sending representatives from Watford along to a special Five Gold Rings showcase in Broxbourne on 3rd July.

To find out more information about 5 Gold Rings and how you can join in soon or anything happening at the Trust, please contact me on trusty.house@wcht.org.uk or on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WatfordCommunityHousingTrust.

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