RESIDENTS at two Looe care homes were serenaded from outside their windows as charity The Not Forgotten made a return visit.

Rivermead View were delighted to welcome performers Annie Riley and Lloyd Ellery along with musicians Andante.

The performers also visited Hillcrest House in the town as part of a whistle-stop tour of the UK.

The Not Forgotten is a charity formed by soprano Marta Cunningham in 1920 to bring comfort, cheer and companionship to the wounded of the First World War.

Today, The Not Forgotten remains true to Marta’s original principles of providing entertainment and recreation to those injured in the service of their country, and social activities for those who have served in the Armed Forces.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, The Not Forgotten has extended its provision of entertainment to include concerts for care homes around the UK.

The most recent “Springtime Special” concert tour began at the end of March: over a ten-week period, the charity’s musicians and singers will visit 100 care homes, bringing song and dance to lift the spirits of thousands of elderly people.

Abiding by the current social distancing regulations in UK care homes, the concerts will entertain, boost morale and create new, joyful memories for residents who have been among some of the hardest affected by loneliness and isolation under lockdown measures.

The programme features feel-good favourites and popular hits from the 60’s and 70’s.

From ABBA to Elvis and the Beatles, there will be something for everyone to sing along to.

The socially-distanced concerts will be enjoyed by residents and staff together in communal areas within care homes or if weather permits, outside in the sunshine.

Brigadier James Stopford, CEO of The Not Forgotten, said: “We’re thrilled to embark on this morale- boosting tour, building on the enormous success of last year’s events which had such a positive impact on so many care home residents during the pandemic.

“According to Age UK there are 1.4 million chronically lonely older people in England, and many more across the rest of the UK.

“Our Springtime Special tour will enable us to connect with many of these people, bringing joy and entertainment into their homes as sadly, extreme loneliness and isolation is set to endure throughout 2021.

“Music provides such a boost to an individual’s emotional wellbeing, and over the years we have seen incredibly positive reactions from residents who delight in the entertainment and the connection of interacting, at a safe distance, of course, with our performers,” he continued.

“One hundred years ago soprano Marta Cunningham founded The Not Forgotten based on the principles of providing entertainment and recreation to those who have worn their nation’s uniform and now suffer, and we are delighted that to this day, a big part of our work continues to bring entertainment to those we support across the UK.”