The variety I have in my role as Trusty is second to none. I always have a wonderful time whenever I get the chance to attend events and particularly, those that engage with older people and I am extremely privileged to have had the opportunity in the last week to attend two such events. Last Friday (14th June), I joined residents of Tree Bridge House in Garston when young and old sung their hearts out at the final afternoon of our popular music project, ‘Singing in the Schemes’.

This was a joint project between the Trust and the Purcell School for Young Musicians, providing singing workshops for older tenants around Watford and Three Rivers. It was part of a wider project called Hertfordshire’s Five Gold Rings in which five housing associations are working with the Purcell School to take music into their local community.

Residents taking part in the workshops sang along to some of their favourite songs and learnt more about how to get the best out of their singing voices. I even had the chance to play the keyboard for some of the songs.

And when they weren’t singing they enjoyed performances by the talented pupils from the Purcell School – who are among the most gifted young musicians in the country.

The project has run from several of our sheltered schemes over the last year. The session at Tree Bridge House in March was so successful that the Purcell School’s pupils visited again for Friday’s grand finale.

Then on Monday afternoon (17th June) I heard we were holding a Tea Dance at the Holywell Community Centre - I couldn’t wait to attend. The event was organised as part of the ‘Watford Live!’ Community Arts Festival which has been taking place throughout June.

Over the last few weeks I have been rehearsing to ensure when I put my dancing shoes on I was in sync with the music. I knew so many people would want to dance with yours truly and I didn’t want to let anyone down. I have such a reputation for being the best at everything, sometimes I don’t know how I cope with the pressure! After all, I was going to be dancing alongside people from all over Watford and beyond. You should have seen me dancing I had some serious moves. In a previous life time I won a Gold Award at a dancing championship for jiving. Residents rolled back the years as they danced the afternoon away – everyone wanted to dance with me, sometimes it’s so hard being popular. It was such good fun everyone had the most amazing time.

We provided transport from our sheltered housing schemes around the town to help our older tenants attend the event. Music was provided by specialist ballroom DJ and compere ‘Mr Wonderful’ and also housewife favourite, ‘Victoria Sponge’, who took everyone on a comedy and singing trip down memory lane. What an atmosphere there was in the room, it was electric.

The event not only attracted our residents, but also the wider community, with older people coming together from other schemes and areas and ably assisted by volunteers from W3RT Timebank. Our next venture for local residents will be our new ‘Nifty over Fifties’ group. For more details please contact Jackie Tyrrell on 01923 209293.

If you would like further information on any of the above or for anything else happening at the Trust, please contact me at trusty.house@wcht.org.uk or follow me @trustyhouse1.