PEOPLE living at a care home in Felixstowe enjoyed a wonderful experience as they stepped up to the microphone to help record a charity single which will be released for the national charts this year.

East Anglian Daily Times: Members of the Anchor Community Band rehearse before recording a song at the Firs residential home in Felixstowe.Members of the Anchor Community Band rehearse before recording a song at the Firs residential home in Felixstowe. (Image: Archant)

Sound recordist Simon Small visited The Firs, run by Anchor in Grange Road, to record residents’ voices for the song See Yourself

All the money raised from the sales of the Anchor Community Band record will be donated to Contact the Elderly which organises Sunday tea parties for older people who live alone.

The charity aims to combat the loneliness and social isolation faced by many older people aged over 75.

Volunteers hosts the free, monthly tea parties in their own homes for older people, with drivers collecting and accompanying the guests to the events.

Manager of The Firs, June Blaxall, said everyone really enjoyed adding their voice to the record.

She said: “For the majority of the older people in the Anchor Community Band this was the first time they had performed in front of a microphone. It was such an exciting experience for everyone.

“The older people have worked so hard during rehearsals that I hope people of Felixstowe will support them by downloading or buying the record when it is released later this year and raise money for such a worthwhile charity.”

Singers from Oakwood House, Kesgrave, Woodland Manor, Whitton Park, and Castle Court, Ipswich, also attended the session to take part in the recording.

Singer Beatrice Fiddy, 79, said: “This is the first time I have sung in a band and on a record. It’s an amazing experience.

“I’m glad we’re raising money for charity.

“It’s a really powerful song because the words are telling younger people we are exactly the same as them but just a bit older.”

The recordings at The Firs and those from 20 other recording studios will be mixed by a professional record producer in London before being released this summer.