Irish drum donated to singing group

A big-hearted coffee club regular has been drumming up support for an Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin singing group.

Barbara Evans, a member of the popular Ketley Coffee Club in Telford, has donated a traditional Irish bodhran drum, that once belonged to her late brother, to the Acorn Singers, a singing group run by Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin.

‘Barbara is a remarkable lady who does so much for others, and this was such a very kind thing to do,’ says Claire Fishlock, Service Development Officer for Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin.

Barbara said: ‘The drum was something my late brother purchased on one of his yearly visits to Ireland. He and a friend used to go fishing there. My brother was Roger John Morris who passed away in 2022, after being diagnosed in 2021 with inoperable cancer. He was extremely brave to the end.’

‘I don’t think Roger ever mastered playing the drum, but he really loved sea shanties! When I heard and saw the Acorn Singers at our coffee club and saw a bodhran drum being played, I thought it would be nice to pass Roger’s on to the charity.’

Claire added: ‘The Acorn Singers are thrilled to have this lovely instrument. Big thanks to Barbara for thinking of us.’

If you’d like to find out more about the Acorn Singers or any other Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin activities, please call us on 01743 233 123 or email enquiries@ageukstw.org.uk