The Music Well held its ninth open garden on Saturday July 21. The glorious weather continued and the garden of Little Orchard House in West Street looked as good as it could look after so many rainless days.
With the doors opening at 11am, Andrew Blyth started the music programme with soothing keyboard jazz allowing the early arrivals to relax under the apple tree and enjoy a selection of home-made cakes.
The Music Well singing group started at 12:15pm and raised the roof with a selection of their favourite songs. The group meets at the Scout Hut opposite the Leisure Centre every Tuesday between 12:45pm and 2:15pm. Everyone is welcome and the emphasis is very much on wellbeing and enjoyment, although with the expert leadership of Louise Fletcher the singing also sounds pretty good! The group will be taking a break in August but would be delighted to welcome new recruits in September – just come along and join in.
Lunchtime soup and rolls added to the relaxed atmosphere and gave everyone a chance to listen to Sally and Michel, from the incomparable local band As Is, rocking the foundations of the 18th-century tower in the garden with their many and varied songs.
As the afternoon heated up everyone was encouraged to try their hand at drumming. The drumming circle created a rhythm that could be heard around the local streets. Soft drinks and many more cakes were consumed with Caterina Lafferty, the Music Well’s new Chair, being praised for her exquisite lemon drizzle cake.
“Who Tall Are You?” proved a great success with guests parading with stickers indicating which celebrity shared their height. So West Street in Rye was able to welcome Matt Damon, Miley Cyrus, Mahatma Gandhi, Johnny Depp, Kate Middleton and two Queen Elizabeth IIs, amongst many others.
If you didn’t manage to come along this year make sure you put it in your diary for the 10th open garden next year. The Music Well raised £500. which will be spent on music therapy in local schools and to support the work in the community.
Photo: Rye News library