NEWS STORY: JULY 2009

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Pop Star Pensioners

Residents from Victoria Square singing Singing their hearts out

The Young@Heart Chorus recently brightened up a wet afternoon at Victoria Square with an exclusive show for the lucky residents.

Between their ‘gigs’ at the Royal Northern College of Music, the ensemble made a very special visit to Victoria Square - one of our retirement schemes in Ancoats - to meet their peers from across the pond for a cuppa and a sing-song.

These rocking retirees – whose average age is 80 – are renowned for injecting new life into the unlikeliest of pop songs. They belted out a few numbers from their run of shows with the Manchester International Festival, including ‘It’s My Life’ by Bon Jovi and ‘Snow (Hey Oh)’ by Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Pat Scappaticci, Head of Retirement and Caretaking Services, said: “The residents and the staff had a wonderful afternoon with the chorus. Who knows - maybe we’ll start up one of our own, they certainly were an inspiration!”

Like true pros, they tailored their set to their audience, and threw in a few older tunes to get the residents singing along, including ‘We’ll Meet Again’ by Vera Lynn and – for all the Man City fans – ‘Blue Moon’.

It’s not the first time that Victoria Square has had a brush with fame. The historic, Grade II listed building has proven a popular location for television crews over the years, providing a backdrop for such classic dramas as Life On Mars, Cracker and Prime Suspect.

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