Dunhurst musicians entertain Steep's Welcome Club 2019

Musicians from Bedales Prep, Dunhurst were at the heart of the community on Thursday afternoon, when they performed for a local residents’ club at Steep Village Hall.

Pupils visited the Welcome Club, a bi-weekly group for older Steep residents, to perform nine songs, including ‘If Mama Was Married’ from the film Gypsy, ‘When She Loved Me’ from Toy Story 2 and ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen.

After a group singalong of The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ and a spectacular closing performance of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ from The Wizard of Oz, the Welcome Club’s members enjoyed chatting to the pupils about the performance and their own school days. Pupils were particularly fascinated to hear stories about V1 flying bombs – or ‘doodlebugs’ as they are more commonly known – flying over the Bedales estate during World War II.

Accompanied by Dunhurst’s Director of Music Ben Harlan, pupils visit the club twice a year to perform and enjoy a homemade tea with its members. It is one of the ways that pupils connect with local residents and give something back to the community, with both age groups enjoying and benefiting from the experience.

Head of Dunhurst Colin Baty said: “We are delighted that Dunhurst pupils are able to strengthen their links to the local community in this way. Both music and giving back to the community are central to life at all three schools at Bedales, and it’s wonderful to see how music has connected the pupils with an older generation at the Welcome Club.”

See photos from the afternoon here.

Bedales Prep, Dunhurst | The Welcome Club | Music at Dunhurst