The Beat of Nostalgia at Cumbernauld for Ronnie’s birthday
It’s not every day that you turn 80 and what better way to mark the occasion than by fulfilling Ronnie’s aspiration to play the drums in front of an audience again. Ronnie used to be in a band called The Panthers who regularly played at the Cucaracha Club in Glasgow.
As part of our commitment to supporting our residents to achieve their goals, Activities Coordinator Kim arranged to arrange a visit to the local high school for Ronnie to have a drum lesson and play in front of the teachers. Rekindling his passion for music, this was an excellent example of the profound impact that supporting individual goals in later life has on wellbeing.
Ronnie playing the drums as Greenfaulds High School
The entire day was planned to perfection. After arriving by taxi, Ronnie and Kim were warmly welcomed by the Head of the Music Department, Sam McKenzie. The moment Ronnie saw the drum kit in the music room, his eyes lit up. Sitting down at the drum set, he immediately started playing. His beaming smile spoke volumes about the joy he felt.
They were also joined by the drumming teacher Ian Clark, who couldn’t wait to get into a lively conversation about legendary rock bands such as AC/DC, Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones. It didn’t stop there; once he realised his passion and knowledge about the industry, they were soon talking about other bands such as Kiss, Marc Bolan, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, with Ronnie reminiscing about his days playing to audiences in Glasgow.
Mr Clark offered guidance on various beats, including the "mummy daddy" rhythm, which Ronnie quickly picked up. Ronnie was in his element with his passion for drumming bringing a a smile to the faces of everyone in the room.
Ronnie’s lesson with drumming teacher, Mr Ian Clark
The visit lasted for an hour and a half and was filled with music, memories and laughter. Ronnie was impressed at how different schools are these days, and the experience clearly touched him deeply. A wonderful moment to round off the day was when both teachers presented Ronnie with a set of drumsticks and a card. This was warmly and gratefully received.
Waiting for the taxi after the session, Ronnie reflected and expressed his gratitude, sharing stories of his drumming days and recalling the day. He couldn’t wait to return to our shared home to tell everyone about it and it was a pleasure for everyone to see him so happy and enthusiastic about the experience, as Kim tells us:
“This special visit stirred strong emotions for Ronnie, bringing back cherished memories of his past and his love for music. He continues to practice with the drumsticks on cushions as Mr Clark had recommended and is improving each day. It’s a pleasure to see him so engaged and witness the positive impact the day had.”
A huge thank you to Greenfaulds High School for helping to arrange this. They’ve kindly offered an open invitation for future visits and support from the music department whenever needed. This gesture is testament to the school's commitment to fostering community ties and celebrating the enduring power of music and memory. For Ronnie, this birthday was very special indeed.