Norwich shoppers taken by surprise as singers break out into song in John Lewis
Sunday, February 27, 2011
7:13 PM

A Norwich department store was filled with the sound of people singing as awareness was raised of memory-loss conditions.

Members of Come Singing!, singing groups in Norfolk for people of all ages living with dementia, their friends and families, took shoppers by surprise as they broke out in song in John Lewis on Saturday morning.

More than 100 people joined in the spirited rendition of Oh What a Beautiful Morning, as singers sprung up from chairs in the mezzanine cafe bar, lined the balcony and emerged from behind shelves and stands downstairs.

The ‘flash mob’ event was held to highlight the increase in dementia and the need to help people who have been diagnosed to keep active.

Dementia is recognised as one of the biggest health and social challenges in the country. In Norfolk, the number of sufferers is expected to rise by 62pc in the next 15 years – pushing the total to above 20,000.

Heather Edwards, who organised Saturday’s event, said: “People with dementia should be active and involved with their friends. Singing is a great way of doing that. It’s very therapeutic because we do a lot of brain games but it just seems like fun.”

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