​We'd love to hear from you!
If you would like to know more about Goldies Cymru - where the sessions are, perhaps starting a session in your area, or helping us to run a Sing&Smile session please contact our Programme Leader - Rachel Parry on 07796 714816 or email: rachel@goldiescymru.org.uk
Welcome to the website of Goldies CYMRU although most people now fondly refer to us just as "Goldies." As you can see from the many images on this website, we are putting smiles on hundreds of faces through our daytime singing and activity sessions. These take place across South Wales working in partnership with a number of other organisations. If you would like to know more about starting a daytime singing and activity session in your area, please contact Rachel Parry.

Everyone is welcome at our Goldies CYMRU sessions. We are not a choir but we do use the popular hits of the 50's onwards at our sessions to get people singing out and (quite often!) getting up to dance. We ask everyone who attends to make a minimum £2 donation.
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With the support of the Big Lottery Fund Wales, The Moondance Foundation, The Paul & Nick Harvey Fund administered by The Utley Foundation and Music for Dementia and GVS – Third Sector Preventative Interventions - we will be adding more sessions in the months ahead across Wales. Click to discover where they are.

Rachel Parry is our Goldies Cymru Programme Leader


​Leading Goldies CYMRU in South Wales is Rachel Parry. Born and brought up in Cwmbran she travelled the globe in her early twenties and returned to her studies in the 90’s attending Coleg Harlech to study English and Sociology. Rachel then took a degree in English Literature and Drama at Aberystwyth University. She has worked in Family Mediation for the past 15 years helping separating couples and is the lead singer of a 70s Disco Band. She is our Tuesday session leader at www.goldieslive.com.

Cheryl Davies is Our Project Manager for Mid & West Wales


​Cheryl originally comes from Aberdare, where she developed her skills on voice and piano and performed throughout South Wales.  At the University of Surrey Roehampton Cheryl attained a BA (Hons) in Music and settled back in South West Wales, where she taught private piano and voice lessons for over 10 years.  After working as a group coordinator for a dementia charity, Cheryl has become the Project Manager for Goldies Cymru.  Cheryl is our Thursday Goldies Live presenter online. 
Email: cheryl@goldiescymru.org.uk


MEET OUR BRILLIANT SESSION LEADERS
​ If you would like to be a session leader for Goldies Cymru as we develop our work across Wales then please contact Rachel Parry.


​AMY ACTON
Amy comes from Brecon and now lives in Llangynidr with her husband and two children. Music is a massive part of her life and she is involved with a various musical ensembles in the local area.  ​
BILL SAVAGE
Bill is a retired secondary school teacher who has mainly taught Physical Education, History, (particular interest in WW1) Religious Education and Lifeskills, as well as having a Senior Pastoral Position. He has always had an interest in singing from being a boy chorister in a church choir. During his teaching career he took part in school productions including the Pirates of Penzance and Iolanthe. In 2000 he joined the 'Singlive Central Choir', a mass choir which had choirs in many parts of the UK. The organisation enthused and enhanced his love of singing and since moving to Llanelli he has become a member of 'Vocal Harmony', Llanelli and 'Sounds Original'.

​CAROL PEGLER
Carol lives in Blaenau Gwent and music has been a big part of her life. Since the age of 11 she has been in a choir which has brought herself and others much joy. 
"I feel the one way we can all connect is through music. It is so uplifting and such fun!"


CLAIRE THOMAS
Claire has always enjoyed singing and has been a member of various choirs over the years. Wanting to get more involved with the local community she felt Goldies was the perfect opportunity to do this and combine it with her love of singing. ​

​GEOFF ASHFORD
Geoff is a retired engineer who has lived with his family in Cardiff for 27 years. As a keen amateur musician he plays guitar, enjoys singing and is a member of Cardiff City Voices Choir. In 2013 he completed a tutor’s course run by Community Music Wales which he hopes will help his contribution to Goldies CYMRU.
NAOMI BISHOP
Naomi is a busy mum of 4, who lives in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, having moved to Wales from Bristol 14 years ago to enjoy a country life and raise a family.  She currently works part time as a Business Development Manager for a cloud based learning company. She has previously worked in management and training & development where she has delivered & facilitated group sessions.  Her favourite part is always getting to know people.  She believes everyone has much to offer and that community is important.  She currently volunteers as an activities coordinator for the women of her local church and runs many events throughout the year ranging from music appreciation evenings, to Summer barbecue and Christmas carol singing.  
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SUE THOMAS
Susanna runs a library but this doesn't stop her singing at work. She was already running sing-a-longs at several residential homes and an evening 'Singing for Pleasure' session at the library when she heard about Goldies and contacted us to get involved. Susanna has no formal training in singing but understands the goodwill that singing promotes and the sense of community and involvement that Goldies sessions offer. She puts an element of fun into her sessions to ensure everybody feels included and is not self conscious. "It's not just good for your physical health, it's good for your emotional health too. Pop along and join in, you'll be very welcome".
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Meet our GoldiesLIVE Guest Leaders

SIAN FRANCIS
Sian was born in the South Wales valleys and now lives in Cardiff with her husband and two children. Sian has had a love for music since an early age. She grew up competing in Eisteddfodau and in local musical theatre productions. She has a passion for Welsh language music and is very excited to lead her monthly sessions with Goldies. ​
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SARITA SOOD
Sarita Sood is a trained professional dance artist with a 5-year degree in Classical Indian Dance from Bhatkhande University Lucknow in North India.  Since graduating in 1990, she has taught extensively. She has worked with various community and charity organisations and many schools and community groups. She has appeared in the National Museum Cardiff, Grand Theatre, National Museum in Swansea and Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot.  Her performances have also raised funds for Cancer Research, Age Concern and Alzheimer’s Society.

STEPH BOSANKO
Steph is a qualified yoga teacher and Chair Yoga Instructor and has been offering massage, movement and yoga classes in care homes and runs our Chair based sessions on GoldiesLIVE.
 

Grenville Jones D.Litt -  our Founder and Chief Officer

Grenville is well-known and respected as one of the leading choir conductors in the UK. He has appeared on Radio and TV across the world through his work with Goldies and his growing reputation of getting people of all ages to sing! In July 2012 he received an honorary doctorate from Bath Spa University in recognition of his reputation for bringing music to all age groups. Grenville is proud of the fact that Goldies now has a team of over 70 talented session leaders across England and Wales.
He is founder conductor of The City of Bath Male Choir, which he started in February 2006, who reached the Top 5 and national acclaim in the BBC Last Choir Standing series. Over 1500 people enjoy singing in his various choirs plus, of course, over 2,000 Goldies. 
His theme tune? I Want to Teach The World to Sing - Keep up to date with all his music projects on www.grenvillejones.biz
Email: grenville@goldiescymru.org.uk

Sir Cliff Richard OBE - Goldies Patron


​Sir Cliff Richard OBE is Patron of the Golden-Oldies Charity. He is a much loved singer, musician, performer, actor and philanthropist. He is the third-top-selling singles artist in the United Kingdom's history, with total sales of over 21 million units in the UK and has reportedly sold an estimated 250 million records worldwide.
Over a career spanning more than 50 years, Cliff has become a fixture of the British entertainment world, amassing many gold and platinum discs and awards, including three Brit Awards and two Ivor Novello Awards. He has had more than 130 singles, albums and EPs make the UK Top 20, more than any other artist and holds the record (with Elvis Presley) as the only act to make the UK singles charts in all of its first six decades (1950s–2000s).