Charity Single by 'Day by Day'
Alan Spong and Bob Bartholomew started to attend the St Helena Hospice day centre at Clacton on Wednesdays and through sessions of music therapy not only started playing music again but formed a band which they called ‘Day by Day’. On November 3rd 2010 they released their first single to raise money for St Helena Hospice.
The song which is entitled ‘I’m in a Band’ was written by Alan Spong to encapsulate some of what the Hospice meant to him, gaining back control after a life limiting diagnosis.
Alan, the lead vocalist and guitarist on the track and Bob who plays the drums, had both played in bands before, but had not played their instruments since being diagnosed with cancer. Through individual music therapy at St Helena Hospice, Bob and Alan began to play and make music again. They started to play with the Music Therapist Ruth Ellam who plays piano and the Hospice Chaplain Mark Ambrose who plays bass guitar, and they came together to form the ‘Day by Day’ band.
Alan said “I find it very invigorating when we play. I forget about everything when I play my music – we’re called ‘Day by Day’ because you never know what’s going to happen.” Bob added “This shows to other patients that we can still do things and so gives them encouragement that they can still do things too. A Hospice isn’t always what you think!”
Copies of the song ‘I’m in a Band’ are available to purchase for a donation and can be obtained by contacting the Fundraising Office on 01206 791740.