Dear Editor, I’m writing to let you and your readers know that was Grenville Jones has won an award for his musical work within the community.
50 Awards were announced with the final one, the individual public vote, won by Grenville and presented to him by HRH, the Princess Royal.
On March 27 in a glittering awards ceremony at the packed Bobby Moore Suite, Wembley Stadium, the work of the Bath-based Songs&Smiles Charity Golden-Oldies was recognised with its founder Grenville Jones being awarded the prestigious UK Excellence Awards 2025 Patron’s Award for Individual achievement by the British Quality Foundation Patron, HRH, the Princess Royal.
It was in 2007 when respected choir leader and musician Grenville, who lives in Bath, launched the charity that was based on bringing isolated lonely people together to enjoy fun Sing&Smile organised community singing sessions in Church halls, community rooms and libraries across South West England and Wales (Goldies Cymru).
Over the last 18 years Grenville has also built up a reputation for his leadership of many community choirs, although he is always quick to point out that the Goldies Charity is NOT about choir singing but more specifically about community health and wellbeing sessions for over 3,000 older isolated and vulnerable people. From the original four ‘Goldies’ sessions taken by Grenville in and around the Bath and Bristol areas the work of the Charity, with Sir Cliff Richard as its Patron, has grown to the point today where they organise over 170 sessions across England and in Wales, under the Goldies Cymru banner.
Alongside the charity work, he has led the development of community choirs and, through his separate music business, runs 34 mixed-voice choirs with 1600 enthusiastic singers.
Grenville’s work has been recognised on many occasions and has enjoyed the support of numerous Trusts and philanthropic groups, Local Authorities and supportive Trusts, the National Lottery and many others.
The charity has also led the way with its intergenerational Primary School events, supported by the National Lottery through its Heritage Lottery Fund. Three years ago an intergenerational project from Goldies, based on the commemoration of Armistice Day and World War II, won the prestigious Education Category of the National Lottery Awards 2018. Grenville received the award from Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins at a televised event in London.
Jody Chorley, Radstock
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