Cochrane's Column: Former Largs News editor's weekly thoughts

Yes, they were an optimistic couple. She said 'I do' and he said 'I do', and that's that last time they agreed on anything. (If she's reading this, yes, I'm joking.)

Anyway, I thought of Magic Moments when I recently attended the Musical Memories afternoon session held by the Clark Memorial Church in Largs. It is a well-established 'club' where families and carers can go along with local people in various stages of Alzheimer's and dementia illnesses.

I was there as a member of the Dementia Friendly Largs committee, which has just produced a glossy booklet called A Helping Hand, a complete guide to all local and national services to support those with the growing condition.

It has been found that listening to music can really help improve the quality of life for a person living with dementia. An increasingly popular 'tool' for sparking the inner emotions, the memory cells, is the Playlist for Life. The power of music can really help connect a loved one or carer to the person, even for a short time.

The Alzheimer's Society have online resources to get people talking and participating in music, and particularly, songs which were either important or evocative for them.

I recall communicating with an old friend, now in a Largs home, by singing Beatles songs because, as boys, we pretended to be Lennon and McCartney. He responded, possibly thinking: "Help, I need somebody." In fact, he used to attend the Musical Memories sessions with his guitar.

When I went along to the Largs afternoon, a two-hour get-together, I didn't actually know that another friend, Frazer McPhail, a renowned tenor with Largs Operatic Society, led the singing, accompanying himself on keyboards. I hadn't heard or warbled on "She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain" and "Ye Cannae Shove Yer Granny Aff A Bus" for yonks but, yes, it all came back to me.

Entertainers and members of Dementia Friendly Largs at the Musical Memories session (Image: Drew Cochrane)

Frazer, who also entertains at Hutton Park and Haylie House homes, alternates the Clark Memorial sessions with musician Mary Stewart, who gets the audience involved by dishing out drums and other percussion instruments for participation.

I have to tell you that there was a moving moment last week as a lady, on her first visit to the church hall, had tears running down her cheeks to a particular song. (No, madam, I'm sure it was nothing to do with my singing.)

Two of the organisers are mother and daughter Jess and Angela Madden who, with other church members, lay on the tea/coffee and home-made baking.

Jess told me: "We have been running Musical Memories for over ten years, and since the end of lock-down have been trying to build the numbers back up.

"It's not just for residents of the local homes, anyone with the condition can come along with a carer and join in the entertainment. It is part of the Outreach programme for Clark Memorial Church."

The sessions are held on the first and third Thursdays of the month between 2-4pm. Just go along or email cmc.largs@gmail.com for further information.

As Perry Como used to sing: "Magic moments, memories we've been sharing; Magic moments, when two hearts are caring; Time can't erase the memory of these magic moments, filled with love."

Top hats off too to Dementia Friendly Largs, the voluntary group which, in a couple of years, has produced Help Tubs, booklet, special robotic pets, dementia awareness, training and music at homes.

Founders Robbie Stevenson and Linda Smith with dedicated activist Christine Malcolmson have raised thousand for the worthy cause.

Thought for the Week: Claustrophia is the fear of closed spaces. For example, I'm going to the pub and I'm scared it will be closed.

Back in January, an acquaintance contacted me to say that he had heard that Lounge in Largs Main Street had been sold after lying empty for the two years of the mad Covid lockdown.

In recent months I had garnered information about what was to become of the historic town centre premises, which local businessman Stephen McDonald ran successfully as an award-winning bar, restaurant and entertainment complex.

The exciting news is that Lounge looks like becoming a boutique hotel, which is badly needed in our tourist town.

The new owners, who came from abroad but with local connections, have not only bought the four-storey building but are primed to spend a small fortune on creating the hotel with about ten en-suite rooms and, crucially, a lift from the Bellman's Close end. The rooftop skybar will be retained as a unique attraction.

All we need is for the planning permission, so here's hoping all goes to plan.