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Welcome
Rolling Home UK are a local singing group. We are a group of guys who enjoy an eclectic mix of folk, blues, jazz, shanty songs, and other genres. We came together in 2018 just to ‘jam’, and our ‘rehearsals’ soon became our ‘therapy sessions’ - especially after Covid! We began performing for charity events, and soon attracted ‘clients’ who wanted us to return. We called ourselves ‘Rolling Home’ after one of our favourite songs, and signed up to an agency who work with Care Homes.
Our aim is to keep the performance fee at a reasonable level, being sufficient to cover the band’s expenses, and that we would continue to support both Willen Hospice, and Willen Church (St. Mary Magdalene).
Curious who we are?
Hover over our photos to learn more about us.
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About
"Rolling Home are regular performers here at The Long Lunch Club. They are very entertaining, engaging, interactive and great value for money. Our members thoroughly enjoy their performances, and I would not hesitate to recommend them"
Sianne Murray, Day Services Coordinator, Age UK, Milton Keynes
Our History
2018: Steve, Bob the Younger, and Colin were joined by Bob the Elder for weekly ‘jamming’ sessions, after an intensive scrutiny, and a demanding initiation ceremony! During the latter part of the year, they were asked by Willen Hospice if they could produce and direct a musical play, ‘The Seafarer’ written by one of the Hospice clients. Meanwhile the jamming sessions continued, and before long they were asked to perform for friends, and became a ’band’.
2019: Two performances of ‘The Seafarer’ were staged in February at The Chrysalis Theatre. The cast and back-stage team were drawn from volunteers and friends, with the Front of House managed by the Events Team from Willen Hospice. The amount raised by the event was around £3000.
2020: Another event on behalf of Willen Hospice was a Flash Mob in Central Milton Keynes. Additional guys were recruited from other groups, and a small group of four guys were gradually joined by around thirty more, singing a number of shanties plus other popular sing-along songs. The Hospice Events Team had organised bucket collectors, and over £800 was raised for the Hospice. Soon afterwards, Covid-19 hit the country, and limited the band’s activities. When the restrictions were eased, they rehearsed in the open air.
2021: When normality returned, Rolling Home performed for a Family Day at Gullivers Land, hosted by Willen Hospice. Later, they took part in the Sea Shanty and Music Festival at Weston-Super-Mare. Followed by ‘Shanties Ashore’ at York House in Stony Stratford, with three other shanty crews. December brought an open-air performance at The Old School (Wolverton Community Project) ‘Stories Under the Stars’ and then the organisation of the ‘Christmas Songs and Carols’ event on the lawns of Willen Hospice, which we linked to a Carol Service being held at Willen Church (St. Mary Magdalene) on the same evening - the start of a lasting involvement with this Church.
2022: Steve and Bob (The Elder), from Rolling Home, met with two of St. Mary Magdalene, Church’s congregation to discuss possible fund raising ideas, whilst aiming to attract more of the locals into this beautiful old church. It was agreed that regular monthly daytime concerts from Spring to Autumn, might be possible. A successful trial run with Rolling Home was performed on the Third Tuesday at Twelve Thirty in February – the acronym T T T T was created, and a further seven concerts were organised, using musician friends of the band. The concerts brought more local people into the church, the heritage of the building became important to them, Willen Village Heritage Association was created, and a Heritage Centre was planned, in honour of the polymath, and architect of the Church, Robert Hooke.
Enquiries and bookings began to arrive, and Rolling Home attracted an increasing following....
"Rolling Home have entertained our Dementia Support Group (for carers and their loved ones) twice before, and we hope they will be back with us again in the future.
They are a fantastic, talented, band and the songs they perform revive old memories for all, with many singing along, and recalling all of the words, even though they might not be able to recall recent or past events. For the Carers, the music is therapeutic too, and an opportunity to escape from their day to day caring responsibilities and worries.
It's lovely to see them all singing along, and even dancing to their music at times. We are unable to use a picture of the whole group for privacy protection reasons, but 99 years old Mary wanted us to use the attached image, because she enjoyed their performance so much."
Helen Taylor, Carer and Brooklands Trustee. September 2024.
"It was suggested to me, by one of our owners, that I should contact Rolling Home to perform for us, as she had seen them recently at a local church event. Last month was the fourth time we have had this amazing collective of talented musicians in the Court. They have exceeded all expectations at both Christmas and Easter, alongside a couple of afternoon teas in between. Whether it's golden oldies, rock classics, or fantastic sea shanties, these boys know how to entertain with fun and clarity, that always leaves us smiling."
Braco Dawson, Duty Manager responsible for social events, Oaktree Court Ltd, Willen