History

Music and entertainment have always played a strong part in our ministry, so it might be appropriate that some of our first stories on these History pages concern music.

We’ve always had some good singers at all the places we’ve been to, and one hostel, Norman Street, a mixed hostel, was particularly blessed, with Danny, who used to give us a dancing display to “Down in Dear Old Dixie” every fortnight, as well as Lenny, who seemed to have a never-ending repertoire of songs, and would have a different song for us every fortnight. But these were possibly outdone by a guitarist, George, who was so taken by the service we were giving him – particularly the youngsters – that he spent a fortnight composing a song in their honour – which, of course, was greatly appreciated by all – some even with red faces of embarrassment!

The power of song to transform lives was however witnessed by one of our volunteers, Steven Lovie, at a women’s hostel in Inglefield Street, when he sat beside a young woman, Catherine, who at first seemed a bit shy and unwilling to talk, but for some reason opening up after we sang “The Wild Rover” – that song somehow resonating with her. She admitted to Steven that she had a drug addiction, and when Steven asked how that had started, she told him that her dad had had a drink problem, which led them to have to choose between getting divorced or Catherine leaving the house, which Catherine chose to do, and when Steven said “You could be at home with your parents”, she replied, “But then I wouldn’t be talking to you.” She told him she had been homeless for 7 years, and on drugs for most of that time, but for some reason us singing “The Wild Rover” was giving her the impetus to try to give it up, and 2 weeks later, her daughter joined her at the bingo night, and she was determined to give up the drugs.

Catherine was never seen at the bingo again, and it was only after a few years that one of the staff members told Steven that she was now living in a house, and clear of the drugs – and she insisted that the impetus came from us singing “The Wild Rover.”