Silver Hoodies » Featured » 24dash.com

Trying to break the generational stereotypes separating today’s communities is a tough job, but as Jane Gething-Lewis discovers, The Silver Hoodies are taking on that challenge to an R&B beat.

Mary Meehan smoothes down her custom-made silver and pink jacket, grabs her walking stick and demonstrates an eyebrow-raising hip wiggle. “I like Don’t Cha by the Pussycat Dolls; it’s brilliant.” At 85, she’s the oldest member of new senior singing sensation, The Silver Hoodies.

Mary and her bandmates are all way past pensionable age, but they have a repertoire of songs which would send most grandparents running for earplugs. As well as the Pussycat Dolls’ raunchy chart topper, hits by a range of contemporary artists like McFly and Snow Patrol also get the Silver Hoodie treatment – complete with dance routines.

It’s a raucous rehearsal, but it’s not just about growing old disgracefully. The high-spirited group has been brought together by Marie Green, Head of Community Services for Bromsgrove District Housing Trust.

She explains: “I saw a television documentary from America, following a mature group going round prisons singing and I thought ‘what a good idea’.

“Looking at the government’s Respect agenda, we recognised that the biggest gap of understanding was between the younger generation and the older generation. They don’t really know how to communicate with each other.

“Young people ignore old people and regard them as a nuisance, and older people think younger people just cause trouble. Both of them are wrong, and if we don’t find a way to get them to talk to each other, that barrier will always be there,” says Marie emphatically.

“We thought it might be a nice idea to start with the older folks and teach them something that the younger ones would relate to, so I introduced them to the Pussycat Dolls,” smiles Marie.

She has thrown herself into her new role as vocal coach, music producer and band manager. “Don’t cha is hilarious but we had to interpret some of the lyrics, and re-write the rap because it was so rude.”

The likes of Eminem and 50 Cent could learn a thing or two from 68-year-old Tony Harris, who has all the moves of a seasoned rapper. He’s word perfect. “My four grandchildren love it. They think it’s cool. I love my special black hoody with pink writing. Let’s face it, it’s a fashion item. The grandchildren wear them, and they’re all good kids.”

“I think this is a wonderful idea and if it has the desired effect, then it’s all going to be worth it,” says Tony of his new-found love for rap, “We’re thoroughly enjoying it. I’m glad Barry is here now because I was the only fella until recently.”

Recruiting The Silver Hoodies wasn’t an easy process for Marie Green. “Some came along when we first advertised, but then went away when they found the songs weren’t what they were expecting. Most are Housing Trust tenants, and two of them live here at the Gilbert Court sheltered housing scheme where we come together for rehearsals.

“Now we’ve got a good mix – our baby is 63 and we have two men to keep the girls in order. They’re hilarious – their stories are so funny and they throw themselves into it. They come in here in pain or on their sticks but they don’t let that stop them. It’s just fabulous.”

Great-grandmother Beryl Hadley was one of Marie’s first recruits. “We thought it was going to be a choir,” she states matter of factly, “so when they said about the songs, we started to laugh because no way were we going to sing anything like that. But then it sounded quite good and we were pleased about it.

“Some of the lyrics are a bit raunchy, but when you listen to them and you know what they’re on about, they’re not too bad really. You just put it to one side and say ‘well that’s the way it is today’.

“The children have to know that we like to sing their songs as much as any others. They think we’re past it, that we’ve had our life. We’d like them to see us as we really are, and I like to communicate with them – to find out what they like and see if we can help them in any way.”

72-year-old Beryl has always had a passion for music – she’s a fan of opera, classical and rock ‘n’ roll. Now she can add R&B to the list. She enthuses: “I love Don’t Cha, so I brought in that Umbrella one by Rhianna for us to try, but it didn’t go very well at all. Never mind. We do have such a laugh.

“Everyone we talk about it to thinks it’s a fantastic idea. Everybody,” says Marie.

“I’ve had no negative reaction whatsoever. The local police were so impressed, they’re joining forces with us to produce a DVD to raise awareness with older people of answering the door to strangers.”

The DVD will be filmed later this year and will be distributed to older people in the town.

Marie – who has a belter of a good voice herself – is proud of her “babies”. Undoubtedly, The Silver Hoodies will be a hit with the younger generation, but the project is already striking a chord within the Housing Trust.

“Our mission statement is ‘creating excellent communities with passion and pride’ – and The Silver Hoodies are helping us to build a cohesive community. They’re raising our profile, and hopefully long term it will build relations between groups of isolated residents, especially the older people.

“The people here had previously only ever rung us for repairs; they knew nothing else about the Trust. Now they’re joining in everything, they feel protected and cared about, and even if at the moment we only have 11 of them, they talk about it and they put in their newsletters. It’s made a difference to them, and it will make a difference to us as it becomes more popular.”

“Other Housing professionals should definitely think about doing something similar. There are loads of barmy older people out there who would love to join in.

“It might not be building houses but there are some things you can’t place a value on. It’s cost us 11 sweatshirts and some paper, and that’s it. They’re priceless.”