RELOCATING to Somerset after 16 years at a London PR agency has opened a whole new career for Leander Hobbs, whose current job involves her using music to bring smiles to the faces of people living with dementia.

Leander runs Kiddleydivey sessions in Bridgwater and surrounding areas and visits Avalon Nursing Home every month with her own special brand of music and movement.

Emma Hill, activities manager at Avalon, said: “Our residents are very enthusiastic about Leander’s visits.

“She gets them singing along and making music in such a fantastic way – they don’t even realise they’re getting a good work-out at the same time.

“Music sparks reminiscence in people with dementia so, for example, the music quizzes that Leander does for us will have them naming songs and singers from their younger days, and talking about special memories that particular songs might have for them.”

Music of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s features prominently in the selection Leander plays and sings in the home.

Leander said: “My late dad influenced my musical tastes.

"He ran a working man’s club in Kent and was always singing popular numbers from back in the day, so I already knew all the words before I got involved.

“Music is such a great leveller, and people with dementia remember songs they’ve loved all their lives even when other memories are fading.

Leander always starts and ends her sessions with familiar songs - “Hello Dolly” and the novelty 1940’s song “Mairzy Doats” to begin with, and “We’ll Meet Again” and “Show Me the Way to Go Home” to finish.

She uses props such as hoops, weighted squeezy balls and pom-poms, to vary the range of physical movements, and also offers music-making using percussion instruments, which encourages people to use their listening skills - looking for and copying the beat – and to work together as a group.

New Bridgwater mayor Cllr Tony Heywood is an advocate of using music to support people living with dementia.