Ex-jazz singer restoring her vocals at care home

Susan Sansby, 76, who thought her "singing days were over" with musician Edmund Jeffrey

A former jazz singer's voice is returning thanks to musical sessions at her care home.

Susan Sansby, 76, was a professional jazz singer for decades. She sang with the iconic George Melly and performed at the famous Ronnie Scott's jazz club in Soho, London.

Sadly, an illness affected her lungs and singing voice but she hopes the sessions at Woodland Grove care home in Loughton, Essex, could help her hit the right notes once again.

"I'm ever so pleased. I can see the day when I can stand up and sing a song again," she said.

Ms Sansby had a singing career for more than 20 years, which she said "really took off" when she began working as an administrator in a care home.

"Then people asked me to sing in hospices and to elderly people."

She also ran singing sessions for people with dementia, those with mental health problems as well as singing with her band.

"We performed in pubs, at weddings and I loved it," she added.

"When I became ill, I contracted pneumonia which damaged my lungs.

"I thought my singing days were over but since coming here, Edmund has been working with me and my voice has started to come back."

'Breathing efficiency'

Tutor Edmund Jeffrey said he cannot improve lung capacity, but can teach efficient breathing

Musician Edmund Jeffrey has 10 years' experience training with Asthma + Lung UK charity.

His Singing for Lung Health programme has proved popular.

"If this programme was described as a 'respiratory health clinic', I doubt if as many people would come, but who doesn't like to sing?" he said.

"We sing native American folk songs, and ones from Africa, and everyone loves these, but we also do some familiar favourites.

"The important factor is the length of phrases, so residents have to manage their breathing to sing them."

'Bad Habits'

Jeffrey works to change "bad habits" to get rid of tension in shoulders, improve posture and help the residents use their muscles more efficiently.

"We've already seen significant improvements in the length of phrases residents can sing and they've become much more confident," he said.

"At first they were quite shy to make the noises and movements we do in the vocal exercises, but they're so much more forthcoming now."

Some residents have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) which limits their breathing ability.

"While we can't improve their lung capacity, we can make the best of what they have by teaching them how to breathe more efficiently, and singing's a great way to do it," the tutor added.