IT took only a few minutes on an afternoon last week for the children at BCOT Nursery to become charmed by the pure melodic voice of award winning folk singer, Jackie Oates. 

More usually found performing in music venues up and down the country and beyond, Jackie’s spring tour of her most recent project Lullabies includes the pleasing additional bonus of afternoon nursery workshops.

This workshop took place before the evening concert in The Forge at The Anvil and was for 13 small children aged between nine months and four years.  The repertoire included well known songs such as Sleeping Bunnies and Incy Wincy Spider, plus more unusual discoveries such as the Australian lullaby Little Fishes.  All participants performed the words and associated actions with gusto and were accompanied by Mike Cosgrave on accordion.

Lasting 45 minutes, this workshop cast a wonderfully soothing spell over its audience. At the start some of the children had been a little excitable and others a little timid, but they joined in gamely and left afterwards happy and calmly for their next activity of the afternoon.

The adults seemed equally enchanted and mellowed by the experience, proving that lullabies still have a very valid contribution to make to 21st century Britain – for child and adult alike.

R Diamond