Emma explained that the charity, which works with homeless and vulnerable people in Chelmsford, had been hit hard by the financial climate. They have had to downgrade their service during the most crucial time of the year. From operating seven days a week, now it is five days. The hope is that this is for a maximum of six months. This will enable savings on wages, utilities and food alongside some other measures. The aim is to save £5,000 a month and be in a stronger position to open the full & days a week by the summer of 2023.
Emma also talked about how the financial climate is impacting on the very vulnerable service users. She said that they often work with sixty in a day, but the most has been ninety. She told us of the recent passing of one of their clients. This person, with mental health issues formed by earlier experiences in life, had wanted to live on the streets. This was despite knowing that there were agencies that could help them seek a dwelling. Being outside on one the nights of severe frost recently had led to hospitalisation. Sadly they did not recover. Emma said this emphasised the need for the work to be every day. Even a small donation of £2 a month would be helpful to sustain the charity. They were around sixty people at the moment working in various volunteer roles. Anyone able to volunteer in any way would be welcome. They would match tasks to the person volunteering and their availability.
More information is available at https://sanctus-home.com
Playlist
Carrie Underwood – Let there be peace. From her 2020 album – My wish. It was a USA no 5 and no 1 in the Christian, Country and Holidays charts, selling over half a million copies.
Shea Raffery – Out of the blue. This week’s Brentwood Gazette has the PhoenixFM presenter’s Picks of a single tack and an album for 2023. This is a track from my album choice – Making history.
Michael Buble – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas . Emma chose this track from Michael’s 2011 album – Christmas. As a single it has charted in 28 countries. Emma chose it
U2 – Beautiful day. This 2000 track has topped the charts in 11 countries, including the UK. It won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the year.
Jack Johnson – Better together. A track from the 2005 UK no 1, USA no 2 album – Between dreams.
Birthdays competition.
Above, ABBA dressed for their Eurovision performance in 1974. Benny Andersson is on the right,
Below, Benny Andersson in 2022.
Benny Andersson celebrated his 76th birthday. We heard the track that introduced Swedish band ABBA to an international audience via the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest.
Waterloo – no1 in UK and 9 m0re countries. No6 in USA and Top 10 in 8 more countries. World-wide it sold over 5 million 45 rpm singles.
Mike Mills is a multi-instrumentalist and a member of REM. He is 64 years old. We heard the 1991 track – Shiny Happy People. UK no 6, USA no 10. Top 20 in 11 more countries. It came from the band’s 7th album – Out of time – winner of three Grammy Awards.
Limahl, born Christopher Hamill, is best known as the lead singer of Kajagoogoo. He is also 64 years old. We heard the band’s 1983 track – Too shy. No 1 in UK and 4 more countries. USA no 5 and Top 5 in 7 more countries. In total, charted in 17 countries.
Thanks to Chris, Bob, Sarah and Georgina in Harlow, David in Belgium. Chris in Guildford, Patrick in Ingatestone, Drive presenter Stewart stuck in traffic on the A127 and Emma and Sarah in the studio for taking part. Congratulations to our winner this week, Sarah with 4pts.
David in Belgium asked for a track to remember Terry Hall, lead singer with The Specials. We heard – Enjoy yourself ( it’s later than you think) – 1980 album – More Specials – UK no 5.
Ben Drake – Christmas time. Check out Stewart Pink’s interview with Ben on the Drive showblogs.
We heard from Pastor Ian Moore from Billericay Baptist church about looking forward to Christmas and the joy of giving. Ian will also be a guest on the live Boxing Day show, 1 – 4 pm.
Lisa Harman – Smoke and mirrors. Title track from Lisa’s new album, released on Christmas day.
Chart this week in
No 1
No 1 in UK, USA, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand.
It sold over 1.5 million copies in UK, 1 million in the USA.
No 10 Jon & Vangelis – I’ll find my way home. UK no 6, No 1 Switzerland, Top 3 in 3 more countries.
No 13 Diana Ross – Why do fools fall in love? UK no 4, USA no7, Netherlands no 1. Originally a hit in 1956 for Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. The song is number 314 in the
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of all time.
John Legend – What Christmas means to me. From his 2017 album – A Legendary Christmas.
Cee Lo Green – Mary did you know. There have been hundreds of recordings of this song written by Mike Lowry in 1984.
Frank Sinatra – Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Written for the 1943 film – Meet me in St. Louis – starring Judy Garland. The words were slightly altered for Frank’s 1957 album – A Jolly Christmas.
Join me for my live show on Boxing Day 1-4pm. My guests include Ian and the team from the Brentwood School Christian Worker Trust, Andy Griffiths, Ian Moore and Tim Lee.
On January 6th 2023 my studio guest will be Nicholas Henshaw, Dean at Chelmsford Cathedral. Nicholas is leaving the cathedral on 5th of February.