Henley’s Christmas Rock ‘n Roll Song Dedicated to Matt
Henley has another Christmas song this year from Councillor Sarah Miller and Pete Maguire called Rock and Roll Christmas and it is dedicated to local singer Matt Richardson (pictured below) who is recovering from cancer who was the lead singer on last year’s Christmas song.
Sarah explains, “After the last year’s Christmas song I wrote with Pete Maguire I honestly had no intention of writing another. Until I wrote another, by accident, about 10 days ago. The lyrics came quite quickly and I just pinged them over to Pete to see if he could put any music to them. Within 48 hours he came back to me with what I think is another fantastic song.”
The lyrics include, “Christmas is coming. I can hear the bells toll. We’re gonna have a party. Time to Rock and Roll.”
The last song was recorded by Matt and his HOT Stuff band. Sarah adds, “We really wanted Matt to sing on it but he is currently recovering from cancer, and because of this we made the decision to find another singer, release the song, and to dedicate it to Matt, but more importantly to raise money for Cancer Research UK.”
Liz Madgwick Howard took up the baton to sing the song with local Henley faces starring in the video including Gray Jolliffe British illustrator and cartoonist, Laura Reineke founder of Henley Music School, a Henley Mermaid and Trustee of the Henley Community Hub, local artist Claire Tidy, local Councillor and Cavalier, Dave Eggleton, Chair of SODC and local Councillor Kellie Hinton, Poet & Prive Driver Marcus Richardson, and the one and only Father Christmas – Henley Santa.
Richard Pinches agreed to shoot the video again for the new song and Henley Town Council kindly allowed them to film in the new Adventure Golf Course. Sarah explains, “This was perfect as it allowed us to film all the Henley landmarks without actually having to move around Henley as we did with the last song. We filmed it last Thursday on a very cold and frosty morning but it really was lots of fun. I’d like to thank Liz and Richard for bringing the song alive, and of course to all those who helped us film on the day. And to Magic Pete – who has produced another banger! We hope everybody gets behind the song and donates to Cancer Research.”
Matt and his band Lucky to be Alive have performed each year at our Community Champion Awards party. Editor Michaela Clarke said, “We will miss Matt at our party in February and we’re thinking of him at this difficult time.”
A Just Giving page has been set up for donations here MILLER MAGUIRE is fundraising for Cancer Research UK (justgiving.com)
