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Acclaimed pianist performs at Harrogate care home

Tuesday, 10 June 2025 14:10

Harecourt Gardens

Care UK’s Harcourt Gardens, on Harcourt Road, opened its doors to live music from Channel 4’s The Piano finalist Duncan Goodwin.

The care home welcomed the community and the event was part of the residential care provider’s ongoing commitment to helping people better understand dementia and learn how to support loved ones living with the condition.

Research from Care UK found that two-thirds of people who have a relative living with dementia (62%) initially put their symptoms down to old age.

Many people are also unaware of the ways older people with the condition can lead meaningful lives.

Guests were invited to tour the home's dedicated dementia floor and attend informative talks led by Fiona Andrews, Dementia Forward’s Community Education Coordinator.

Attendees also enjoyed complimentary refreshments prepared by the home’s Head Chef, before gathering to enjoy a moving piano performance by Duncan, a pianist who appeared on TV show The Piano last year and is living with dementia himself.

The home raised money for local charity Dementia Forward’s initiative ‘Don’t Keep Dementia Under Your Hat’, which encourages open conversations about the condition.

In honour of this, the home held a hat competition where team members wore their most creative hats to show support, with prizes awarded for the best designs.

Jillian Pollard, Home Manager at Harcourt Gardens, said:

“Our event was a huge success!

"It was wonderful to see the community come together in support of dementia awareness, and we were honoured to welcome Duncan to perform for our guests.

“We'd like to say a big thank you to Duncan for his performance, and to everyone who joined us.”

For more information, contact Customer Relations Manager Jillian Shearer on 01423 205 870, email Jillian.Shearer@careuk.com or visit careuk.com/harcourt-gardens.

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