Julian Lloyd Webber plays 鈥楶roms鈥 in intensive care
Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber has played at the bedside of Ian Clark, a classical music fan who hadn鈥檛 missed the Proms for 45 years until this season when he became seriously ill and found himself in intensive care.
Julian Lloyd-Webber played pieces by Arnold and Britten as part of 麻豆社 Radio 3鈥檚 Musicians On Call scheme, which invited members of the public to nominate a friend, relative or neighbour, who couldn鈥檛 get out to a concert, for a live performance in their own home or in hospital.
Mr Clark鈥檚 daughter, Liz, nominated her father, aged 65, who has recently undergone complex treatment for cancer.
鈥淒ad used to go to around 20 Proms concerts every season but this year he hasn鈥檛 even been able to have a radio in his room,鈥 said 31-year-old Ms Clark. 鈥淚 was listening to Radio 3 in bed and they were talking about various concerts around the country and my first thought was that my dad wasn鈥檛 going to be able to go to any of them. So when I heard about the Musicians on Call scheme I immediately knew I was going to ring up and see if I could get a visit for Dad.鈥
This special guest appearance by Julian Lloyd Webber was one of up to 100 home or hospital visits being made by musicians from 30 orchestras during 麻豆社 Radio 3鈥檚 Listen Up! 2006 Festival of Orchestras.
鈥淚 really enjoyed doing it,鈥 said Lloyd Webber. 鈥淚t was a very different environment to play in and I was glad to be a part of it.鈥
Liz said it had been an amazing experience for her father, mother Susan and herself. 鈥淭he whole family were emotional and Julian is such a brilliant musician. It was wonderful to take away something so positive from an intensive care unit.鈥
Alison Stevens, head of nursing, critical care manager, at Frimley Park, said it had taken quite a lot of organising. But she said it had been a delight to be able to enhance Ian鈥檚 intensive care experience by providing him with special memories that did not require nursing or medical intervention.
鈥淎s you can imagine an intensive care unit is a very sensitive, highly complex environment so we had some work to do to make sure it could all be done safely and confidentiality was maintained,鈥 she said.
鈥淚t was great to see the expression on Ian鈥檚 face and made it all worthwhile. I鈥檓 so pleased that the staff were able to be a part of something so special.鈥
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