Residents join Rebecca’s virtual chorus to ‘meet again

Singer Rebecca Nelson has recruited three Ryman residents to join her in singing Vera Lynn’s classic We’ll Meet Again in a virtual first for the Possum Bourne trio.

A favourite performer at Ryman’s villages up and down the country, Rebecca was looking for ways to connect with both her fans and fellow performers during the lockdown when she had the idea.

“Her Majesty the Queen touched on the quote when she addressed the nation in the UK and said ‘we’ll meet again’. I thought ‘aha!’

“It just seemed like the perfect song. Everyone was quite emotional during lockdown and we were holding onto hope that we would get out of it and see each other soon so the wording was really perfect, and it’s one that I sing at the end of all my Ryman shows.”

Rebecca, who is a reservist in the Royal New Zealand Navy, quickly recruited musician friends through her connections with the Royal Navy band.

She got in touch with Ryman Healthcare to see if there were any residents who could sing who might like to join in the fun and Possum Bourne Retirement Village in Pukekohe came up trumps.

Members of the village choir, Dirk Mooy and Vivienne and Kelvin Fitness were chuffed to be asked and wasted no time in figuring out the detailed instructions.

Said Vivienne: “We were surprised to be asked but we felt privileged because of the situation enveloping us at the village.” Rebecca was thrilled when she received the digital files back from the residents and blown away that the new technology hadn’t fazed them.

The next part was the trickiest part of all. Rebecca roped in a video editor friend Charlotte Crone to help bring everything together.

With Anzac Day and VE Day being marked during the lockdown period, the resonance with the wartime classic was made even stronger.

“I know the older generation have lived through a war or were on rations but they could still socialise. To not be able to see our family and friends has been hard so I hope it brings some cheer and makes people smile.”

Pictured: Rebecca Nelson, top centre, and her recruits.