Musician Barry Holden remains as dedicated as ever to raising funds and awareness for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The 79-year-old is a long-time supporter of children’s charities, including EACH, having staged a series of Live Aid-style concerts in North Walsham.
Despite poor health, he also continues to volunteer in the town’s EACH shop and is encouraging others to come and join him – promising a “fun, rewarding and fulfilling” experience.
Barry has been lending a hand for three years and, as well as sorting and pricing items for the bric-a-brac display, takes particular pride in the shop’s book, CD and DVD sections.
“It’s a fascinating place and somewhere I love spending time,” said the dad of two, who also has three grandchildren and was speaking during EACH’s ‘Don’t pass by, give volunteering a try’ recruitment campaign – a call-to-action encouraging more people to lend a hand in its shops across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
“In terms of donations, it’s so interesting, and you never know what’s going to be in the next box brought through the door.
“It could be anything, and there are some real gems, which is always exciting.
“Sometimes we’re given something rare, and it’s a lovely feeling when something you’ve sorted and priced makes a decent profit.
“From my experience, I definitely feel you get more out than you put in, because it’s extremely fun, rewarding and fulfilling.
“It’s certainly something I’d recommend, and you’d be surprised how much spending a couple of hours in the shop lifts you.
“You walk out feeling good, having done something useful and productive, and I thoroughly enjoy it.”
Barry, a bass guitarist in various bands throughout his life, says the social aspect of volunteering is another part of the appeal.
Having been part of the community his whole life, he knows – and is known – by many of the customers who walk through the door. He also enjoys meeting and welcoming new faces.
“Some people just come in for a chat, and we have lots of regular customers, who I love talking to,” said Barry, whose wife, Chris, has also been volunteering in the shop since 2018. The pair were invited to the opening of The Nook in 2019.
“I also get to meet lots of new people, which is something I enjoy.
“Helping here is fantastic. It gets you out, and the staff and volunteers are brilliant, kind and friendly people.
“The other thing I’d stress is that volunteering is for everyone, of any age. Whatever stage of life you’re at, you’ll get something positive from it.
“You can bring your own skills and ideas to the role, and for anyone retired, like myself, it’s nice staying active and involved with something as special as EACH.
“I’ve done all sorts down the years but this has been, and continues to be, a very important chapter of my life.
“I only do two or three hours a week so it’s not a big imposition on my time, but hopefully it helps.”
Barry’s first Live Aid-style concert was in 1986, inspired by Sir Bob Geldof’s global fundraiser, and another took place in January 2005, in the aftermath of the devastating Boxing Day tsunami.
His gigs then continued every year bar two, because of Covid, and it was the end of an era when the final one was held at North Walsham Community Centre in 2022.
In addition to organising his concerts, Barry also sources coveted items to be auctioned, and his heroics were rewarded with an appearance on ITV show Surprise, Surprise in December 2013.
To find out more about volunteering in North Walsham, pop into the shop for a chat, email manager Lauren Warnes via Lauren.Warnes@each.org.uk or call 01692 661070.
To find out more about volunteering for EACH generally, pop into your local shop, visit each.org.uk/volunteering, email volunteering@each.org.uk or call 01223 205183 (option four).