A RETIRED couple are hoping to storm the charts and raise money for charity with a song they recorded last week at their home.

Trumpeter David Speedy and his spouse Denise were joined by staff and other tenants at Martham Court in Harpenden on Friday to lay down the track See Yourself.

Those performing on the record became collectively known as the Anchor Community Band, named after the company that runs their Hickling Way retirement property.

The 70-year-old trumpet player has previously been on a recording but this is the first time his professional keyboard-playing wife has appeared on a single.

Grandmother-of-four Denise, 69, said: “I first started singing at the age of 10 in school and then joined a church choir.

“Music is everything to me. You can turn off and become a different person; music takes over.

“My biggest achievement has been raising four sons who are all musical.

“The whole family have even played in a band together.”

The musical duo have been married for 49 years and used to perform on the hotel and club circuit in the Midlands.

David, who has been playing the trumpet since the age of five, said: “My father encouraged me to play at a young age; I turned professional at the age of 17.

“After years of playing, I ended up fronting an 18-piece jazz band called The Cool Dudes.

“The Anchor Community Band is a nice thing to do for charity. Our children are proud of us.

“Rehearsing for this song with some of the people at Martham Court has been such an amazing experience.

“It’s a really powerful song because the words are telling younger people we are exactly the same as them but just a bit older. And we still know how to have fun!”

Martham Court manager Michele Holroyd said everyone was looking forward to adding their voice to the record.

She added: “The tenants here have worked so hard during rehearsals that I hope the people of Harpenden will support them by downloading or buying the record when it is released later this year.”

All the money raised from the record will be donated to Contact the Elderly, a charity that organises monthly Sunday tea parties for older people who live alone.

The single is yet to have a fixed release date.

For more information visit http://www.anchor.org.uk/about-anchor/anchor-news/anchor-and-sector-news-1016