AN INSPIRATIONAL woman has recorded a war time song in memory of her son.
Loma Batty, 83, from Old Colwyn, found strength in music after the death of her 34-year-old son, Robert. The father-of-three from Mochdre died five years ago, following a battle with leukaemia.
This week Mrs Batty visited Theatr Colwyn to record the famous Gracie Fields’ song, ‘Wish Me Luck (As You Wave Me Goodbye). Although the CD will not be available for sale, she hopes the track will offer hope to people who have lost loved ones.
The great-grandmother has been performing war time songs, with her husband Phil, at venues across Colwyn Bay including retirement homes. Money collected at the events has been donated to Llandudno’s St David’s Hospice, who cared for her son during his illness.
Mrs Batty said: “After Robert died I just kept hearing the music and I knew I had to record it in his memory. I went and bought a keyboard from the music shop in Colwyn Bay.
“I played piano when I was little, back then lessons cost around six pence. I like a challenge and I had to learn to read music again. It was to show people that you can get through the death of a loved one. Find something that you are interested in like music and it will get you through. It will help and the hurt will get easier,” she added.
The brave woman, who worked as a hairdresser and later caring for people with mental illness, wanted her grandchildren to have something to remember their father by.
She said: “My husband sounds like Dean Martin and we really enjoy singing. I call us the recycled wrinklies. We have raised money for the hospice and we also enjoy art so we have raised money by auctioning paintings. My husband auctioned a painting for £350. St David’s Hospice gave us great support. They were wonderful.”