A Life Set to Music

Pip arrived at Chaseley in early 2018, having lived with multiple sclerosis until life at home became too difficult to manage. She visited Chaseley to look around and decided she would like to live here.

Music had been at the heart of Pip’s life from a very early age. She began to play the cello at the age of 8 and went on to get a degree in music at Birmingham University. She also studied conducting. From university, she went to work in London at the country’s leading agency for classical musicians, where she specialised in organising concerts and tours for orchestras.

Leading concert halls in this country and around the world would write to the agency to ask orchestras to perform for them. It was her job to negotiate between the orchestras and concert halls, and if agreement was reached about what they would play and the fees and costs involved, she would then arrange everything, including travel for the players and their instruments. More often than not, she would travel with them too. Her favourite tour was going to Argentina and Brazil with Sir Simon Rattle and his orchestra.

Alongside her professional life, Pip organised an annual music event at a leading London hotel, gathering together many of her friends and acquaintances to play and sing. As well as organising this, she also conducted the orchestra herself.

After a number of successful and highly enjoyable years, it was discovered that Pip had MS and she eventually retired from work and left London. Pip is an East Sussex girl. She was born in Cuckfield. When she was active, she loved cooking and learning about fine wine. She also loved opera and horse racing.

After a couple of years at Chaseley, Pip said she felt that this was her home and that she was safe here. Pip’s life now is highly restricted because of advanced MS, but she gets smiles and affection from all the staff who look after her needs, because her character and personality shine through. She loves being read to and also sitting on the terrace in the shade when the sun shines. She listens constantly to classical music on the radio in her room and the Well-being staff makes sure to take her down to The Atkinson Room when a classical artist is playing.

She also loves being visited by the therapy dogs owned by one of the Vets – Bella and Teddy. Her nearest and dearest friends and family who visit regularly say they are very happy with the care Pip receives at Chaseley.