5 October 2017
Musician Andrew Pearce entertaining patients and staff on Ward 25G at RSH
People receiving treatment on a ward at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) have been treated to an impromptu concert – thanks to a fellow patient.
Andrew Pearce, 22, has been entertaining patients and staff on Ward 25 Gastro after being admitted in the early hours of last Wednesday.
Andrew, from Craven Arms, has ulcerative colitis, a condition that causes inflammation and ulceration of the inner lining of the colon, and was taken to RSH by ambulance following a painful flare-up of the condition.
He is now recovering well and hopes to be home by the weekend. In the meantime, he is keeping himself busy, and his fellow patients entertained, by performing songs from his repertoire, which ranges from Green Day to John Denver.
Andrew, who sings and plays in two bands – The Drop, based in Ludlow, and Fever 49 from Church Stretton – started playing after making a “false promise” to staff.
He said: “I was singing in the shower and some of the staff heard me, and I made a false promise to them that I would bring my guitar in. They kept asking me when I was going to do it, so in the end, I asked my dad to bring it in for me.”
Andrew, who works at leisure centres in South Shropshire, has been playing the guitar since he was 14 and performing in public since the age of 16.
He said: “When the staff asked me to bring the guitar in, I thought: ‘Why not?’ Everyone seems to be enjoying it and I try not to disturb anyone if they are trying to get some rest. Hopefully, it helps to cheer everyone up a bit.”
Ward Sister Helen Gwilt said: “It’s been really lovely having some music on the ward. Andrew is very talented and we’ve loved having him serenade us.”
To contact Andrew, visit his Facebook page by searching for Andrew Pearce, Craven Arms.