Play all audios:
A care home nurse in Shropshire has written a song and posted it online to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives on the Covid-19 frontline. Registered nurse Jon Breese, who works at
Morris Care's Corbrook Park nursing home near Market Drayton, sings and plays acoustic guitar on the track, titled Song for the Frontline Heroes. The song features lyrics describing
what the last year has been like working in a care home and recognising "the fallen heroes who lost their lives on the frontline". It also touches on the isolating impact of
lockdown and social distancing measures particularly for older people and people with dementia, and the efforts of nursing staff to try and "bring happiness". [embedded content] Mr
Breese has worked at Corbrook Park, which provides personal and nursing care and includes a specialist dementia unit, for three-and-a-half years. He is registered as a learning disability
nurse but is currently working in dementia care and is soon to become clinical deputy manager at the home. He uses music to relax after busy shifts and even has his own recording studio at
home. Song for the Frontline Heroes came about after a colleague suggested he chronicled in song the challenges staff and residents had faced during the pandemic, explained Mr Breese, who
takes inspiration from singers Stephen Stills, John Lennon and Loudon Wainwright III. “I think this year has tested us on keeping strong and calm even under the toughest of times," he
said. "For me, the best way to unwind after an intense day is through music. “My partner Juanita, who works as a team leader at Morris Care’s Isle Court Nursing Home, and I have our own
home recording studio. "And one of my colleagues, Lorna, recently suggested I put my talents to the test to write a song about our experiences during pandemic, so here it is." The
song has gone out on Sound Cloud and the Morris Care website and You Tube channel.