Singer Annie always up for a jam!


Fundraiser Annie Slater has been siniging since she was a toddler but more recently she has been putting her talents to good use, as we found out.


“Give us a song, Annpan.” That was how Annie Slater was introduced to singing as her grandfather stood her on a stool to perform aged about two or three years. But despite this early introduction to music – grandpa’s favourite song was You Are My Sunshine – she was what some might call a latecomer to becoming a professional. “I started singing professionally at the age 36, having been running my own home catering and celebration cakes business,” said Annie, from Hoveton. Work also a job as a dispenser at Wroxham Surgery at 17, where she worked on and off over period of 30 years with many other jobs to fit around the needs of her children. But singing has always been her love. “Since I was old enough to sing and dance, grandad used to stand me on a stool at family gatherings, “ she said. “I joined school and church choirs, sang solo treble and had a record at age of 13.” She sang at local village hops as teenager. “Ever since, wherever and whenever there was music I could sing.” In her 30s she joined a concert party


group. It was then a chance remark made her realise she could get work as singer. “I joined a country and western band for experience then dance bands and worked summer seasons on east coast and winter seasons all over East Anglia.” Her work continued until husband Lewis had a stroke. It was then she turned her attention to raising money to support his recovery.


She said: “I have always been keen on supporting charities with sponsored walks, coffee mornings, street collections and voluntary work but after Lewis had a stroke I started helping the day care centres he attended by giving items for sale and raffles and entertaining them. I started selling fruit, making jam and growing plants to sell at Worstead Day Care Centre about six years ago and it snowballed into a wayside stall at home and other outlets.” Annie, a former pupil of North Walsham High School for Girls, started guest-singing jazz about 15 years ago as a sideline and combined that with the sale of her produce, hence the “jazz and jam” idea was born. “I started organising my own events in aid of charity, the first at The


justWroxham&Coltishall


YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE: Annie Slater with husband Lewis, who inspires her fundraising efforts. Above: with jam sold at her jazz sessions locally and outside her Hoveton home. Below: Annie looks back at her professional singing days and her plants at home. PICTURES: ANDREW BLUNDRED


Butcher’s Arms in East Ruston followed by others at The Lighthouse, Walcott.” Annie was born in Woodbastwick and she has lived in the area all her life. “There is no better place to live,” she says. “People have been unfailingly generous and supportive to me.”


And although she says she sees herself as a “non-achiever”, she is proud of having raised five healthy children.


She has been married to Lewis for 48 years and they also now have 16 grandchildren (15 living), with great grandchild number 10 due next year.


5


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20