'I lost the love of my life - but after years of loneliness I found my voice'
A widower has hailed the “life-changing” impact of community groups for helping him find his voice after years of loneliness.
Colin Clark found himself retreating from the outside world after his beloved wife of 28 years died after her battle with cancer in 2019.
But following years of loneliness, Mr Clark soon found his voice and now sings with one of Leeds’ best-known choirs.
The 64-year-old from Middleton, Leeds, performs sell-out shows to audiences of several hundred as a member of the prominent Leeds Male Voice Choir – marking a dramatic transformation from the isolation that once kept him confined to his home.
His treasured wife Carol died in 2019 and this was further compounded when his disabled adult daughter, who he had been a full-time carer for, moved into permanent supported living care in 2023 at the age of 29.
Mr Clark said: “When my wife died, I tried to keep everything together for my daughter but it was very difficult. It was the hardest time of my life.
“By the time my daughter moved out, I had no independent existence – no life, no friends. I was just sitting, staring at walls.”
For Mr Clark, the turning point began when a neighbour noticed he was struggling and mentioned charity Health for All, which has been supporting south Leeds communities for 35 years.
Reaching out to Health for All led to him joining a walking group and a men’s health group, where a newly-made friend suggested he join local choir, the Middle-Tones.
He said getting support was “the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life” as the friendships and encouragement he went on to receive gave him the confidence to follow his interests and sing in public for the first time.
Mr Clark said: “Taking those initial first steps opened a lot of doors for me and changed my life pretty much overnight.
“I’ve gone from a place where I was living quite a lonely and reclusive existence and didn’t know how to talk to people, to actually having a life, enjoying myself and being happy.
“I’ve made new friends and I’m always astounded people are paying to hear me sing. The impact on my mental health has been staggering. It gives me a real buzz.”
The power of community involvement in improving and protecting the health of people across Leeds is the subject of this year’s annual report by Leeds City Council’s Director of Public Health, Victoria Eaton.
The report, ‘Communities at the Centre: Creating better health together in Leeds’ – to be presented to city health leaders at the Health and Wellbeing Board later today - celebrates the critical value of community and voluntary organisations in enhancing people’s health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities.
Victoria Eaton, Leeds City Council’s director of public health, said: “Our communities help create good health in many ways, from everyday acts of kindness between neighbours to services and communities working closely together.
“There is a lot to be proud of in Leeds. As this report, and Colin’s story, shows, great work is already taking place across the city and we must continue to harness opportunities to further strengthen this way of working to improve the health of all.”
Coun Emma Flint, Leeds City Council’s executive member for equality, adults and health, said: “Communities give us a feeling of belonging and a connection to others as well as ensuring access to health and wider services; their power cannot be underestimated when it comes to protecting and improving people’s health.
“We remain committed to ensuring community-centred approaches are central to our work to improve health in Leeds, to meet the needs of everyone who calls our vibrant and diverse city home.”